HEARING LOSS IN PATIENTS WITH COVID-19

Abstract

Objective Worldwide, scientists continue to follow-up on patients recovered from COVID-19 and have published the long-term persistent symptoms and permanent damage observed in various tissues. The present study aimed to evaluate hearing loss in patients with COVID-19 on the basis of pure tone averages measured using pure tone audiometry. Material and Method In this retrospective data analysis study, pure tone averages of non-hospitalised patients with COVID-19 were compared over 1 year before and after contracting COVID-19. Continuous variables were presented as mean ± Standard deviation (SD) and categorical variables were presented as number (n) and percentage (%). All data showed normal distribution. Therefore, paired t-test, a type of parametric test, was used to identify the significant differences between the measurements. Results The pure tone threshold values of patients increased significantly after COVID-19 (p0.001 for all) based on puretone averages measured in the bones and airways of theleftandrightears. Olderadults (41–64 yearsold) had a greater difference in puretone averages of the left ear airway before and after COVID-19 (p=0.040) than younger adults (18–40 yearsold). Conclusion COVID-19 affects both ears' bones and airways, causing varying degrees of hearing loss at different frequencies. Hearing loss tests should be included in COVID-19 complications research, and clinicians should be given advice on how to avoid hearing loss.