Transient otoacoustic emissions with contralateral suppression findings in COVID-19 patients

OBJECTIVE: The virus called SARS-CoV-2, which is known as the first epidemic of the twenty-first century, is known to affect the central and peripheral nervous system. In the literature, complaints of sudden hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo have been reported in the patients. The aim of this study is to objectively reveal the effect of the coronavirus disease 2019 on the efferent auditory system. METHODS: Twenty-three participants, who had the coronavirus disease 2019, were included in the study group, while 20 healthy participants were included in the control group. The test of transient otoacoustic emissions with contralateral suppression was applied to individuals who had normal audiological and immitansmetric evaluations findings. RESULTS: In audiological evaluation, a significant difference was observed between the groups in the 125–500 Hz low frequency range and 4 kHz–12.5 kHz high frequency range. In the test of TEOAE and TEOAE with contralateral suppression, a significant difference was observed between the groups at 4 kHz. CONCLUSION: The effect of the coronavirus disease 2019 on the peripheral hearing system has been shown. Its effect on the efferent hearing system in the high frequency region has been revealed. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s43163-022-00231-z.