Total and partial deafness in persons hospitalized because of mental disorders

Background: According to current estimates, Polish population of totally deaf and deaf-mute persons reaches 45-50 000 and that of partially deaf people – about 800-900 000. Various mental disorders may occur in such a vast group of people. Several reports suggest that impairment of hearing may predispose to the development of mental disorders. One of the signs most frequently described in these patients (even in those, who do not present any other psychotic symptoms) are auditory or musical hallucinations. The aim of this paper was to assess the prevalence of total and partial deafness in patients hospitalized because of mental disorders and to describe their symptoms, with particular emphasis on auditory hallucinations. The present study is a preliminary one. Material and method: Analysis of medical records of patients treated at the J. Babiński Mental Hospital in Łódź, Poland, since 1998 thru 2004. Results: In this timespan, 10 patients with coexisting total (n=6) and partial (n=4) deafness have been treated at the Psychiatric Department of our hospital. Paranoid schizophrenia was diagnosed in 2 patients, depressive epizode in 2 and single cases of the following mental conditions: organic catatonic disorder, organic personality disorder, delusional disorder, behavioral-emotional disorder, adaptation disorder and mental retardation coexisting with alcohol abuse. Results obtained were discussed with a reference to statistical data provided in the literature. Pattern of mental disorders developing in these patients was presented and compared with reports encountered in the literature. Conclusions: The number of patients with coexisting hearing impairment and mental disorders was surprisingly small, precluding any far-reaching conclusions. Nevertheless, it is possible that most of these patients do not receive hospital psychiatric care, or do not receive psychiatric care at all. Further studies are required to confirm this thesis.