# Mucormycosis and Hearing: A Hospital-Based Study

## TL;DR

This study finds that mucormycosis, a severe fungal infection, can cause hearing loss and middle ear dysfunction, highlighting the need for audiological evaluations in affected patients.

## Contribution

The study is the first to investigate the auditory effects of mucormycosis, revealing a notable prevalence of hearing loss and middle ear dysfunction.

## Key findings

- Mucormycosis patients had significantly higher auditory thresholds compared to controls.
- Approximately half of the mucormycosis patients experienced mild hearing loss.
- Middle ear dysfunction was more prevalent in mucormycosis patients based on immittance measurements.

## Abstract

Introduction
 Mucormycosis, a fungal infection with severe consequences, gained prominence during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. While significant efforts were made to understand the systemic implications of mucormycosis, its effect on the auditory system remains unexplored.

Objective
 This study aimed to investigate the auditory implications of mucormycosis through a comprehensive case-control study focusing on hearing loss and middle ear dysfunction.

Methods
 A total of 30 mucormycosis patients without prior auditory issues, and 30 age and gender-matched controls, underwent comprehensive hearing assessment, including pure-tone and immittance audiometry. Statistical analyses, including descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U test, Pearson chi-square test, and multiple logistic regression were performed to analyze the data.

Result
 Mucormycosis patients exhibited significantly higher auditory thresholds across all frequencies compared to controls (
p
 < 0.05). Approximately half of these patients experienced some degree of hearing loss, predominantly mild. Immittance measurement showed a higher prevalence of abnormal tympanograms in mucormycosis patients, indicating middle ear dysfunction. Acoustic reflex was absent in half of the mucormycosis patients suggesting impaired auditory function.

Conclusion
 The present study revealed significant auditory health impacts of mucormycosis, finding a notable prevalence of hearing loss and middle ear dysfunction, which emphasizes the need for routine audiological evaluations and increased awareness of mucormycosis-related auditory issues. Despite the study's limitations, we identified potential risk factors for hearing impairment, suggesting a need for further large-scale studies to confirm these findings and understand the mechanisms. These insights aim to improve diagnosis, treatment, and prevention strategies for better clinical outcomes.