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Strategies used in feigning hearing loss
F N Martin1, C A Champlin, T M McCreery
1Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, The University of Texas at Austin, 78712, USA.
Journal of the American Academy of Audiology
|March 23, 2001
Summary
This study explored how individuals without hearing loss feign auditory impairments. Understanding these simulated hearing loss behaviors can help identify genuine cases in clinical audiology.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Psychology
Background:
- Hearing loss simulation, or malingering, presents diagnostic challenges in audiology.
- Understanding feigning strategies is crucial for accurate hearing loss assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the behaviors and strategies employed by participants feigning hearing loss.
- To inform clinical practices for detecting suspected malingering in audiological evaluations.
Main Methods:
- Thirty participants with normal hearing were instructed to simulate hearing loss.
- Participants' success in "deceiving" examiners was assessed.
- Post-examination interviews were conducted to elicit feigning strategies.
Main Results:
- Specific behaviors manifested by participants simulating hearing loss were documented.
- The study identified strategies used by participants to feign hearing impairment.
- These strategies may mirror those used by individuals genuinely attempting to feign hearing loss.
Conclusions:
- The observed behaviors and strategies offer insights into the potential methods of hearing loss malingering.
- This research aids in developing more effective methods for identifying feigned hearing loss in clinical settings.