A study of comparing between auditory manifestations in post-COVID 2019 and 2023

Abstract Background It’s known that COVID-19 affects the audio-vestibular system, while its variant is not studied yet. Accordingly, this work was designed to study the effect of COVID-19 and its variant on audio-vestibular system and to compare between symptoms and effects of these two. Methods A case- control study was conducted, with each case and control group consisting of 75 people who were age and gender matched. Their age ranged from 18 to 45 years. They were splited into three groups as follows: Study group 1 (post-COVID-19), it consisted of 25 post recovery adults, Study group 2 (post- COVID-23) consisted of 25 post recovery adults. Finally, a control group (group 3) consisted of 25 healthy people. PTA and tympanometry were used to evaluate hearing while VNG was used to evaluate vestibular system in all subjects included. Results Regarding the SNHL there was a statistically significant difference between post-COVID-19 and controls while no statistically significant difference was reported between post-COVID-19 and post-COVID-23 or between post-COVID-23 and controls. Regarding conductive hearing loss there was statistically significant difference between post-COVID-23 and controls with no statistically significant differences between post-COVID-19 and post-COVID-23 or between post-COVID-23 and controls. Regarding the vestibular examination, Statistical analysis revealed significant difference in caloric test results between post-COVID-19 and controls with no statistically significant difference between the post-COVID-19 and post-COVID-23 or between post-COVID-23 and controls. Conclusions SNHL was more than CHL in post-COVID 2019. On the other hand, in post COVID-2023 cases CHL was more than SNHL. Also, the severity of symptom decreased from 2019 to 2023. We recommend that COVID patients should proceed with an audio-vestibular evaluation. So that early affection could be detected and managed properly accordingly.