Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder Masquerading as Social Anxiety.
The authors report a case of a 47-year-old man who presented with treatment-resistant anxiety disorder. Behavioral observation raised clinical suspicion of auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder. The presence of auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder was confirmed on audiological investigations. The patient was experiencing extreme symptoms of anxiety, which initially masked the underlying diagnosis of auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder. Challenges in diagnosis and treatment of auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder are discussed.
Dr. Behere is with the Department of Psychiatry, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, India; Dr. Rao is Registrar, North West Area Mental Health Service, Coburg, Melbourne, Australia; Drs. Mishra, Varambally, and Gangadhar are with the Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India; and Dr. Shivashankar is with the Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
Rishikesh V
RV
Behere
Dr. Behere is with the Department of Psychiatry, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, India; Dr. Rao is Registrar, North West Area Mental Health Service, Coburg, Melbourne, Australia; Drs. Mishra, Varambally, and Gangadhar are with the Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India; and Dr. Shivashankar is with the Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
Mukund G
MG
Rao
Dr. Behere is with the Department of Psychiatry, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, India; Dr. Rao is Registrar, North West Area Mental Health Service, Coburg, Melbourne, Australia; Drs. Mishra, Varambally, and Gangadhar are with the Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India; and Dr. Shivashankar is with the Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
Shree
S
Mishra
Dr. Behere is with the Department of Psychiatry, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, India; Dr. Rao is Registrar, North West Area Mental Health Service, Coburg, Melbourne, Australia; Drs. Mishra, Varambally, and Gangadhar are with the Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India; and Dr. Shivashankar is with the Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
Shivarama
S
Varambally
Dr. Behere is with the Department of Psychiatry, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, India; Dr. Rao is Registrar, North West Area Mental Health Service, Coburg, Melbourne, Australia; Drs. Mishra, Varambally, and Gangadhar are with the Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India; and Dr. Shivashankar is with the Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
Shivashankar
S
Nagarajarao
Dr. Behere is with the Department of Psychiatry, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, India; Dr. Rao is Registrar, North West Area Mental Health Service, Coburg, Melbourne, Australia; Drs. Mishra, Varambally, and Gangadhar are with the Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India; and Dr. Shivashankar is with the Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
Bangalore N
BN
Gangadhar
Anxiety Disorder; Audiometry; Diagnostic confusion; Primary Auditory Neuropathy; Social Anxiety