Jia Ke1, Yali Du1, Richard S Tyler2,3, Ann Perreau2,4, Patricia C Mancini2,5. 1. Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China. 2. Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa. 3. Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa. 4. Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois. 5. Postgraduate Program in Ciencias Fonoaudiologicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hyperacusis is a prevalent auditory disorder that causes significant distress and negatively affects quality of life for many patients. Patients with hyperacusis often have different complaints about the sounds and situations that they experience. Audiologists may have few patients with hyperacusis, and a limited understanding of the sounds and situations that are reported to be challenging by their patients. PURPOSE: To investigate the common complaints reported by hyperacusis patients. RESEARCH DESIGN: A qualitative study was conducted with 11 hyperacusis patients who participated in a group session. RESULTS: All 11 hyperacusis patients experienced negative reactions to specific sounds. In addition, many patients reported physical symptoms such as headaches, balance problems, dysosmia (strong smell problems), and light sensitivity. Sounds that induced discomfort were wide ranging and included low-frequency sounds, high-frequency sounds, wide-band noise, and sudden, high-intensity sounds. Most patients (9/11, 81.8%) reported negative reactions to music in loud rock concerts. Patients reported that stress/tension (90.9%) worsened their hyperacusis, while removing themselves from noise (90.9%) relieved their hyperacusis. CONCLUSION: Loudness is only one of the many factors related to the discomfort of patients with hyperacusis. Across patients, we observed that there were different complaints about the sounds and situations that produced difficulty due to hyperacusis. Physical symptoms following sound exposure were also reported by the patients, suggesting that hyperacusis is a complex disorder and requires intervention that often involves multiple members of the medical team. Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.
BACKGROUND:Hyperacusis is a prevalent auditory disorder that causes significant distress and negatively affects quality of life for many patients. Patients with hyperacusis often have different complaints about the sounds and situations that they experience. Audiologists may have few patients with hyperacusis, and a limited understanding of the sounds and situations that are reported to be challenging by their patients. PURPOSE: To investigate the common complaints reported by hyperacusispatients. RESEARCH DESIGN: A qualitative study was conducted with 11 hyperacusispatients who participated in a group session. RESULTS: All 11 hyperacusispatients experienced negative reactions to specific sounds. In addition, many patients reported physical symptoms such as headaches, balance problems, dysosmia (strong smell problems), and light sensitivity. Sounds that induced discomfort were wide ranging and included low-frequency sounds, high-frequency sounds, wide-band noise, and sudden, high-intensity sounds. Most patients (9/11, 81.8%) reported negative reactions to music in loud rock concerts. Patients reported that stress/tension (90.9%) worsened their hyperacusis, while removing themselves from noise (90.9%) relieved their hyperacusis. CONCLUSION: Loudness is only one of the many factors related to the discomfort of patients with hyperacusis. Across patients, we observed that there were different complaints about the sounds and situations that produced difficulty due to hyperacusis. Physical symptoms following sound exposure were also reported by the patients, suggesting that hyperacusis is a complex disorder and requires intervention that often involves multiple members of the medical team. Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.