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Auditory Screening in Newborns after Maternal SARS-CoV-2 Infection: An Overview
Virginia Fancello1, Giuseppe Fancello2, Elisabetta Genovese3
1ENT & Audiology Unit, Department of Neurosciences, University Hospital of Ferrara, 44124 Ferrara, Italy.
Insights
Maternal COVID-19 infection during pregnancy does not definitively link to congenital hearing loss in newborns. Further research is needed to establish a clear correlation between SARS-CoV-2 and hearing impairment.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Pediatrics
- Genetics
Background:
- Congenital hearing loss is linked to various viruses.
- The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic prompted investigations into its potential effects on newborns.
- Maternal COVID-19 infection is a suspected factor in congenital hearing loss.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and assess the potential association between maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy and congenital hearing loss in infants.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review adhering to PRISMA criteria.
- Searched Medline and Embase databases from March 2020 to February 2023.
- Analyzed nine selected studies out of 924 initial candidates.
Main Results:
- Included 1687 children born to mothers with COVID-19 during pregnancy.
- Identified a 0.7% incidence of hearing loss (12/1688).
- Noted missing details on hearing loss type and variable follow-up periods; significant false positives occurred during initial screening.
Conclusions:
- A definitive correlation between maternal COVID-19 and congenital hearing loss is not established.
- Further research is required to confirm any link.
- The current evidence is insufficient to conclude a causal relationship.
Background And Aim:
Several viruses have previously been reported to be responsible for congenital hearing loss; therefore, since the beginning of the SARS-CoV-2 infection pandemic, various reports have investigated a possible link. The aim of this review is to assess the possible link between maternal COVID-19 infection and congenital hearing loss.
Methods:
This systematic review was performed using PRISMA criteria, searching Medline and Embase databases from March 2020 to February 2023. A total of 924 candidate papers were identified; however, considering the specific selection criteria, only nine were selected for additional analysis.
Results:
The overall number of children born from mothers infected with COVID-19 during pregnancy identified through this review was 1687. The confirmed cases of hearing loss were 0.7% (12/1688); a description of its nature (sensorineural vs. conductive) is missing in the selected studies, and the follow-up period is variable across the analyzed papers. Surprisingly, a large proportion of false positives were recorded at the first stage of screening, which resulted normal at the re-test.
Conclusions:
Currently, a correlation between congenital hearing loss and SARS-CoV-2 infection cannot be definitively established. Further studies are desirable to provide additional evidence on this topic.
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