There is uncertainty about whether COVID-19 is a risk factor for hearing loss. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the audiometric profile of patients post-COVID-19 infection and compare it to unaffected individuals, clarifying the correlation between COVID-19 and hearing loss. Additionally, we sought correlations between reported otorhinolaryngological symptoms during COVID-19 and changes in tonal thresholds.
✦ The floor
Discussion
Signed responses from readers of the wire.
Audiologists should consider asking patients about prior COVID-19 infection during case history, as emerging evidence suggests COVID-19 may be a risk factor for hearing loss, though study quality varies and no protocol change is firmly justified yet.
With hundreds of millions of COVID-19 survivors worldwide, even a modest increase in hearing loss risk would represent a significant public health burden that audiologists need to be prepared to assess and manage.
- 01Evaluates audiometric profiles in post-COVID-19 patients using standard hearing tests.
- 02Investigates whether COVID-19 infection is an independent risk factor for hearing loss.
- 03Published in International Archives of Otorhinolaryngology (2026).
- 04COVID-19 has been associated with various ear symptoms including tinnitus and hearing changes.
- 05Findings could influence audiological screening recommendations for COVID-19 survivors.
COVID-19 infection is a risk factor for hearing loss detectable on audiometric testing.
studyunclear- PMID
- 42602818
- DOI
- 10.1055/a-2873-4569.
- Journal
- International Archives of Otorhinolaryngology
- Publication type
- research_article
- Evidence level
- 4
- Population
- Post-COVID-19 patients
- Intervention
- Audiometric profiling/testing following COVID-19 infection
Primary outcomes
Audiometric profile characteristics in post-COVID-19 patients; Association between COVID-19 infection and hearing loss risk