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. 2023 Apr;75(Suppl 1):451-457.
doi: 10.1007/s12070-023-03529-3. Epub 2023 Feb 14.

A Prospective Study on Post Covid Sudden Onset Sensory Neural Hearing Loss and Its Recovery

Vinod T Kandakure  1 , Riya Kunjumon  2 , Yashaswi Dube  2 , Madhuri S More  2 , Shilpa Garje  2
Affiliations

A Prospective Study on Post Covid Sudden Onset Sensory Neural Hearing Loss and Its Recovery

Vinod T Kandakure et al. Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2023 Apr.

Abstract

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is a known complication of a number of viral infections, but there is little literature to date on its association to Corona virus disease 2019(COVID-19).This study aimed to investigate the incidence and recovery from SSNHL in post COVID-19 patients. A study was conducted in 6 months of duration at our tertiary care COVID dedicated hospital. Total 280 patients with age group of 12-70 years, laboratory confirmed COVID 19 positive patients having mild to moderate COVID symptoms were included. Patients were examined clinically along with all safety measures to analyze incidence and their recoveries from SSNHL by clinical examination and using Pure Tone Audiometry (PTA). Out of 280 patients the incidence of only SSNHL is 1.07% (3 patients) and SSNHL with tinnitus is 2.14%(6 patients).Total recovery(TR) regained in 2 patients of SSNHL, Partial recovery(PR) in 4 patients, Slight improvement(SI) in 1 patient and no recovery(NR) in 2 patients. The incidence of SSNHL in time of COVID 19 pandemic appears to be higher (3.2%) than before the pandemic (0.005%-0.16%). Incidence among younger age group and patients with no comorbidities has been also increased. In diagnosed case of SSNHL, early treatment with short term course of oral steroids and neuromodulator drugs are the mainstay treatment. Awareness of such non-specific presentation of COVID 19 patients is crucial and shared decision making with the patient and providing health care personnel is necessary for decreasing the hearing loss associated morbidity.

Keywords: COVID 19; Incidence; Recovery; Sudden onset sensory-neural hearing loss.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interestNone.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
In our study the age group of less than 50 years was found to be higher, 7 patients (77.7%) and only 2 patients (22.2) were found above 50 years
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
In our study, 5(56%) patients were males and 4(44%) patients were females
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Out of 9, 6(67%) patients were presented with SSNHL + Tinnitus and 3(33%) patients were having only SSNHL
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Pre & post- treatment average hearing levels of right ear. PTA RT-Pure tone audiometry of right ear before treatment (decibel of hearing loss), 7D RT-Right ear recovery on 7th day of treatment, 14D RT-Right ear recover on 14th day of treatment
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Pre & post- treatment average hearing levels of left ear. PTA LT-Pure tone audiometry of left ear before treatment (decibel of hearing loss), 7D Left-left ear recovery on 7th day of treatment, 14D Left-Left ear recovery on 14th day of treatment
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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