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Updated: Nov 1, 2025
Author Spotlight: Optimizing EAS with Long Electrodes for Enhanced Cochlear Coverage and Hearing Preservation
Published on: October 11, 2024
Cochlear implantation for single-sided deafness after COVID-19 hospitalization
Leena Asfour1, Emily Kay-Rivest1, J Thomas Roland1
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
Introduction:
Understanding the clinical manifestations of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has become an urgent objective in the research community. Amongst the emerging neurologic complications is sensorineural hearing loss. While several cases of hearing loss amongst COVID-19 patients have been reported, the management of these patients has yet to be discussed and determined. Herein we present cochlear implant outcomes for a patient who suffered from unilateral sensorineural hearing loss after a prolonged hospital course for COVID-19.
Methods:
A patient who was hospitalized for COVID-19 for one month and subsequently developed unilateral profound sensorineural hearing loss underwent cochlear implantation for single-sided deafness. His COVID-19 hospital course was reviewed in detail. Speech perception and audiometric assessments were used to evaluate cochlear implant outcomes.
Results:
After cochlear implantation, the patient demonstrated improved speech perception on the implanted side and decreased tinnitus within 1 month of activation.
Conclusions:
Cochlear implantation may be an appropriate intervention for patients who suffer from severe sensorineural hearing loss following infection with COVID-19.
