Does COVID-19 have an impact on hearing?

Abstract

Backgrounds

SARS-CoV-2 is known to be a neurotrophic virus. However, the effect of this virus on the hearing system is still uncertain.

Objectives

We aimed to investigate the possible effect of COVID-19 on hearing.

Materials and Methods

Thirty healthcare workers who had COVID-19 after hearing evaluation with pure tone audiometry (PTA) for any reason in the last 1 year were included in the study. PTA and transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE) tests were performed in 15 of 30 patients during the active infection period. For all 30 patients, otoscopic examination plus PTA and TEOAE tests were performed at the end of the first month after their treatment.

Results

When the PTA results of 30 patients (60 ears) before and after COVID-19 were compared, a significant decrease in hearing level was found only at 1000 Hz (p < .05). There were no significant differences at other frequencies. When the PTA and TEAOE test results of 15 patients (30 ears) that were performed during and after COVID-19 were compared, no significant differences were found.

Conclusion and significance

We conclude that COVID-19 may cause hearing loss. However, this result needs to be confirmed with comprehensive studies to be conducted in larger patient groups.

Chinese Abstract

背景：众所周知, SARS-CoV-2 是一种神经组织生长型病毒。然而, 这种病毒对听力系统的影响仍未确定。

目的：我们旨在调查 COVID-19 对听力的可能影响。

材料和方法：该研究包括30 名在过去 1 年中因某种原因进行纯音测听 (PTA)听力评估后感染 COVID-19 的医护人员。在30 名患者中, 对 15 名患者在其活性感染期进行了 PTA 和瞬态诱发耳声发射 (TEOAE) 测试。对于所有 30 名患者, 在治疗后的第一个月末进行了耳镜检查以及 PTA 和 TEOAE 测试。

结果：当比较 COVID-19 前后 30 名患者（60 只耳朵）的 PTA 结果时, 发现仅在 1000 Hz 时听力水平显著下降（p < .05）, 而在其它频率处没有显著差异。当比较 15 名患者（30 只耳朵）的 COVID-19 期间和之后的 PTA 和 TEAOE 检测结果时, 没有发现显著差异。

结论和意义：我们的结论是, COVID-19 可能会导致听力损失。然而, 这一结果还需要通过对更大的患者群体进行的综合研究来加以证实。

Keywords:

• COVID-19
• hearing loss
• pandemic
• SARS-CoV-2

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.