Audiological evaluation of healed COVID-19 patients

Objective: Viral infections may damage the peripheral and central auditory pathways, leading to decreased hearing sensitivity. In this study, it was aimed to examine the effects of infection on the auditory system in individuals with Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), to determine the audiologically characteristic findings of individuals and to emphasize the importance of audiological follow-up. Materials and Methods: 41 COVID-19 infected and recovered individuals were included in the experimental group and 41 healthy individuals were included in the control group of the study. While 35 people in the experimental group showed mild to moderate symptoms, it was observed that 6 people did not show any symptoms. Audiometric and Immitancemetric Evaluation, Distortion Product (DPOAE) and Transient (TEOAE) Otoacoustic Emission, Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) tests were applied to the individuals. Research data were analyzed with IBM SPSS 24.0 program. Significance level was accepted as p<0.05 in all tests. Results: There was no significant difference in tympanometry types in the comparison between groups (p>0.05). Significant differences were observed in acoustic reflex thresholds, pure tone and high frequency audiometry thresholds of hearing, and Signal/Noise ratio of TEOAE and DPOAE measurements in individuals with COVID-19 (p<0.05). When the absolute latencies of waves I, III, V and I-III, I-V, III-V interpeak latencies were compared in ABR, no significant prolongation was found in the experimental group (p>0.05). Conclusion: In the study, evidence of the presence and involvement of hearing loss in individuals with COVID-19 was sought and changes in individuals were revealed. In audiometric and immitansmetric evaluation, significant differences in TEOAE and DPOAE are the evidence of being observed an affection in the middle and inner ear. The finding of a pathology affecting the central auditory pathways of the coronavirus, which is thought to be neurotrophic, could not be obtained with the ABR test. By including patient group that has high level of disease and is hospitalized, it is thought for future studies to be interpreted more consistently.