RESUMEN
Pseudohypacusis is the term used for a non-organic or functional hearing loss. The mainstay of diagnosis is a lack of consistency in audiological testing. It is usually easier to diagnose in children than in adults, as children are less able to reproduce consistently erroneous results on repeated testing. Nevertheless, the diagnosis is often missed in children, probably due to a lack of awareness of the condition. In a previous study from our department, we highlighted the usefulness of speech audiometry in establishing the diagnosis. However, with the advent of otoacoustic emissions testing, we have changed the emphasis of our testing protocol. Using otoacoustic emissions, the diagnosis of pseudohypacusis can be established quickly and easily.
Asunto(s)
Pérdida Auditiva Funcional/diagnóstico , Emisiones Otoacústicas Espontáneas/fisiología , Adolescente , Audiometría de Respuesta Evocada , Audiometría de Tonos Puros/métodos , Audiometría del Habla , Umbral Auditivo/fisiología , Niño , Preescolar , Potenciales Evocados Auditivos del Tronco Encefálico/fisiología , Femenino , Pérdida Auditiva Funcional/fisiopatología , Humanos , Masculino , Reproducibilidad de los Resultados , Estudios RetrospectivosRESUMEN
Pseudohypacusis is a condition in which a hearing loss is exhibited in the absence of any organic disease. The mainstay of diagnosis is a lack of consistency in audiological testing. It is usually easier to diagnose in children than in adults, as children are less able to produce consistently erroneous results on repeated testing. In spite of this, the diagnosis is often missed in children, probably due to a lack of awareness of the condition. We present the findings in ten children seen in the past year. Initially they had average pure tone thresholds of 51.3 db in the right ear and 51.4 db in the left ear. All of the children underwent repeat pure tone audiometry and speech audiometry. In nine cases the speech audiograms confirmed the diagnosis. In one child the speech audiogram was consistent with a mild hearing loss subsequently confirmed as a 30-40 db low frequency sensorineural hearing loss. Following a programme of close follow up and support, the pure tone thresholds returned to within normal limits in nine children and to a level consistent with the clinical impression in the child with a sensorineural loss. None of the children required brain stem evoked response audiograms to confirm the diagnosis.