Naslov
Hallucinations in hearing impairment: how informed are clinicians?

Autori
Marschall, M. , Theresa ; van Dijk, Pim ; Kluk, Karolina ; Koops, Sanne ; Linszen, M., J., Mascha ; Griffiths, D. Timothy ; Lin Toh, Wei ; Malicka, N., Alicja ; Kovačić, Damir ; Mulert, Christoph ; Sommer, C., E., Iris ; Ćurčić-Blake, Branislava

Vrsta, podvrsta
Radovi u časopisima, znanstveni

Izvornik
Schizophrenia bulletin (2022)

Status rada
Prihvaćen

Ključne riječi
Hearing-impairment ; auditory hallucinations ; awareness ; online survey ; deafferentation
(Hearing-impairment, auditory hallucinations, awareness, online survey, deafferentation)

Sažetak
Background and Hypothesis: Patients with hearing impairment may experience hearing sounds without external sources, ranging from random meaningless noises (tinnitus), to music and other auditory hallucinations (AH) with meaningful qualities. To ensure appropriate assessment and management, clinicians need to be aware of these phenomena. However, sensory impairment studies have shown that such clinical awareness is low. Study Design: An online survey was conducted investigating awareness of AH among clinicians and their opinions about these hallucinations. Study Results: 125 clinicians (68.8% audiologists ; 18.4% Ear-Nose-Throat (ENT) specialists) across 10 countries participated in the survey. The majority (96.8%) was at least slightly aware of AH in hearing impairment. 69.6% of participants reported encountering patients with AH less than once every 6 months in their clinic. Awareness was significantly associated with clinicians’ belief that patients feel anxious about their hallucinations (β = .018, t(118) = 2.47, p < .01), their belief that clinicians should be more aware of these hallucinations (β = .018, t(118) = 2.60, p < .01), and with confidence of clinicians in their skills to assess them (β = .017, t(118) = 2.63, p < .01). Clinicians felt unfit to treat AH (Mdn = 31 ; U = 1838 ; pFDRadj < .01). Conclusions: Awareness of AH among the surveyed clinicians was high. Yet, low frequency of encounters with hallucinating patients and their belief of music as most commonly perceived sound suggests unreported cases. Clinicians in this study expressed a lack of confidence regarding assessment and treatment of AH and welcome more information.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Fizika, Temeljne medicinske znanosti

POVEZANOST RADA