Hyperacusis

Hyperacusis
Other namesHyperacousis
SpecialtyOtolaryngology
Differential diagnosisSensory processing disorder
TreatmentTinnitus Retraining Therapy or TRT, Round and Oval Window Reinforcement

Hyperacusis is an increased sensitivity to sound and a low tolerance for environmental noise. Definitions of hyperacusis can vary significantly; it often revolves around damage to or dysfunction of the stapes bone, stapedius muscle or tensor tympani (eardrum). It is often categorized into four subtypes: loudness, pain (also called noxacusis), annoyance, and fear.[1][2] It can be a highly debilitating hearing disorder.[3]

There are a variety of causes and risk factors, with the most common being exposure to loud noise.[1] It is often coincident with tinnitus.[1] Proposed mechanisms in the literature involve dysfunction in the brain, inner ear, or middle ear.[4][5][6][7][8][9]

Little is known about the prevalence of hyperacusis, in part due to the degree of variation in the term's definition.[1][10] Reported prevalence estimates in the literature vary widely, and further research is needed to obtain strong epidemiological data.[11] While there are no exact numbers, several people have died by suicide due to the severe consequences of the disease.[12]

  1. ^ a b c d Tyler RS, Pienkowski M, Roncancio ER, Jun HJ, Brozoski T, Dauman N, et al. (December 2014). "A review of hyperacusis and future directions: part I. Definitions and manifestations". American Journal of Audiology. 23 (4): 402–19. doi:10.1044/2014_AJA-14-0010. PMID 25104073.
  2. ^ Pienkowski M, Tyler RS, Roncancio ER, Jun HJ, Brozoski T, Dauman N, et al. (December 2014). "A review of hyperacusis and future directions: part II. Measurement, mechanisms, and treatment" (PDF). American Journal of Audiology. 23 (4): 420–36. doi:10.1044/2014_AJA-13-0037. PMID 25478787. S2CID 449625. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-04-09.
  3. ^ Knipper M, Van Dijk P, Nunes I, Rüttiger L, Zimmermann U (December 2013). "Advances in the neurobiology of hearing disorders: recent developments regarding the basis of tinnitus and hyperacusis". Progress in Neurobiology. 111: 17–33. doi:10.1016/j.pneurobio.2013.08.002. PMID 24012803.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference pmid26139435 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Liu-2015 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Flores-2015 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Noreña 20182 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference Fournier-2022a was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference Fournier-2022b was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Rosing SN, Schmidt JH, Wedderkopp N, Baguley DM (June 2016). "Prevalence of tinnitus and hyperacusis in children and adolescents: a systematic review". BMJ Open. 6 (6): e010596. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2015-010596. PMC 4893873. PMID 27259524.
  11. ^ Musumano, Lucia Belen; Hatzopoulos, Stavros; Fancello, Virginia; Bianchini, Chiara; Bellini, Tiziana; Pelucchi, Stefano; Skarżyński, Piotr Henryk; Skarżyńska, Magdalena B.; Ciorba, Andrea (2023-10-21). "Hyperacusis: Focus on Gender Differences: A Systematic Review". Life. 13 (10): 2092. Bibcode:2023Life...13.2092M. doi:10.3390/life13102092. ISSN 2075-1729. PMC 10608418. PMID 37895473.
  12. ^ "Noise Kills: When Everyday Sound Becomes Torture". Medium. Retrieved 2023-01-17.