Neurological Disorders

Review Of Audiological Findings In SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Abstract

Nancy Sotero Silva, Carolina Karla de Souza Evangelista, Pedro de Franca Cavalcanti, Sheila Andreoli Balen, Hannalice Gottschalck Cavalcanti and Edgard Morya*

Since 2020 the world has been dealing with an acute respiratory syndrome pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2. The main symptoms are fever, cough, and tiredness, accompanied by smell and taste loss. Due to neurotropism and infection mechanisms, SARS-CoV-2 can cause several neurological and sensory injuries. Its auditory impacts are controversial; however, cochlear hair cells and auditory pathways might be damaged. The aim of this review was identifying evidence underlying clinical association between COVID-19 and auditory implications which would help diagnosis and treatment response. Studies identified in databases Scielo (Scientific Electronic Library Online), Lilacs (Latin American Literature in Sciences Health), Pubmed (National Library of Medicine), Livivo and Scopus, published up to June 2021 for COVID-19 and auditory system impairments correlation and etiology were selected. Inclusion criteria were: Articles published in any language related to COVID-19 and audiological symptoms confirmed by audiological testing. Searching returned 1208 records and after applying eligibility criteria, 24 original research and 10 review articles were included. More frequent evaluations were pure tone audiometry, transient evoked otoacoustic emissions, tympanometry, and acoustic reflex test, sensorineural hearing loss being most prevalent. Recent studies support the relation between SARS-CoV-2 infection and audiological findings. Long term COVID-19 follow up should include systematic ea rly audiological evaluation.

Summary: Recent findings support SARS-CoV-2 implications on cochlear hair cells and other auditory structures. Auditory dysfunctions are a possible consequence of COVID-19 since some symptoms such as sudden hearing loss, otitis, and tinnitus were reported. Vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 might contribute to congenital damages, impact on auditory abilities, and consequently, language acquisition. Raising potential impacts of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the auditory system based on recent case reports brings attention to mechanisms that underlie clinical association. Long term follow up of hearing function in suspected and confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection will support more ef fective clinical intervention.