Roberto Gallus1, Andrea Melis2, Davide Rizzo2, Antonio Piras2, Laura Maria De Luca2, Pierangela Tramaloni2, Antonello Serra3, Eleonora Longoni4, Giovanni Maria Soro5, Francesco Bussu6. 1. Otolaryngology, Mater Olbia Hospital, Italy. 2. Otolaryngology Division, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria, Sassari, Italy. 3. Surveillance and Prevention Department, University Hospital of Sassari, Sassari, Italy. 4. Unit of Otorhinolaryngology, Department of Surgery, Azienda Ospedaliero - Universitaria di Cagliari, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. 5. Directorate General, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria, Sassari, Italy. 6. Division of Otolaryngology, Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Science, University of Sassari, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: since the beginning of COVID-19 outbreak a growing number of symptoms and deficits associated with the new pathology have emerged, among them cochlear damage in otherwise asymptomatic COVID-19 patients has been described. OBJECTIVE: to investigate general and audiovestibular symptoms and sequelae in healed patients, and to seek for any sign of residual or permanent hearing or vestibular loss. METHODS: we reviewed the data coming from 48 Covid-19 patients whose nasopharyngeal swabs have turned negative, all employed at our facility, that opted in for a free screening of audiovestibular symptoms offered by our hospital after the aforementioned report was published. The screening included a tonal pure tone audiometry, a vHIT and SHIMP test, as well as a survey including known symptoms and audiovestibular symptoms. RESULTS: general symptoms as reported by our patients largely reflect what reported by others in the literature. 4 (8.3%) patients reported hearing loss, 2 (4.2%) tinnitus, 4 dizziness (8.3%), 1 spinning vertigo (2%), 1 dynamic imbalance (2%), 3 static imbalance (6.3%). Most audiovestibular symptoms have regressed. Thresholds at pure tone audiometry and vHIT gain were within normality range in all post-Covid-19 patients. CONCLUSIONS: even if some patients suffer from audiovestibular symptoms, these are mostly transitory and there is no clear evidence of clinically relevant persistent cochlear or vestibular damage after recovery.
BACKGROUND: since the beginning of COVID-19 outbreak a growing number of symptoms and deficits associated with the new pathology have emerged, among them cochlear damage in otherwise asymptomatic COVID-19patients has been described. OBJECTIVE: to investigate general and audiovestibular symptoms and sequelae in healed patients, and to seek for any sign of residual or permanent hearing or vestibular loss. METHODS: we reviewed the data coming from 48 Covid-19patients whose nasopharyngeal swabs have turned negative, all employed at our facility, that opted in for a free screening of audiovestibular symptoms offered by our hospital after the aforementioned report was published. The screening included a tonal pure tone audiometry, a vHIT and SHIMP test, as well as a survey including known symptoms and audiovestibular symptoms. RESULTS: general symptoms as reported by our patients largely reflect what reported by others in the literature. 4 (8.3%) patients reported hearing loss, 2 (4.2%) tinnitus, 4 dizziness (8.3%), 1 spinning vertigo (2%), 1 dynamic imbalance (2%), 3 static imbalance (6.3%). Most audiovestibular symptoms have regressed. Thresholds at pure tone audiometry and vHIT gain were within normality range in all post-Covid-19patients. CONCLUSIONS: even if some patients suffer from audiovestibular symptoms, these are mostly transitory and there is no clear evidence of clinically relevant persistent cochlear or vestibular damage after recovery.
Entities:
Keywords:
audiovestibular symptoms; covid-19; general symptoms; pure tone audiometry; vHIT
Authors: Ricardo R Figueiredo; Norma de O Penido; Andréia A de Azevedo; Patrícia M de Oliveira; Adriana G de Siqueira; Guilherme de M R Figueiredo; Winfried Schlee; Berthold Langguth Journal: Front Neurol Date: 2022-09-09 Impact factor: 4.086