[Audiological profile of patients with SARS-Co-V-2 PCR-positive cases]

COVID-19 is a new pandemic caused by a novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2. COVID-19 has spread throughout China and received worldwide attention. On 11 February 2020, World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared COVID-19. The clinical symptoms of COVID-19 patients may vary, more often include symptoms affected by upper and lower respiratory tract damage. In ENT practice it is used to mention rhinitis, sore throat, anosmia/hyposmia. The effect of COVID-19 is an interesting issue in audiology. There were 78 patients who were confirmed positive for COVID-19 PCR-positive cases and 30 normal non-infected subjects in our study. The patients were divided into two groups according to severity their clinical symptoms from asymptomatic COVID-19 PCR-positive cases to severe form. All patients underwent audiological evaluation included tympanometry, acoustic threshold and transient evoked otoacoustic emission (TEOAE). Although hearing sensitivity was normal among some participants, it was statistically proved that TEOAEs could pick up subtle deterioration in the outer hair cells functions and impact on the cochlear.