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).