Non-organic hearing loss

Abstract

Conclusion. Most non-organic hearing loss (NOHL) patients were young females. The discrepancy between the results of pure tone audiometry and objective auditory testing suggests NOHL. The diagnostic problem is that objective audiometry is not included in routine examinations and we have to suspect NOHL in order to perform further examination. The correct diagnosis can be difficult in patients who present with unilateral sudden hearing loss or who also have moderate to profound organic hearing loss. Objective. Symptoms and results of auditory tests for NOHL patients were reviewed. Patients and methods. This study comprised 31 patients with NOHL. Age, symptoms, and the results of subjective and objective audiometry were collected. Results. Twenty-four patients were female and 7 were male. The age at attendance ranged from 7 to 39 years old, with an average age of 16.6 years. Eight patients received steroids before the correct diagnosis was made. Six of them presented with unilateral sudden hearing loss, and the other two patients had accompanying bilateral organic hearing loss.