Audiologist perceptions of diagnosis and management of children with non-organic hearing loss (NOHL)

Abstract

Purpose: About 7% of children between 6 and 17 years of age suffer from non-organic hearing loss (NOHL), yet little is known about how audiologists diagnose and manage this population. Audiologist appraisal of various approaches of evaluating children with NOHL was surveyed in order to determine which approaches are used most frequently and are perceived as most effective.

Method: A web-based survey was distributed to audiologists working in pediatric centers and by word of mouth. Of 72 respondents, 61 submitted a complete survey. Analysis of the responses was performed to determine what term audiologists use when describing this population, which approaches are perceived as most effective and used most frequently, and what is the perceived role of the audiologist in managing this population.

Results: As a whole, results were heterogeneous. The most used term to describe this presentation was ‘functional’ by 38% of respondents. The most effective approaches were restricted range, conditioned play, and reinstruction. The least effective approaches were behavioral observation, ear pointing, and counting beeps. Respondents primarily described the role of the audiologist as one of referral source back to the medical home or specialist.

Conclusion: Overall responses to the survey were heterogeneous. This area may benefit from a practice statement that provides guidance on evaluating this population as well as further research on actual effectiveness of the test approaches (versus perceived).

Keywords:

• Non-organic hearing loss
• malingering
• children
• functional

Disclosure statement

The author has no financial or non-financial interests or benefits arising from this research.