Skip to content
The American Academy of Audiology
  • Practice Resources
    • Practice Guidelines and Standards
    • Reimbursement
    • Coding
    • Compliance
    • Public Awareness
    • State Medicaid
    • Medicare FAQs
    • COVID-19 Resources
  • Education and Events
    • Event Calendar
    • AAA Annual Conference
    • Academy Research Conference (ARC)
    • Continuing Education
    • eAudiology Online Learning
    • Research Grants and Scholarships
  • News and Publications
    • Audiology Today
    • Newsroom
    • Journal of the American Academy of Audiology
    • Advertising
    • Audiology Solutions Network
    • Online Store
  • Careers
    • Career Center
    • Certification
    • Become an Audiologist
    • Doctoral Programs in Audiology
    • Recruiting
    • Resources for New Audiologists
  • Advocacy
    • Legislative and Regulatory Activities
      • State Affairs
      • Federal Affairs
    • Legislative Action Center
    • Government Relations News
  • About the Academy
    • Contact Us
    • Academy Membership
      • Benefits
      • Ethics
      • Member Directory
      • Membership Renewals
    • Leadership
    • Committees and Task Forces
    • Get Involved
    • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
    • Honors and Awards
    • Sponsorships and Corporate Partners
    • Press and Media Information
  • Audiology Community
  • Consumers
    • What Is an Audiologist
    • Hearing and Balance Symptoms and Conditions
    • Managing Hearing Loss
    • Seniors and Hearing Loss
    • Children and Hearing Loss
FacebookTwitterLinkedinYoutubeInstagram
  • Audiology Community
  • Students
  • Get Involved
  • Donate
  • Renew
The American Academy of Audiology
Member Login
  • Practice Resources
    • Practice Guidelines and Standards
    • Reimbursement
    • Coding
    • Compliance
    • Public Awareness
    • State Medicaid
    • Medicare FAQs
    • COVID-19 Resources
  • Education and Events
    • Event Calendar
    • AAA Annual Conference
    • Academy Research Conference (ARC)
    • Continuing Education
    • eAudiology Online Learning
    • Research Grants and Scholarships
  • News and Publications
    • Audiology Today
    • Newsroom
    • Journal of the American Academy of Audiology
    • Advertising
    • Audiology Solutions Network
    • Online Store
  • Careers
    • Career Center
    • Certification
    • Become an Audiologist
    • Doctoral Programs in Audiology
    • Recruiting
    • Resources for New Audiologists
  • Advocacy
    • Legislative and Regulatory Activities
      • State Affairs
      • Federal Affairs
    • Legislative Action Center
    • Government Relations News
  • About the Academy
    • Contact Us
    • Academy Membership
      • Benefits
      • Ethics
      • Member Directory
      • Membership Renewals
    • Leadership
    • Committees and Task Forces
    • Get Involved
    • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
    • Honors and Awards
    • Sponsorships and Corporate Partners
    • Press and Media Information
  • Audiology Community
  • Consumers
    • What Is an Audiologist
    • Hearing and Balance Symptoms and Conditions
    • Managing Hearing Loss
    • Seniors and Hearing Loss
    • Children and Hearing Loss
July 5, 2022

Finally—Some Good News About COVID-19

  • In the News

As we all know, COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, is a highly contagious respiratory infection. Due to its novelty, medical personnel and scientists have major concerns for pregnant women, possible vertical maternal-fetal transmission, and the ramifications it may have on infant hearing. The research (outlined below) indicates that there may be no cause for concern, with little to no risks to the newborns.

COVID-19 has been compared to a TORCH infection (toxoplasmosis, other Agents, rubella, cytomegalovirus, and herpes Simplex) as they demonstrate similar incidence. Both COVID-19 and TORCH infections show higher infection rates in the third trimester, and it is well established that viruses can directly harm inner ear structures. For example, cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the leading cause of non-genetic congenital sensorineural hearing loss. As hearing loss is a common sequela of in-utero infections, many scientists are concerned about the long-term effects of COVID-19.

Researchers in Greece studied 32 neonates born to unvaccinated, COVID-19 positive mothers from March 2020 to January 2021. All contracted COVID-19 in their third trimester. The severity of disease outcomes for the fetus has an inverse correlation with gestational age, as first-trimester infections produce more harmful effects.  All babies were transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Nine of them were preterm, six had low birthweight, four required mechanical ventilation, two required nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), and eight required oxygen. All were negative for TORCH infections. 

On all infants, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests were performed within the first day of life, 48 hours later, and on the seventh day of life. For all infants, all PCR tests were negative. 

Transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE) hearing screening were conducted shortly after birth and seven infants did not pass (22 percent). Within one month, infants that did not pass initially were rescreened; all seven passed. Finally, all infants were screened one more time at nine months of age and passed the hearing screening bilaterally. 

The authors concluded that there was no evidence of vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from infected mothers to their newborns or any identifiable hearing loss. In the limitations of their study, they noted the lack of a control group and the small sample size could have impacted the results. Continued research is necessary to determine if SARS-CoV-2 should be included as a risk factor for congenital hearing loss. 

Reference

Kosmidou P, Karamatzanis ST, Aggelike V,  et al. (2022) Hearing outcomes of infants born to mothers with active COVID-19 Infection. Cureus 14(6):e25571. (accessed on July 1, 2022).

Share this

Recent Posts

  • CMS Releases Updated Guidance on AB Modifier
  • What Exactly Are Binaural Beats?
  • Academy Requests Federal Funding of Allied Health Workforce Diversity Act

Related Posts

What Exactly Are Binaural Beats?
In the News

What Exactly Are Binaural Beats?

When you present one tone to one ear and a second to the other ear, your brain perceives an additional tone. This is the essence of binaural beats. The concept of two tones creating a third tone should ring familiar with audiologists. However, our clinical use typically is unilateral when assessing distortion product otoacoustic emissions….

Read More
Does Your Dog Listen to You?
In the News

Does Your Dog Listen to You?

Dogs have a reputation for being human’s best friend. If you have ever had one as a pet, you know that they can be a loyal companion. Maybe even a trusted confidante?   You may have tried training your dog to follow basic commands like “sit” and “stay.” Have you ever noticed though that some…

Read More
Who’s Afraid of Snakes?
In the News

Who’s Afraid of Snakes?

Research shows that approximately half of the population feel “anxious” about snakes, and a whopping three percent of the population meet the diagnostic criteria for snake phobia (Polak et al., 2016). Is it their skin? Is it that they have no legs and thus slither? Is it the tongue? Is it their ears? Wait—do snakes…

Read More
wave-mark

Join the Academy

Academy members receive many benefits for professional development, practice management, and community development.

Become a Member
COMM22-Academy_Website_Graphics-Retina-Celebrating_35_Years (W)-min

American Academy of Audiology
11480 Commerce Park Drive
Suite 220
Reston, VA 20191

Tel: 703-790-8466
Fax: 703-790-8631

  • Practice Resources
    • Practice Guidelines and Standards
    • Reimbursement
    • Coding
    • Compliance
    • Public Awareness
    • State Medicaid
    • Medicare FAQs
    • COVID-19 Resources
  • Education and Events
    • Event Calendar
    • AAA Annual Conference
    • Academy Research Conference (ARC)
    • Continuing Education
    • eAudiology Online Learning
    • Research Grants and Scholarships
  • News and Publications
    • Audiology Today
    • Newsroom
    • Journal of the American Academy of Audiology
    • Advertising
    • Audiology Solutions Network
    • Online Store
  • Careers
    • Career Center
    • Certification
    • Become an Audiologist
    • Doctoral Programs in Audiology
    • Recruiting
    • Resources for New Audiologists
  • Advocacy
    • Legislative and Regulatory Activities
      • State Affairs
      • Federal Affairs
    • Legislative Action Center
    • Government Relations News
  • About the Academy
    • Contact Us
    • Academy Membership
      • Benefits
      • Ethics
      • Member Directory
      • Membership Renewals
    • Leadership
    • Committees and Task Forces
    • Get Involved
    • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
    • Honors and Awards
    • Sponsorships and Corporate Partners
    • Press and Media Information
  • Audiology Community
  • Consumers
    • What Is an Audiologist
    • Hearing and Balance Symptoms and Conditions
    • Managing Hearing Loss
    • Seniors and Hearing Loss
    • Children and Hearing Loss
  • Audiology Community
  • Students
  • Donate
  • Get Involved
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Antitrust Policy and Guidelines
  • Terms of Use Policy
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Sitemap

© Copyright 2023 American Academy of Audiology

Website by Yoko Co

Scroll To Top