Audiological findings of employees of a multinational after COVID-19 infection

Abstract

Introduction: COVID-19 is an infection caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus that primarily affects the respiratory system. Viral infections are known to potentially harm the auditory system, and certain studies suggest the presence of auditory symptoms, such as sensorineural hearing loss, otalgia, aural fullness, tinnitus, and vertigo, in individuals with a history of COVID-19. Objective: This research aimed to probe the auditory complaints ensuing from COVID-19 in workers serviced by the audiology department of a multinational outpatient clinic in southern Brazil. Method: This cross-sectional, observational, retrospective, and comparative study scrutinized 64 medical records of workers exhibiting a shift in hearing threshold in their periodic audiometry, post-infection by SARS-CoV-2 between July 2020 and June 2022. Data were organized in Excel and the mean frequencies of 500Hz, 1000Hz, and 2000Hz (MG1), and 3000Hz, 4000Hz, and 6000Hz (MG2) were compared pre and post COVID-19 infection; complaints post-infection were also noted. Results: The means of G1 and G2 frequencies showed a statistically significant difference for both ears when contrasting the outcomes pre and post coronavirus infection, suggesting an association between the disease and the audiological findings. Moreover, patients reported auditory signs and symptoms, predominantly tinnitus, post-COVID-19. Conclusion: This research has demonstrated that COVID-19 infection can potentially inflict damages on the auditory system, causing shifts in auditory thresholds and eliciting complaints such as tinnitus, otalgia, sensation of aural fullness, and vertigo.

Key words: COVID-19; Hearing; Hearing Loss; SARS-CoV-2.