COVID-19 hearing loss project v1.8
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigation into hearing loss as a manifestation of Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) - a pilot study
IRAS ID
307016
Contact name
Ananth Vijendren
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
East and North Herts NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been postulated to affect nerve function as some patients have had altered sense of smell and taste and there have been reports of long standing nervous system involvement. Within the Ear, Nose and Throat forums and published literature, there have been several case reports that the hearing and balance may be affected. One study has suggested that part of the hearing organ (the cochlea) is affected in patients who might subjectively be unaware of any hearing loss2. Additionally, two case reports described cases of profound sensorineural hearing loss post-COVID infection, one requiring cochlear implantation. These anecdotal evidences suggest there may be COVID-19 infections could affect the hearing and balance nerves.
The purpose of this pilot study is to determine if SARS-CoV-2 virus affects hearing, and if so, the degree and nature of it. This will help us garner an impulse if a larger study may be required to determine if positive COVID-19 patients should have their hearing tested as a matter of protocol and subsequently alert primary care practitioners as well as the ENT community about the potential for hearing loss. This will allow early recognition and prompt medical and rehabilitation treatments to be instituted in a timely manner.
The candidate predictors of hearing loss have been postulated to be age, gender, severity of symptoms of COVID-19 (requirements for oxygen or ventilation, type of medication received), presence of vestibular and other otological symptoms present before or at the time of onset of COVID-19.
Aims : To deliver a pilot, case-control study in order to explore if there is a clinical or subclinical effect on hearing in participants who have suffered symptomatic or asymptomatic COVID-19 infection, irrespective of variant, and if so, its nature and possible site of lesion
Objectives:
- to recruit COVID-19 positive and negative patients who attended the Lister audiology clinic between 1/01/19 and 31/12/19 and had a baseline hearing test;
- to perform hearing assessments on consenting individuals in order to determine any hearing loss after being tested COVID-19 positive/negative, to capture the range of audiovestibular symptoms they complain of, and to determine whether the hearing loss recovers within a 6 month time frame through 3 further testing.REC name
Wales REC 5
REC reference
22/WA/0015
Date of REC Opinion
25 Jan 2022
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion