Maternal COVID-19 and neonatal hearing loss: a multicentric survey

• Published in: European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology Vol. 279; no. 7; pp. 3435 - 3438
• Main Authors: Mostafa, Badr Eldin, Mostafa, Ahmed, Fiky, Lobna M. El, Omara, Abir, Teaima, Ahmed
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01-07-2022
• Subjects: Cohort Studies; COVID-19 - complications; COVID-19 - epidemiology; Female; Head and Neck Surgery; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural - diagnosis; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural - epidemiology; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural - etiology; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Neonatal Screening; Neurosurgery; Otology; Otorhinolaryngology; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious - epidemiology; Retrospective Studies; SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; Neonatal screening; Hearing loss
• ISSN: 0937-4477; 1434-4726
• DOI: 10.1007/s00405-021-07098-5

Purpose
Gestational SARS-Cov-2 infection can impact maternal and neonatal health. The virus has also been reported of causing sensorineural hearing loss. The objective of this study was to determine the possible effect of maternal SARS-COV-2 infection on neonatal hearing as identified during universal hearing screening.
Methods
Retrospective cohort study in two tertiary referral centers including all neonates born from November 2020 through April 1st, 2021 and undergoing the universal hearing screening program. Maternal Covid-19 infection was recorded (timing and severity) and the results of hearing screening of their neonates compared to the incidence of neonatal hearing loss results of the national universal screening program during the same period.
Results
A total of 984 neonates were included (508 males and 476 females). Sixty-three neonates were excluded due to comorbidities which could cause hearing loss. The incidence of failed responses in the community at large was 2.3%. Twenty-seven failed both steps of screening (2.9%;
p
 < 0.2). There were 34 Covid-19 positive mothers (17 in the first trimester, 8 in the second and 9 in the third). Twenty-nine neonates failed the first screening (
p
 < 0.00001) but on further testing only one neonate failed (2.9%).
Conclusion
In this study, neonates born to Covid-19 positive mothers do not seem to have an increased risk of hearing loss. However longer follow-up of these neonates is mandatory to detect any possible delayed effects of the virus.