1999 Volume 42 Issue 2 Pages 131-136
In the present study, we investigated the clinical features and therapeutic results of psychogenic deafness in children. We divided the subjects (73 cases, 139 ears) into 2 groups; the patients diagnosed from 1986 to 1991 (the former group) and those diagnosed from 1992 to 1997 (the latter group). There were no significant differences in age, sex, laterality and audiological findings between both groups. In psychosocial factors, the ‘teasing’ in the factors related to the school life decreased, while the ‘culture shock’ increased in the latter group. This result may depend on the changes in the life-style of children.
There was no significant difference in the prognosis of hearing impairment between two groups. However, there was a tendency that patients with poor prognosis have been increasing in the latter group, suggesting that the changes in the psychosocial factors and the psychological characteristics of children may affect the prognosis of hearing loss in psychogenic deafness.
Based upon these results, we concluded that the changes in the psychosocial factors and the psychological characteristics of children should be considered in the treatment of psychogenic deafness.