Clinical analysis on non-organic hearing loss among teenagers

Objective To explore the pathogenesis associated factors with non-organic hearing loss among teenagers and its related diagnostic and therapeutic problems.Methods A retrospective study was carried out among 6 teenager cases with non-organic hearing loss.These cases aged from 14 to 18 years old and were treated in our Hospital from Jan,2000 to Aug,2005.Careful analysis was made on their data in order to sum up clinical experience dealing with this kind of condition and to explore the possible causes responsible for their illness attacking.Results All these 6 cases were middle school students and complained a condition of profound sudden hearing loss,with 4 manifesting as bilateral hearing loss,1 as hearing loss in right ear and another one as hearing loss in left ear.Tympanometry revealed all being A type of tympanogram for both ears,with perfect acoustic reflex in either direct or indirect measuring way.When tested with ABR,a hearing threshold around 20 to 30 dB could be demonstrated to induce wavesⅠto Ⅴ for every one,with normal intra-wave distances and wave latencies.Further investigation indicated that hearing loss was associated with school stress or family conflict among 4 cases,except the other 2 with no definite predisposing causes identified.Conclusions Physicians should be aware of the possibility of non-organic hearing loss manifesting itself as sudden hearing loss among teenagers,especially when they are suffering strong mental stress either in school or in family.