The role of a family history in King Kopetzky Syndrome (obscure auditory dysfunction)

Acta Otolaryngol. 2000 Mar;120(2):197-200. doi: 10.1080/000164800750000900.

Abstract

King Kopetzky Syndrome (KKS) is a common condition in which individuals with normal audiograms complain of hearing difficulties, particularly in noisy places. Several studies have shown many patients with KKS to have a family history of hearing problems. In 82 consecutive patients with KKS and normal middle ear function, we compared the performance of those with and without a family history of hearing impairment on a number of sensitized tests. Those with a family history were more likely to have notches on Audioscan testing (p < 0.005) and these notches were broader than those found in patients with no family history (p < 0.05). There was also a tendency for those with a family history to be more likely to have notches on DPOAEs (p < 0.07), and the reproducibility of the TOAEs was poorer in those with a family history. Psychological testing showed males with a family history to have higher scores on free-floating anxiety (p < 0.01) and obsessionality (p < 0.05).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Audiometry, Pure-Tone
  • Auditory Perceptual Disorders / diagnosis
  • Auditory Perceptual Disorders / genetics*
  • Auditory Perceptual Disorders / physiopathology
  • Chromosome Aberrations
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Functional Laterality / physiology
  • Genes, Dominant
  • Hearing Loss, Functional / diagnosis
  • Hearing Loss, Functional / genetics*
  • Hearing Loss, Functional / physiopathology
  • Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / diagnosis
  • Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / genetics*
  • Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous / genetics
  • Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous / physiology
  • Speech Discrimination Tests
  • Syndrome