LEVEL OF PARANOIA AMONG TYPES OF HEARING IMPAIRMENT IN PATIENTS AT TERTIARY CARE ENT CLINIC

*Dr. Muhammad Raza Memon, Dr. Muhammad Rafique Kaimkhani, Dr. Moin Ahmed Ansari and Dr. Ghulam Shabir Shaikh

ABSTRACT

Objective: This study aim to examine the level of paranoia among different types of hearing impaired patients. The presumptive hypothesis of that there is no association of increased level of paranoia with regards to its different types. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted in an ENT clinic of tertiary care hospital. All the cases were thoroughly examined by using pure tone audiometry to differentiate between conductive, sensorineural and mixed hearing loss. They were interviewed and valid version of 20-item paranoia scale was administrated in local language; data were recorded on semi-structured proforma. Results: 103 hearing impaired patients who filled complete questionnaire were assessed. Conductive hearing loss (n=49) having greater paranoid ideation as compared to sensorineural hearing loss (n=45) and mixed hearing loss (n=9). The demographic results revealed that females, below 45 aged, urban locals and unemployed show increased paranoid ideation Conclusion: These findings suggest that conductive hearing loss which started in adulthood poses handicap on person's social life and irregular prospects of employment possibly lead to paranoia.

Keywords: paranoia, hearing impairment, conductive hearing loss, sensorineural hearing loss, psychosis.