Auditory function in symptomatic patients recovered from SARS-CoV-2 and unexposed patients: An analytical cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE: To describe audiological symptoms, audiometric profile, and distortion product otoacoustic emission in symptomatic patients recovering from SARS-CoV-2 infection (positive RT-PCR test) and asymptomatic patients (negative RT-PCR test). METHODS: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted using data obtained from clinical charts, physical examination, audiometry, and distortion product otoacoustic emission on 40 patients [case patients (CP)] recovering from SARS-CoV-2 infection diagnosed by a positive RT-PCR test and 22 asymptomatic participants with a negative RT-PCR test [non-case (NC)]. RESULTS: Sixty-two patients (mean age: 31.1 and 28.2 years in the CP and NC groups, respectively) were included. All participants were young without significant comorbidities, risk factors for hearing loss or otological history. Vertigo (5%), tinnitus (17.5%) and aural fullness/hearing loss (35%) were found in the CP group. A statistically significant difference was found in specific frequencies (1000, 4000, and 8000 Hz) and pure tone average (low and high conversational frequencies with increased threshold in the PC group compared with the NC group), which was not found in distortion product otoacoustic emission. CONCLUSION: Audiovestibular symptoms are frequent in symptomatic patients recovering from SARS-CoV-2 infection. SARS-CoV-2 infection was consistently associated with an increased audiometric hearing threshold at specific frequencies and low tone average.