Characteristics of hyperacusis in the general population

• Published in: Noise & health Vol. 18; no. 83; pp. 178 - 184
• Main Authors: Paulin, Johan, Andersson, Linus, Nordin, Steven
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Wolters Kluwer - Medknow Publications 01.07.2016; Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd; Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age; Aged; Care and treatment; Chronic fatigue syndrome; Comorbidity; Demographic aspects; Environmental health; Female; Functional somatic syndrome; Hearing loss; Humans; Hyperacusis; Hyperacusis - epidemiology; Male; Middle Aged; Noise; noise sensitivity; Original; Population; Post-traumatic stress disorder; prevalence; psychiatric disorder; Risk factors; Sound; sound intolerance; Studies; Surveys and Questionnaires; Sweden - epidemiology; Tinnitus; psychiatric disorder; prevalence; Functional somatic syndrome; hyperacusis; sound intolerance; noise sensitivity
• ISSN: 1463-1741; 1998-4030; 1998-4030
• DOI: 10.4103/1463-1741.189244

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.