Investigation of the effects of COVID-19 on the hearing and vestibular system

Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) is a pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2). In the literature, there is not enough data yet on the effect of the hearing and vestibular system in COVID-19 cases. It suggests that otological and vestibular symptoms should also be questioned in people who are positive for COVID-19. In people diagnosed with COVID-19, especially ear pain, tinnitus, hearing loss, dizziness originating from the vestibular system, together with otolaryngological symptoms, is a problem that should be investigated in detail. Various neurological symptoms such as loss of consciousness, headache and dizziness have been reported in COVID-19 patients. Among otological symptoms, cases of facial paralysis, sudden hearing loss and dizziness have also been reported in association with COVID-19. The aim of this study was to investigate hearing loss, tinnitus, dizziness, and ear-throat pain in a sample of COVID-19 patients through a questionnaire. In the study, 53.2% of the 233 participants were female and 46.8% were male. In the age groups distribution of the participants, 33.5% aged 18-24, 24.9% aged 25-34, 18% aged 35-44, and 23.6% aged 45-54 are included in the sample. In our study with 233 participants, it was understood that there was a significant difference (p<0.05) for all complaints when comparing the complaints of hearing difficulties, tinnitus, dizziness and ear-throat pain before and after the diagnosis of COVID-19. It is understood that hearing complaints increased to the mean (.262±.6980) before the diagnosis of COVID-19 and to the mean (.687±1.2285) after the diagnosis of COVID-19. It is understood that the mean tinnitus before the diagnosis of COVID-19 (.455±1.0251) increased to the mean value (1.476±1.5566) after the diagnosis of COVID-19. It is understood that the complaint of dizziness increased to the mean before the diagnosis of COVID-19 (.5060±1.0672) and to the mean value (2,056±1.7023) after the diagnosis of COVID-19. It is understood that the mean calculated before the diagnosis of COVID-19 (.554±1.2169) in the complaint of ear-throat pain increased to the mean value (1.961±1.6900) after the diagnosis of COVID-19. In the answers given by the participants before and after COVID-19, it was revealed that the complaints of hearing difficulties, tinnitus, dizziness and ear-throat pain increased. While these findings in no way establish a causal relationship between COVID-19 infection and auditory system dysfunction, they are consistent with the existence of such a relationship and underline the need for future research. The results of this study suggest that during COVID-19 infection, it can affect a significant proportion of adults, even if these patients experience a mild disease course.