Correlation between hyperacusis measurements in daily ENT practice

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate hyperacusis measurement tools and to assess the correlation between diagnostic methods for hyperacusis in daily ENT practice. We studied two hyperacusis questionnaires: the Hyperacusis Questionnaire (HQ) and the Multiple-Activity Scale for Hyperacusis (MASH), audiometric measurements (uncomfortable loudness level (ULL) and dynamic range (DR)), and the questions 'Do you have a lower tolerance for noise... ?' and 'Are you afraid of noise?' Hyperacusis was assessed in 46 patients presenting with primary complaints of tinnitus. A validated Dutch version of the HQ is provided. A correlation was found between scores on the HQ and the MASH (p=0.000, R(2)=0.34). Significantly higher scores for both questionnaires were found in patients reporting decreased sound tolerance (p=0.000 and 0.002, respectively) or fear of noise (p=0.002 and 0.004, respectively). Overall, no correlations were found between scores on questionnaires and audiometric values including ULL and DR. The HQ and MASH were confirmed to be valid measurement tools for hyperacusis complaints. No correlations were found between audiometric measurements and hyperacusis complaints.

The correlation between the hyperacusis questionnaire and uncomfortable loudness levels is dependent on emotional exhaustion

“…However, the mean total HQ-score even for this group was lower than the mean total scores reported in the original article (Khalfa et al, 2002). Moreover, the cutoff for hyperacusis on the HQ has been questioned by Meeus et al (2010), who found that a majority of individuals who reported hyperacusis complaints were not detected by the HQ. It is also worth noting that the same study used a sample that was specifically selected based on the diagnosis of tinnitus, which represents a patient group that is known to have an increased risk of hyperacusis by approximately 40% (Jastreboff et al, 1996).…”

“…In a recent study of 46 tinnitus patients, it was found that the correlation between the HQ and ULLs was not statistically signifi cant (Meeus et al, 2010). This study also reported that the correlation between ULLs and the multiple-activity scale for hyperacusis (MASH), another hyperacusis questionnaire, was not signifi cant either.…”

Aberrant spontaneous brain activity in chronic tinnitus patients revealed by resting-state functional MRI

“…Future within subject studies of this nature might prove fruitful. Furthermore, tinnitus is often accompanied by hyperacusis with the reported prevalence ranging from 25% to 79%, probably due to various definitions and questionnaires for hyperacusis (Dauman and Bouscau-Faure, 2005; Meeus et al, 2010). Gu et al demonstrated that subjects with hyperacusis showed elevated activation in the auditory midbrain, thalamus, and the primary auditory cortex compared with normal controls (Gu et al, 2010).…”

Administration of the Combination Clonazepam-Deanxit as Treatment for Tinnitus

“…The questionnaires presented to the patients consisted of the Dutch version of the Tinnitus Questionnaire (TQ) (10Y12), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) (13), and the Hyperacusis Questionnaire (HQ) (14,15). For all questionnaires, higher scores indicate more severe complaints.…”