IL-1β and IL-6 mRNA expression and release in response to spike protein was higher in IMHL-COVID (+) group than their IMHL-COVID (-) counterparts during an acute decline in hearing, Although AIED (+) group transcribed and released more IL-1β and IL-6 when compared to SSNHL group, AIED-COVID (+) infection group released greater amounts of IL-1β and IL-6 into the culture supernatants as compared with the vaccination group. Here, IL6 is linked to infection.