Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Conversion deafness presenting as sudden hearing loss.

Ying-Piao Wang1, Mao-Che Wang, Hung-Ching Lin

  • 1Department of Otolaryngology, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.

Journal of the Chinese Medical Association : JCMA
|July 26, 2006
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Cochlear Implantation in a Child with Cornelia de Lange Syndrome: Challenges and Prospect.

The journal of international advanced otology·2026
Same author

Mutation Spectrum of <i>GJB2</i> in Taiwanese Patients with Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Prevalence, Pathogenicity, and Clinical Implications.

International journal of molecular sciences·2025
Same author

Validation of the Effectiveness of Three-Step Hand Rub Hearing Screening.

Journal of the American Academy of Audiology·2025
Same author

Lamellar Schwann cells in the Pacinian corpuscle potentiate vibration perception.

Science advances·2025
Same author

Hearing Outcome in Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss After COVID-19 Vaccine in Asian Population: A Preliminary Study.

Otology & neurotology : official publication of the American Otological Society, American Neurotology Society [and] European Academy of Otology and Neurotology·2025
Same author

Clinical Insights into Bilateral Cochlear Implantation for a Child with Dominant Deafness-Onychodystrophy Syndrome.

Journal of the American Academy of Audiology·2025
Same journal

Respiratory syncytial virus infection in adults: Clinical manifestations, outcomes, and vaccines.

Journal of the Chinese Medical Association : JCMA·2026
Same journal

Causal effects among hypertension, osteoporosis, and metabolites: A Mendelian randomization study.

Journal of the Chinese Medical Association : JCMA·2026
Same journal

Clinical utility of preoperative lymphocyte-albumin-neutrophil ratio for prognostication in oral cancer patients undergoing surgery.

Journal of the Chinese Medical Association : JCMA·2026
Same journal

Effects of insulin and exenatide therapy on glycemic control and β-cell function in patients newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and severe hyperglycemia.

Journal of the Chinese Medical Association : JCMA·2026
Same journal

Endoscopic variceal ligation versus cyanoacrylate injection for acute variceal bleeding from the cardia to the lesser curvature.

Journal of the Chinese Medical Association : JCMA·2026
Same journal

Advances in body composition imaging for diagnosis and monitoring: From radiologic assessment to precision medicine.

Journal of the Chinese Medical Association : JCMA·2026
See all related articles

Conversion deafness, a rare somatoform disorder, causes hearing loss without physical cause. Psychological stress, particularly during academic pressure, can trigger this condition in young adults, with hearing recovery after treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Psychiatry
  • Audiology

Background:

  • Conversion deafness is a somatoform disorder presenting as hearing loss without an identifiable physical cause.
  • It is characterized by a discrepancy between behavioral hearing thresholds and objective electrophysiologic tests.
  • This condition is rare in adults and often linked to psychological factors rather than intentional symptom production.

Observation:

  • Two cases of conversion deafness in young adults experiencing significant stress from university entrance examinations are presented.
  • Audiometric evaluation revealed bilateral hearing deterioration, while otoacoustic emissions (OAE) and auditory brainstem response (ABR) tests showed normal results.
  • The patients' hearing impairment resolved following appropriate treatment.

Findings:

Related Experiment Videos

  • The study highlights the crucial role of psychological stress in the manifestation of conversion deafness.
  • Normal electrophysiologic findings (OAE, ABR) despite reported hearing loss are key diagnostic indicators.
  • The cases demonstrate the potential for recovery with diagnosis and management.

Implications:

  • Increased awareness of conversion deafness is essential for accurate diagnosis and to prevent misdiagnosis.
  • Identifying and addressing underlying psychological stress is paramount for effective treatment.
  • Avoiding unnecessary medical interventions, such as steroid use, is crucial for patient care.