Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss among COVID-19 Patients-Our Experiences at an Indian Teaching Hospital

Santosh Kumar  Swain; Somadatta Das; Smarita Lenka

doi:10.33192/Smj.2021.11

Authors

Santosh Kumar Swain Department of Otorhinolaryngology, IMS and SUM hospital, Siksha “O” Anusandhan University, K8, Kalinganagar, Bhubaneswar-751003, Odisha, India http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7933-4414
Somadatta Das Central Research Laboratory, IMS and SUM hospital, Siksha “O” Anusandhan University, K8, Kalinganagar, Bhubaneswar-751003, Odisha, India http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5781-5839
Smarita Lenka Department of Otorhinolaryngology, IMS and SUM hospital, Siksha “O” Anusandhan University, K8, Kalinganagar, Bhubaneswar-751003, Odisha, India http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1212-1999

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33192/Smj.2021.11

Keywords:

COVID-19 patients, SARS-CoV-2, sudden sensorineural hearing loss

Abstract

Objective: Sensorineural hearing loss is a known complication of several viral infections. The association between the SARS-CoV-2 and sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is making a challenge to the clinician in current COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of this study is to study the incidence of the sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) in patients with COVID-19 infections.
Methods: This is a retrospective descriptive study. There were 16 COVID-19 patients participated in this study those presented with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). The study was done between March 2020 to August 2020. All these patients were diagnosed of SARS-CoV-2 infection with help of the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing.
Results: Out of 16 patients with SSNHL, 11 (68.75%) were male and 5(31.25%) were female with male to female ration of 2.2:1. The age ranges of the participants were 38 to 72 years with mean age of 48.42 years. Out of the 16 patients with SSNH, 14(87.50%) were presented with unilateral and 2(12.50%) were presented with bilateral SSNHL. There were left sided SSNHL in 9 patients (56.25%) and right side SSNHL in 5 patients (31.25%). Out of the 16 patients of SSNHL, 3(18.75%) were completely asymptomatic except hearing loss and rests were presented with different clinical manifestations of the COVID-19 infections. Out of 16 patients 9(56.25%) were recovered with appropriate and prompt treatment.
Conclusion: There should be a continuous monitoring of the SSNHL. Tracing of COVID-19 infection is needed to ensure the detail understanding of this inner ear pathogenesis.

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