Impact of COVID-19 on Hearing in Children and Adolescents
Author Information
Author(s): Julia Siqueira, Milaine Dominici Sanfins, Piotr Henryk Skarzynski, Magdalena Beata Skarzynska, Maria Francisca Colella-Santos
Primary Institution: State University of Campinas
Hypothesis
How does COVID-19 affect the peripheral and central auditory systems in children and adolescents?
Conclusion
COVID-19 appears to alter the auditory system in children and adolescents, affecting both peripheral and central auditory functions.
Supporting Evidence
- The study found significant differences in auditory thresholds between children who had COVID-19 and those who did not.
- Participants who had COVID-19 showed a higher prevalence of absent otoacoustic emissions.
- Central auditory processing tests indicated poorer performance in the COVID-19 group.
Takeaway
This study looked at how COVID-19 might change how kids hear. It found that kids who had COVID-19 had some hearing issues compared to those who didn't.
Methodology
This was a prospective, observational, and cross-sectional study comparing 23 children who had COVID-19 with a control group of 23 children who had no auditory complaints.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the small sample size and lack of control for noise exposure.
Limitations
The study had a small sample size and lacked pre-pandemic data for some tests.
Participant Demographics
Participants were aged 8 to 15 years, with 65% being male.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p ≤ 0.05
Statistical Significance
p ≤ 0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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