A total of 44 individuals aged between 19 and 58 years, of both genders, post-COVID-19 infection, confirmed by serological tests, with no previous hearing complaints and no risk factors for hearing loss, were assessed. All the participants underwent the following procedures: pure tone audiometry, logoaudiometry, immitanciometry, and Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials (BAEP), in addition to answering a questionnaire about auditory symptoms.
Thirteen individuals (29.5 %) had some hearing threshold impairment, mainly sensorineural hearing loss. In the BAEP, 18 individuals (40.9 %) presented longer latencies, mainly in waves III and V. According to the questionnaire answers, 3 individuals (9.1 %) reported worsened hearing and 7 (15.9 %) tinnitus that emerged after the infection. As for the use of ototoxic drugs during treatment, 7 individuals (15.9 %) reported their use, of which 5 showed abnormalities in peripheral and/or central auditory assessments.
Considering the self-reported hearing complaints after COVID-19 infection and the high rate of abnormalities found in both peripheral and central audiological assessments, it is suggested that the new COVID-19 may compromise the auditory system. Due to the many variables involved in this study, the results should be considered with caution. However, it is essential that audiological evaluations are carried out on post-COVID-19 patients in order to assess the effects of the infection in the short, medium, and long term. Future longitudinal investigations are important for a better understanding of the auditory consequences of COVID-19.
方法:共有44名年龄在19至58岁之间的人,两种性别,COVID-19感染后,通过血清学测试证实,以前没有听力投诉,也没有听力损失的危险因素,被评估。所有参与者都接受了以下程序:纯音测听,测听仪,immitanciometry,和脑干听觉诱发电位(BAEP),除了回答关于听觉症状的问卷。
结果:有13个人(29.5%)有一些听力阈值损害,主要是感音神经性听力损失.在BAEP中,18人(40.9%)的等待时间较长,主要在第三波和第五波。根据问卷答案,3人(9.1%)报告听力恶化,感染后出现耳鸣7人(15.9%)。至于在治疗期间使用耳毒性药物,7个人(15.9%)报告了他们的使用情况,其中5例显示外周和/或中枢听觉评估异常。
结论:考虑到COVID-19感染后自我报告的听力投诉以及在周围和中枢听力学评估中发现的高异常率,提示新型COVID-19可能损害听觉系统。由于这项研究涉及许多变量,应谨慎考虑结果。然而,必须对COVID-19后患者进行听力学评估,以便在短期内评估感染的影响,中等,和长期。未来的纵向研究对于更好地理解COVID-19的听觉后果很重要。