Cochleovestibular findings linked to COVID-19: A scoping review for clinical care planning in South Africa.
Katijah Khoza-Shangase
PMID 36073075WHAT IT FOUND
Evidence linking COVID-19 to permanent hearing or balance damage is weak and inconsistent.
Most reported symptoms like sudden hearing loss or tinnitus were temporary and resolved with steroids. Clinicians should screen for these issues but cannot assume a causal link.
Key findings
01There is no conclusive published evidence of persistent and clinically relevant cochlear or vestibular damage following recovery from COVID-19.
02The possibility of COVID-19 impacting hearing and balance is suggested, but the evidence is not strong due to poor study quality and the presence of other potential causes.
03Reported cochleovestibular symptoms are generally temporary and resolve either partially or completely following treatment with steroids.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The included studies were mostly low-quality case reports and small series, lacking control groups or objective measures. There was no formal assessment of study quality or risk of bias. No studies from sub-Saharan Africa were included, limiting the generalisability of findings to the South African context. Confounding factors such as medication use, pre-existing conditions, and environmental changes during hospitalisation were not consistently controlled for.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not treat this review as proof that COVID-19 causes permanent hearing or balance damage. The evidence is weak and inconsistent, with most symptoms being temporary and potentially caused by other factors. Do not overlook other medical causes for sudden hearing loss.