Functional Hearing Loss: A Few Case Reports

Abstract

Functional hearing loss is a term used to describe hearing loss which appears greater than that can be explained on the basis of pathology of the auditory system (Martin, 1985). A review of literature suggests that a number of tests have been used to detect pseudohypoacusis. A majority of the clinicians may believe that objective tests yield more reliable information than subjective tests in detecting functional hearing loss. Though objective tests like immittance evaluation and auditory brainstem response are useful in a majority of the patients, it may not be possible to use them successfully with all the patients. Presented here are case reports of four patient's in whom functional hearing loss was suspected. The case reports highlight the variability in patients with functional hearing loss