PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Foteini Stefania Koumpa
AU  - Cillian T Forde
AU  - Joseph G Manjaly
TI  - Sudden irreversible hearing loss post COVID-19
AID  - 10.1136/bcr-2020-238419
DP  - 2020 Nov 01
TA  - BMJ Case Reports
PG  - e238419
VI  - 13
IP  - 11
4099  - http://casereports.bmj.com/content/13/11/e238419.short
4100  - http://casereports.bmj.com/content/13/11/e238419.full
SO  - BMJ Case Reports2020 Nov 01; 13
AB  - Sudden onset sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is frequently seen by otolaryngologists. The exact pathophysiology of the disease is still unknown, with the most likely causative factor being following a viral infection. Immediate steroids are the best treatment to improve prognosis. Despite a plethora of papers in the literature describing SSNHL, there are only a few reported cases of hearing loss following COVID-19, none of which have been reported in the UK. This paper presents the first UK case of SSNHL following COVID-19. Physical examination and imaging excluded any other cause of hearing loss. A literature review showed that four other cases have been previously described. Hearing loss can be a significant cause of morbidity and can easily be missed in the intensive care setting. Being aware and screening for SSNHL following COVID-19 enables an early course of steroids, which offers the best chance of recovering hearing.