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ORIGINAL ARTICLE
SELF-ASSESSMENT OF HEARING USING A MOBILE APP AMONG COVID-19 PATIENTS
1
Department and Clinic of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Wroclaw Medical University, Poland
2
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Fundamental Problems of Technology, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Poland
3
Department of Family Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, Poland
A - Research concept and design; B - Collection and/or assembly of data; C - Data analysis and interpretation; D - Writing the article; E - Critical revision of the article; F - Final approval of article;
Submission date: 2022-05-28
Final revision date: 2022-11-15
Acceptance date: 2022-12-13
Online publication date: 2022-12-29
Publication date: 2022-12-29
Corresponding author
Katarzyna Resler
Department and Clinic of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Wroclaw Medical University, Borowska 213, 50-556, Wroclaw, Poland
Department and Clinic of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Wroclaw Medical University, Borowska 213, 50-556, Wroclaw, Poland
J Hear Sci 2022;12(4):19-25
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
The effect of SARS-CoV-2 on hearing has not been thoroughly examined. Factors limiting hearing tests in COVID-19 patients are hygiene requirements and the need to use specialized equipment. The objective of the study was to assess changes in hearing thresholds between diagnosis of COVID-19 and convalescence using a mobile app.
Material and methods:
Patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms, who were isolating at home were enrolled in the study between 1 September 2020 and 31 January 2021. Subjects answered an online medical survey and self-assessed hearing thresholds using the Hearing TestTM mobile app (e-audiologia.pl). These procedures were done twice, once at the time of diagnosis and again 2 weeks after convalescence.
Results:
A total of 67 subjects were found eligible for the study. At most frequencies the patients’ hearing did not differ between the first and second examinations; however, for 4 kHz, a statistically significant improvement in the hearing threshold was found (p = 0.05). Survey review revealed noticeable improvement (p = 0.001) over time in smell, taste, and nasal congestion.
Conclusions:
It seems that SARS-CoV-2 infection caused a transient and selective (at 4 kHz) hearing impairment in patients who had had mild to moderate infection. The results suggest that as olfactory function returns after COVID-19, an improvement in hearing can be expected. Solutions based on mobile technology are useful for monitoring the hearing of patients in a pandemic.
The effect of SARS-CoV-2 on hearing has not been thoroughly examined. Factors limiting hearing tests in COVID-19 patients are hygiene requirements and the need to use specialized equipment. The objective of the study was to assess changes in hearing thresholds between diagnosis of COVID-19 and convalescence using a mobile app.
Material and methods:
Patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms, who were isolating at home were enrolled in the study between 1 September 2020 and 31 January 2021. Subjects answered an online medical survey and self-assessed hearing thresholds using the Hearing TestTM mobile app (e-audiologia.pl). These procedures were done twice, once at the time of diagnosis and again 2 weeks after convalescence.
Results:
A total of 67 subjects were found eligible for the study. At most frequencies the patients’ hearing did not differ between the first and second examinations; however, for 4 kHz, a statistically significant improvement in the hearing threshold was found (p = 0.05). Survey review revealed noticeable improvement (p = 0.001) over time in smell, taste, and nasal congestion.
Conclusions:
It seems that SARS-CoV-2 infection caused a transient and selective (at 4 kHz) hearing impairment in patients who had had mild to moderate infection. The results suggest that as olfactory function returns after COVID-19, an improvement in hearing can be expected. Solutions based on mobile technology are useful for monitoring the hearing of patients in a pandemic.
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