Evaluation of the nonorganic hearing loss suspect.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the utility of distortion-product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) in the assessment of the nonorganic suspect because DPOAE analysis constitutes an objective test of hair-cell function that yields audiometriclike data.


METHODS
Retrospective study of clinical findings.


METHODS
Audiology outpatient clinic of our university's medical center.


METHODS
The study cohort comprised 30 patients who presented with a profile of suspicion for nonorganic hearing loss. Most cases were found, with the aid of DPOAE testing, to be nonorganic or to have nonorganic overlays to organic hearing loss.


METHODS
Interventions were diagnostic only.


METHODS
Observed audiometric findings and changes thereof.


RESULTS
Statistically significant decreases in thresholds occurred in subgroups of those cases deemed to be truly nonorganic in origin.


CONCLUSIONS
Especially considering test efficiency, the results support the inclusion of DPOAE analysis in the diagnostic management of the suspect-nonorganic patient.
Durrant
J D
JD
Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
Kesterson
R K
RK
Kamerer
D B
DB
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001299:Audiometry; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D002648:Child; D003051:Cochlea; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010470:Perceptual Masking; D012022:Reflex, Acoustic; D012189:Retrospective Studies