[Pseudohypoacusis associated with Munchausen's syndrome]

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Psychiatry
• Clinical Case Study

Background:

• Psychogenic hearing loss is a rare functional disorder affecting auditory perception.
• Munchausen syndrome is a factitious disorder characterized by intentional production or feigning of physical or psychological symptoms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a rare clinical case of psychogenic hearing loss in a patient with Munchausen syndrome.
• To review objective and subjective methods for diagnosing hearing ability in such cases.

Main Methods:

• Case report of a female patient with suspected psychogenic hearing loss.
• Utilized a combination of objective audiological tests (e.g., audiometry, tympanometry) and subjective patient-reported outcomes.
• Diagnostic evaluation focused on differentiating functional hearing loss from organic causes.

Main Results:

• The patient presented with symptoms consistent with psychogenic hearing loss.
• Diagnostic methods were crucial in identifying the functional nature of the hearing impairment.
• The case underscores the complexity of diagnosing hearing disorders in patients with factitious disorders.

Conclusions:

• Psychogenic hearing loss associated with Munchausen syndrome is a challenging diagnostic entity.
• A comprehensive approach employing both objective and subjective assessments is vital for accurate diagnosis.
• This case highlights the importance of considering psychiatric comorbidities in audiological evaluations.