Psychological Clinical Features and Treatment of Functional Hearing Loss in Children

—View of a Psychotherapist—

Abstract

Functional hearing loss (FHL) is a hearing problem without actual pathology, including auditory malingering and psychogenic hearing loss. Because most FHL children are considered to have psychogenic hearing loss, they are in particular need of psychological diagnosis and support. In our department, otolaryngologists and a clinical psychologist perform team treatment for FHL children, attempting treatment from both physical and mental aspects for purposes of research. In this study, earlier literature about psychological clinical features in FHL children was reviewed, and 126 examples were screened from the period from April 2000 to August 2014 and statistically reported. In addition, the FHL children were classified into three groups from the psychological viewpoint -auditory inattention group, repressive conversion group and over-adaptation group- and psychological treatments were discussed using examples.