Frontiers in Neurology (May 2023)

Insights into perceived listening difficulties post COVID-19 infection: no measurable hearing difficulty on clinical tests despite increased self-reported listening effort

  • Sara Alhanbali,
  • Enaam Alkharabshe,
  • Wafa'a Alanati,
  • Khader Joudeh,
  • Kevin J. Munro,
  • Kevin J. Munro

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2023.1172441
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14

Abstract

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ObjectiveThe aim was to use a battery of clinic-based auditory assessment procedures to compare participants with and without self-reported hearing difficulties following a confirmed COVID-19 infection. A further aim was to compare the groups on self-reported measures of listening effort and fatigue.MethodsThere were 25 participants in each group (age range 20–59 years, 80% females). Participants were recruited after a minimum of 4 weeks of testing positive. Hearing assessment involved tympanometry, acoustic reflex thresholds, pure-tone audiometry (PTA; 0.25–14 kHz), and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs; 0.5–10 kHz). Listening effort was assessed using the Arabic version of the Effort Assessment Scale (EAS-A) and fatigue was assessed using the Arabic version of the Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS-A).ResultsThere was no difference between groups on any measure except for greater self-reported listening effort in the perceived hearing difficulty group (p = 0.01).ConclusionThe only difference between groups was self-reported listening effort. This could be due to a subclinical auditory deficit following COVID-19, increased listening effort due to the impact of COVID-19 on cognitive processes, or a psychosomatic response/health anxiety.

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