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Hyperacusis: demographic, audiological, and clinical characteristics of patients at the ENT department

  • Otology
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Abstract

Purpose

To document whether patients with and without hyperacusis differ from each other on demographic, audiological, and clinical characteristics.

Methods

Based on the Hyperacusis Questionnaire’s (HQ) cut-off (HQ > 28), a total of 2301 participants were divided into patients with and without hyperacusis. Demographic data, scores on self-reported questionnaires [Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI), Visual Analogue Scale of tinnitus loudness (VASloudness), Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS)], and audiological parameters were retrospectively analysed to determine differential factors between the two groups.

Results

In total, 10.9% of the patients was classified as hyperacusis patients (n = 251). They reported a significant, higher tinnitus severity (mean difference of 19 points on TFI) and mental distress (mean difference of 4 points on the HADS subscales) (p < 0.001) than patients without hyperacusis. Moreover, this group consisted of more women (45% % in hyperacusis group vs. 35% in non-hyperacusis group) and women scored significantly higher on the HQ (p < 0.001) and TFI (p < 0.01).

Conclusion

Patients with hyperacusis have distinctive characteristics. The presence of hyperacusis in combination with tinnitus can indicate a higher need for psychoeducation. Patients that present themselves with hyperacusis without tinnitus complaints remain a minority, yet might be underdiagnosed. Hence, future studies should disentangle tinnitus from hyperacusis. In clinical practice, greater efforts are required to increase knowledge about hyperacusis as a primary or secondary complaint and to provide individualized treatment for these patients.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Translational Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium

    Laure Jacquemin, Emilie Cardon, Tine Luyten, Olivier M. Vanderveken, Paul Van de Heyning, Marc J. W. Lammers, Vincent Van Rompaey & Annick Gilles

  2. University Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium

    Laure Jacquemin, Emilie Cardon, Sarah Michiels, Tine Luyten, Olivier M. Vanderveken, Paul Van de Heyning, Marc J. W. Lammers, Vincent Van Rompaey & Annick Gilles

  3. REVAL Rehabilitation Research Centre, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium

    Sarah Michiels

  4. Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, Antwerp University, Antwerp, Belgium

    Annemarie Van der Wal & Willem De Hertogh

  5. Department of Orofacial Pain and Dysfunction, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam, VU Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Annemarie Van der Wal

  6. Department of Education, Health and Social Work, University College Ghent, Ghent, Belgium

    Annick Gilles

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  1. Laure Jacquemin
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Correspondence to Laure Jacquemin.

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Jacquemin, L., Cardon, E., Michiels, S. et al. Hyperacusis: demographic, audiological, and clinical characteristics of patients at the ENT department. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 279, 4899–4907 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-022-07336-4

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