Evaluation of the nonorganic hearing loss suspect.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the utility of distortion-product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) in the assessment of the nonorganic suspect because DPOAE analysis constitutes an objective test of hair-cell function that yields audiometriclike data. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study of clinical findings. SETTING: Audiology outpatient clinic of our university's medical center. PATIENTS: The study cohort comprised 30 patients who presented with a profile of suspicion for nonorganic hearing loss. Most cases were found, with the aid of DPOAE testing, to be nonorganic or to have nonorganic overlays to organic hearing loss. INTERVENTIONS: Interventions were diagnostic only. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Observed audiometric findings and changes thereof. RESULTS: Statistically significant decreases in thresholds occurred in subgroups of those cases deemed to be truly nonorganic in origin. CONCLUSIONS: Especially considering test efficiency, the results support the inclusion of DPOAE analysis in the diagnostic management of the suspect-nonorganic patient.