Pseudohypacusis: Audiometric progression, psychological and speech therapy assessment. Toward multidisciplinary management? A cohort study

OBJECTIVES: Pseudohypacusis (PHA), or non-organic hearing loss, is still poorly understood and often underdiagnosed. The primary objective of this study was to determine its audiometric characteristics and evolution. The secondary objective was to gather evidence for possible associated auditory processing disorders, learning difficulties or psychiatric conditions, with the aim of establishing a diagnostic and...

Audiologists encountering inconsistent audiometric results should consider referral pathways that include psychological and speech-language therapy assessment, as this cohort data supports a structured multidisciplinary model for pseudohypacusis management.

Pseudohypacusis is under-researched and often mismanaged; a multidisciplinary framework supported by longitudinal audiometric and psychological data could meaningfully improve diagnostic accuracy and patient outcomes.

1. 01Cohort study tracked audiometric progression and psychosocial profiles in pseudohypacusis (non-organic hearing loss) patients.
2. 02Psychological and speech-language therapy assessments were incorporated alongside audiometry.
3. 03Results support a multidisciplinary management approach for this population.
4. 04Non-organic hearing loss is frequently encountered in audiology clinics but lacks standardised management protocols.
5. 05Findings may prompt audiologists to build clearer referral pathways for psychological co-assessment.

PMID

42486732

DOI

10.1016/j.anorl.2026.07.002.

Journal

European Annals of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Diseases

Publication type

research_article

Evidence level

2b

Population

Patients diagnosed with pseudohypacusis (non-organic hearing loss)

Intervention

Multidisciplinary assessment including audiometry, psychological evaluation, and speech therapy

Comparator

Pre-intervention audiometric and quality-of-life baseline (within-group)