COVID-19-Induced Bilateral Sensorineural Hearing Loss in Cogan's Syndrome: A Case of Successful Cochlear Implantation in a Pediatric Patient

Cogan's syndrome (CS) is a rare autoimmune disorder that can cause profound sensorineural hearing loss by affecting the eyes and inner ears. A case report of a 12-year-old patient with CS who underwent successful cochlear implantation is presented. The patient developed bilateral hearing loss after a COVID-19 infection and showed no improvement with multiple medical therapies....

No actionable change from a single case; however, clinicians should be alert to COVID-19 as a potential trigger for profound hearing deterioration in children with pre-existing autoimmune inner-ear conditions such as Cogan's syndrome.

This case adds to emerging evidence linking COVID-19 to acute audiovestibular deterioration in autoimmune-susceptible patients, potentially broadening cochlear implant candidacy discussions for this population.

1. 01COVID-19 infection was temporally associated with onset of bilateral profound sensorineural hearing loss in a child with Cogan's syndrome.
2. 02Cogan's syndrome is a rare autoimmune condition affecting both the eyes and inner ear, often causing progressive hearing loss.
3. 03Cochlear implantation resulted in successful hearing restoration in this pediatric patient.
4. 04The case raises the question of COVID-19 as an autoimmune trigger worsening inner-ear disease.
5. 05Single-case evidence; broader conclusions require systematic study.

PMID

42345423

DOI

10.65717/iao.2025.251922.

Journal

International Archives of Otorhinolaryngology

Publication type

case_report

Evidence level

4

Sample size

1

Population

12-year-old with Cogan's syndrome and COVID-19-induced bilateral profound sensorineural hearing loss

Intervention

Cochlear implantation