Characteristics of hyperacusis in the general population

Abstract

There is a need for better understanding of various characteristics in hyperacusis in the general population. The objectives of the present study were to investigate individuals in the general population with hyperacusis regarding demographics, lifestyle, perceived general health and hearing ability, hyperacusis-specific characteristics and behavior, and comorbidity. Using data from a large-scale population-based questionnaire study, we investigated individuals with physician-diagnosed (n=66) and self-reported (n=313) hyperacusis in comparison to individuals without hyperacusis (n=2995). High age, female sex, and high education were associated with hyperacusis, and that trying to avoid sound sources, being able to affect the sound environment, and having sough medical attention were common reactions and behaviors. Posttraumatic stress disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome, generalized anxiety disorder, depression, exhaustion, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, migraine, hearing impairment, tinnitus, and back/joint/muscle disorders were comorbid with hyperacusis. The results provide ground for future study of these characteristic features being risk factors for development of hyperacusis and/or consequences of hyperacusis.

Usefulness of self-report questionnaires for psychological assessment of patients with tinnitus and hyperacusis and patients’ views of the questionnaires

“…The incidence of caseness was 26% for the PHQ-9, which assesses depression. This 481 value is within the incidence range for depression of 10% (Bartels et al, 2008) to 69% 482 (Andersson et al, 2004) reported for patients whose primary complaint was tinnitus, and 483 slightly above the incidence of depression of 17% reported for patients whose primary 484 complaint was hyperacusis (Paulin et al, 2016). Seventy percent of our patients thought that 485 the PHQ-9 was relevant to them, and 79% recommended it for general use in assessing 486 patients with tinnitus and/or hyperacusis.…”

“…Schecklmann et al (2014) reported that 20% of patients with hyperacusis 84 combined with tinnitus were receiving psychiatric care. Paulin et al (2016) reported that 85 among 30 patients with self-reported hyperacusis, 5% had generalised anxiety disorder, 17% 86 had depression and 3.5% had panic disorder. 87…”

Traumatic stress and the autonomic brain‐gut connection in development: Polyvagal Theory as an integrative framework for psychosocial and gastrointestinal pathology

“…VVC regulation of the middle ear muscles may influence the salience of high and low frequency sounds (evolutionary cues of conspecific distress and predator calls, respectively), maintaining autonomic threat responses via perpetuation of threat-type signals at the cost of frequencies signaling safety (Kolacz, Lewis, & Porges, 2018;Porges & Lewis, 2010). There is increasing evidence that auditory hypersensitivities are elevated in PTSD, anxiety, and depression (Beutel et al, 2016;Jüris, Andersson, Larsen, & Ekselius, 2013;Paulin, Andersson, & Nordin, 2016). Additional studies are needed to understand the link between auditory hypersensitivities and psychosocial problems.…”

Insufficiency of Cellular Energy (ICE) in Neurons: From Electrical Hyperactivity to Quiescence

“…So too are several types of muscle tremors and fasciculation. Heightened sensory inputs can manifest as various pain syndromes [26], multiple chemical sensitivity [27], adverse reactions to electromagnetic fields [28], photophobia [29], hyperacusis [30], pruritus [31], paresthesia [32], etc. Inappropriate nerve impulses emanating from damaged neurons can adversely trigger the autonomic nervous system [33]; cause bowel [34] and bladder [35] irritability.…”