Psychogenic hearing loss in children

Abstract

Twenty-one cases of psychogenic hearing loss in children during the past 14 years at Oita Medical University were reviewed. Six cases were boys while fifteen cases were girls. The chief complaint in thirteen cases was hearing loss. Other ear symptoms included otalgia and tinnitus. Six cases were unaware of hearing loss, but were detected by routine hearing screening at school. Bilateral hearing loss was observed in thirteen cases. Psychological problems related to troubles at school or at home were observed as causative factors, and there was a tendency for the former to be more prevalent in older children. Only 7 cases had undergone psychiatric consultation. Eighteen cases (85.7%) showed normal pure tone thresholds during the clinical course. Two cases showing changing thresholds did not undergo psychiatric consultation. Psychogenic visual disturbances are known to be one of the complication of psychogenic hearing loss. Fifteen cases were referred to the department of ophthalmology at our hospital. Eleven cases showed abnormal ophthalmological subjective examination despite no abnormal objective findings. Referral to an ophthalmologist can facilitate diagnosis. The first step in the treatment of psychogenic hearing loss is thought to be appropriate diagnosis. Therefore, the otolaryngologist should carefully check the patient's individual circumstances, and when needed, refer patients for psychiatric consultation or to an ophthalmologist.