Audiological implications of COVID-19: an integrative literature review

Georgea Espindola Ribeiro,Daniela Polo Camargo Da Silva

doi:10.1590/1982-0216/20212319620

Georgea Espindola Ribeiro, Daniela Polo Camargo Da Silva

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-0216/20212319620

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Abstract

ABSTRACT Purpose: to survey the national and international literature on the impacts of the coronavirus infection on the auditory system. Methods: an integrative review with search in the BIREME, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Sciences databases. Inclusion criteria: articles in Portuguese and English whose subject was the coronavirus infection and its effects on the auditory system. Exclusion criteria: information from books and/or chapters, letters to editors, review articles, experience reports. The search strategy was based on the following combined descriptors, respectively in Portuguese and English: “Infecções por coronavírus”, “Audição”, “Perda auditiva”, “Coronavirus infections”, “Hearing”, “Hearing Loss”. Results: out of 43 articles found, two approached the issue. The first study assessed 20 patients that tested positive for COVID-19, though asymptomatic, who underwent pure-tone threshold audiometry and otoacoustic emissions. A significant increase in the auditory thresholds at high frequencies and a smaller response amplitude in the transient evoked otoacoustic emissions of those who tested positive for COVID-19 were observed when compared to that of controls. The second study reported the case of an asymptomatic 35-year-old COVID-19 female patient, who complained of otalgia and tinnitus, after being contaminated. The pure-tone threshold audiometry and tympanometry indicated mild unilateral (right ear) conductive hearing loss, with a type B tympanometric curve on that side. Conclusion: the studies included in this review showed different consequences of COVID-19 on hearing, with possible impairments on the sensory and mechanical structures of the auditory system. The knowledge of COVID-19 is limited, and further studies on its real impact on the auditory system are necessary.

Highlights

The coronavirus infection (COVID-19) is caused by SARS-CoV-2, an agent that causes a potentially fatal disease, raising great worldwide public health concern[1]
pure-tone audiometry (PTA): Larger audiometric thresholds in the subjects with COVID-19, from 250 to 8000, with statistical significance at 4000, 6000, and 8000 Hz TEOAE: The mean response amplitude was significantly smaller in the subjects with
The second study included in this review reported the case of a 35-year-old asymptomatic COVID-19 female patient with no comorbidities, who complained of otalgia and tinnitus

Summary

Introduction

The coronavirus infection (COVID-19) is caused by SARS-CoV-2, an agent that causes a potentially fatal disease, raising great worldwide public health concern[1]. This disease was first identified in Wuhan, Hubei province, China, and it spread throughout the world, affecting more than 120 countries[2]. COVID-19 is one of the main pathogens whose chief target is the human respiratory system It predominantly affects adults, most of whom with associated cardiovascular diseases and/or diabetes mellitus[3]. The typical symptoms are fever, coughing, dyspnea, myalgia, headaches, pharyngitis, rhinorrhea, chest pain, and diarrhea[3,4]. Most patients have mild symptoms and a good prognosis[3]

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