CORRELATION BETWEEN COVID-19 AND THE SELF-REPORTED PRESENCE OF AUDIOVESTIBULAR SYMPTOMS

Aim: The purpose of this research is to identify if the COVID-19 positive result correlates with audiovestibular symptoms. Methods:This researchaimed to evaluate the differences in hearing, hyperacusis, tinnitus and dizziness/rotatory vertigo that was experienced by those COVID-19 patients who were hospitalized and non-hospitalized during and after the severe phase of this pandemic in comparison to those that were observed by non-COVID-19 patients who served as controls. The research found that there was a total of 300 studied patients of COVID-19, out of which 150 were severe and required hospitalization, and 150 were moderate and could be treated at home. The control group consisted of 267 persons, of whom 32 had been hospitalized for an illness that was not COVID-19, and an additional 85 worked in hospital settings. Results:Eight percent of COVID-19 patients had hearing loss and/or tinnitus. The difference between moderate and severe cases is not significant. Tinnitus disappeared in 2% of cases following the acute phase. When comparing patients and controls, neither hearing loss nor tinnitus was significantly different. On the other hand, five percent of people in the COVID-19 groups reported experiencing rotatory vertigo, whereas only one percent of people in the control group did so. This disparity was significant. Conclusions: When comparing cases of varying severity, we find no evidence that COVID-19 puts a severe effect on tinnitus or hearing during the critical phase or after recovery. On the other hand, rotatory vertigo, which may have roots in the vestibular system, maybe a clinical symptom of COVID19.