Audiometric Profile in Post-COVID-19 Patients.

INTRODUCTION: 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. METHODS: A cross-sectional study compared the pure-tone thresholds of 120 individuals with a confirmed history of COVID-19 and 120 unexposed controls, evaluated between 2021 and 2023. RESULTS: The median tonal thresholds of exposed individuals were predominantly higher than those of unexposed individuals in both ears. The rate of hearing threshold alteration was 28.3% in exposed individuals versus 15% in unexposed individuals, with an odds ratio (OR) of 2.24 (95% CI: 1.18-4.25). Comparison of thresholds between the right and left ears of each exposed individual demonstrated asymmetric hearing impairment. The distribution of otorhinolaryngological symptoms included: nasal symptoms 67.5%; cough 65.8%; loss of smell 60%; loss of taste 56.7%; sore throat 47.5%; dizziness 30.8%; hoarseness 21.7%; tinnitus 19.2%; earache 18.3%; hearing loss 18.3%; and facial paralysis 0.8%. The association between reported symptoms and changes in pure-tone thresholds was statistically significant only for hearing loss (p < 0.001; OR = 8.9) and tinnitus (p = 0.005; OR = 3.7). CONCLUSION: Individuals exposed to COVID-19 showed worse tonal thresholds and a higher rate of hearing changes compared with non-exposed individuals.