Pre-registered controlled comparison of auditory function reveals no difference between hospitalised adults with and without COVID-19

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Objective: Several viruses are known to have a negative impact on hearing health. The global prevalence of COVID-19 means that it is crucial to understand whether and how SARS-CoV2 affects hearing. Evidence to date is mixed, with studies frequently exhibiting limitations in the methodological approaches used or the populations sampled, leading to a substantial risk of bias. This study addressed many of these limitations.

Design: A comprehensive battery of measures was administered, including lab-based behavioural and physiological measures, as well as self-report instruments. Performance was thoroughly assessed across the auditory system, including measures of cochlear function, neural function, and auditory perception. Hypotheses and analyses were pre-registered.

Study sample: Participants who were hospitalised as a result of COVID-19 (n=57) were compared with a well-matched control group (n=40) who had also been hospitalised but had never had COVID-19.

Results: We find no evidence to support the hypothesis that COVID-19 is associated with deficits in auditory function on any auditory test measure. Of all the confirmatory analyses, only the self-report measure of hearing decline indicated any difference between groups.

Conclusion: Results do not support the hypothesis that COVID-19 infection has a significant long-term impact on the auditory system.
Original languageEnglish
JournalInternational Journal of Audiology
Early online date26 Jun 2023
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 26 Jun 2023

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Pre-registered controlled comparison of auditory function reveals no difference between hospitalised adults with and without COVID-19'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this