Vol.96 No.12 contentsPRACTICA OTO-RHINO-LARYNGOLOGICA
Vol. 96 No.12 December 2003
Psychotherapy for Psychogenic Hearing Loss
Michiko Ashitani and Chiyonori Ino
(Kansai University of Medical Science)
The cases of 31 patients with psychogenic hearing loss who visited us between 2000 and 2002 were reviewed.
The patient group included 9 males and 22 females. The age range was 6 to 14 years, with a mean age of 9.1 years. We classified the patients into three groups, Other-oriented group, Self-oriented group and Conflict group, based on psychological interview and tests. Then we reported sand play and psychological feature of each group.
In the Other-oriented group, the symptoms are considered to represent "protection" against the incursion of others, and it is desirable to cultivate a sense of identity in psychotherapy. In the Self-oriented group, the symptoms may mean "refusal" of others who attack them, and it is necessary to treat both the factor-problems and the secondary mental problems. In the Conflict group, the symptoms can be considered to represent "demand" for care, and it is desirable to encourage self-expression in receptive psychotherapy. The clinical presentation of psychogenic hearing loss varies, and individualized mental assistance is essential.
Key words : psychotherapy, psychogenic healing loss, sand play