Introduction. One of the characteristic manifestations of COVID-19 is a disorder of smell, which, according to the literature, occurs in 61.2% - 85.6% of patients with COVID-19. The article discusses the problems of post-viral dysosmia in COVID-19 convalescents. Purpose of the study. Evaluation of olfactory disorders in patients after coronavirus infection and the possibility of obtaining additional benefits from prescribing bioregulatory medicine drugs.Materials and methods. The assessment of the severity of olfactory disorders in patients, taking into account the age according to self-assessment data using a visual analogue scale, as well as an objective assessment of odor identification using the Sniffin ‘Sticks Screening 12 Test. The possibility of increasing the efficiency of recovery of olfactory disorders by prescribing complex preparations of bioregulatory therapy (main group) was studied.Results. The percentage of persons who fully restored the olfactory function in the main group was 56.5%, while in the patients of the control group only in 6.6%. Faster (on the 7th day) dynamics of identification testing using SST-12 in patients taking complex preparations of bioregulation therapy was noted. On the 3rd day of therapy, there was a significant decrease in anxiety in patients treated with bioregulatory drugs.Discussion. The conducted study objectively confirmed that the olfactory disorder is present in the vast majority of patients with ARS. The appointment of bioregulatory therapy contributes to the early restoration of the olfactory function.Conclusions. Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that it is advisable to use bioregulatory drugs.

The study evaluated the effectiveness of screening tests by identifying hearing loss in 127 adults of the older age groups (aged 60–87). We performed a quantitative assessment of the HHIE-S questionnaire (accuracy, sensitivity, specificity) comparing to the puretone threshold audiometry (the gold standard for detecting hearing loss). The analysis of hearing impairment prevalence in the target population relied on both methods. We have observed a high rate of hearing loss — 81% in the patients of the older age group, of which 30% had mild hearing loss, 38% — moderate hearing loss, 9% — severe hearing loss, the remaining 4% with profound hearing loss. We have evaluated the average accuracy (62.2%), sensitivity (64.0%), specificity (54.0%) as well as the positive predictive value (85.7%) of the HHIE-S questionnaire, whereas it was the negative predictive value only that revealed a low rate (26%). The study outcomes confirm the possibility of using HHIE-S questionnaire as a screening tool for hearing loss in the older age group. HHIE-S can prove particularly useful for primary care physicians as well as for physical examination due to its reliable accuracy and ease of use. The probability of a false positive outcome and an overestimated hearing impairment in the older age group is relatively low. However, pure-tone threshold audiometry is required in patients with detected hearing loss.

Objectives - to study hearing thresholds at high frequencies in elderly and senile patients, taking into account the age norm and the presence of comorbid diseases. Material and methods. 111 patients aged from 50 to 97 years (mean age 70.5 ± 2.1) were examined, their age, auditory function, and concomitant diseases were also registered. Results. The measured average auditory thresholds at high frequencies, if compared to the age-related standards for auditory sensitivity, have revealed an underestimated hearing loss in 12.6% of patients. The presence of concomitant diseases has a significant impact on the development of chronic sensorineural hearing loss in each age group. Conclusion. Audiometry in an extended frequency range in elderly patients with concurrent diseases can improve the hearing examination algorithm.

Objectives - to study the influence of the individual characteristics of a patient with chronic sensorineural hearing loss on the perception of VR technique. Material and methods. The perception of VR was studied in 77 people in relation to their gender, age, auditory function, psychological and cognitive status. Results. All the patients positively evaluated the use of the virtual reality method. The level of perception of VR in adults is determined by the degree of auditory impairment. A negative correlation was revealed between the indicators of cognitive and psychological status of the examined persons and the level of perception of VR. Conclusion. The VR technique can improve the existing aural rehabilitation methods, especially in the group of people with socially significant hearing impairments.