Hearing loss in persons with psychotic disorder--findings from a population-based survey.

Hearing impairment is associated with psychotic symptoms, but has not been systematically studied in people with psychotic disorder. We used a population-based sample of 6654 persons aged 30+ to compare hearing, as measured by audiometry, in persons with schizophrenia, other non-affective psychosis and affective psychosis in the general population. The prevalence of hearing impairment did not differ in persons with psychotic disorder compared with the general population. Participants with schizophrenia and affective psychotic disorder had significantly more difficulties to hear in a noisy environment than the general population. Our results suggest that psychotic disorders are associated with minor hearing difficulties but not hearing impairment.