Illness perceptions and hearing difficulties in King-Kopetzky syndrome: what determines help seeking?

Int J Audiol. 2010 Jul;49(7):473-81. doi: 10.3109/14992021003627892.

Abstract

The present study explored illness perceptions of hearing difficulties amongst one hundred participants who reported experiencing hearing difficulties despite normal audiometric thresholds. This experience is referred to as King-Kopetzky syndrome (KKS), obscure auditory dysfunction (OAD), or auditory processing disorder (APD). Logistic regression was used to consider the associations between help-seeking and a range of audiological and illness perception measures. Results indicate that help-seekers present with poorer speech in noise thresholds than non help-seekers, and that coherent illness perceptions and a negative belief in the consequences of hearing difficulties are associated with help-seeking status, regardless of hearing sensitivity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Attitude to Health*
  • Audiometry
  • Auditory Perceptual Disorders / diagnosis
  • Auditory Perceptual Disorders / psychology*
  • Auditory Threshold
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • Hearing Tests
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care / psychology*
  • Perception
  • Speech Perception
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Syndrome