Emotional Aspects of Hearing Loss

Abstract

The emotional aspects of hearing loss became important considerations in an Army Hearing Rehabilitation Center. Approx. 12% of the 4000 patients passing through the center were referred to the psychiatrist. Most of these had sufficiently severe psychologic disturbances to justify a psychiatric diagnosis. A population of 250 cases serially referred for psychiatric consultation was studied with special reference to psychic and acoustic interrelations. Two general questions were considered: 1) how does hearing loss affect the psyche; 2) how do psychic factors affect hearing. The psychological effects of hearing loss were always present but in many cases were minimal. The severer psychiatric reactions tended to be associated with the more acute hearing loss. A large group of patients entering the hospital (approx. 6%) suffered from hearing loss of psycho-genie origin. The importance of the psychosomatic frame of reference in the diagnosis and treatment of aural patients is stressed.