Audiometric Profile in Post-COVID-19 Patients

Abstract

There is uncertainty about whether COVID-19 is a risk factor for hearing loss.

To evaluate the audiometric profile of patients post-COVID-19 infection and compare it to unaffected individuals, clarifying the correlation between COVID-19 and hearing loss. Additionally, we sought correlations between reported otorhinolaryngological symptoms during COVID-19 and changes in tonal thresholds.

A cross-sectional study compared the pure-tone thresholds of 120 individuals with a confirmed history of COVID-19 and 120 unexposed controls, evaluated between 2021 and 2023.

The median tonal thresholds of exposed individuals were predominantly higher than those of unexposed individuals in both ears. The rate of hearing threshold alteration was 28.3% in exposed individuals versus 15% in unexposed individuals, with an odds ratio (OR) of 2.24 (95% CI: 1.18–4.25). Comparison of thresholds between the right and left ears of each exposed individual demonstrated asymmetric hearing impairment. The distribution of otorhinolaryngological symptoms included: nasal symptoms 67.5%; cough 65.8%; loss of smell 60%; loss of taste 56.7%; sore throat 47.5%; dizziness 30.8%; hoarseness 21.7%; tinnitus 19.2%; earache 18.3%; hearing loss 18.3%; and facial paralysis 0.8%. The association between reported symptoms and changes in pure-tone thresholds was statistically significant only for hearing loss (p < 0.001; OR = 8.9) and tinnitus (p = 0.005; OR = 3.7).

Individuals exposed to COVID-19 showed worse tonal thresholds and a higher rate of hearing changes compared with non-exposed individuals.