Hyperacusis: Case studies and evaluation of electronic loudness suppression devices as a treatment approach

Abstract

Hyperacusis, as defined here, is a relatively rare condition in which the patient, with or without hearing loss, experiences severe loudness discomfort to everyday environmental sound levels. The case studies of 14 patients with severe hyperacusis are described; all wore passive attenuators (earplugs and/or earmuffs) in an attempt to alleviate their discomfort, frequently producing communication difficulties. These subjects were fitted binaurally with experimental electronic loudness suppression devices housed in in-the-ear casings. The devices supplied low-level amplification followed by an extreme form of amplitude compression for moderate or high-level inputs in an attempt to reduce loudness discomfort without reducing audibility. Many of the subjects were found to function with a wider dynamic range with the active devices compared with passive attenuators or the unoccluded ear, and most reported that they benefited from the devices in at least some listening situations.

Hyperacusis in patients with complex regional pain syndrome related dystonia

“…Thirty-eight per cent of patients with CRPS related dystonia in our study reported hyperacusis, whereas the prevalence of hyperacusis in the general population is less than 2% 16. Auditory function, evaluated by means of the PTT and SRT, showed no differences between patients and the general population.…”

Correlation between hyperacusis measurements in daily ENT practice

“…This incongruence was already previously seen when comparing subjective benefi t and benefi t in DR in a study investigating loudness suppression devices. (Sammeth et al, 2000) Moreover, this is also in line with tinnitus complaints, in which perceived tinnitus loudness and annoyance were shown to be not or only moderately related. (Folmer et al, 1999;Hiller & Goebel, 2006) Conclusion No correlation was found between patients' complaints of hyperacusis and ULL or DR measurements.…”

Hyperakusis, Phonophobie und Recruitment

“…Entsprechend divergieren auch die wenigen vorhandenen epidemiologischen Angaben anderer Länder: So fand Fabijanska 1999 bei 15,2% der polnischen Bevölkerung eine Hyperakusis [4],während die American Tinnitus Association [24] dies "nur" für etwa 2% ermittelte. Dabei beruht die auffällige Diskrepanz mit großer Sicherheit auf der Unterschiedlichkeit der Definitionen,Fragestellungen und Befragungen.…”