Hyperacusis scores and listening characteristics: Extended high-frequency audiograms from a young population without tinnitus and with low noise exposure

Hyperacusis describes the condition in which mid-level sounds are perceived as uncomfortably loud. This study assessed 36 listeners (mean age = 25.75 years) with low noise-exposure history (Noise Exposure Structured Interview, NESI) and no tinnitus, to investigate the association between assessed hyperacusis scores (Hyperacusis Questionnaire, HQ), measured uncomfortable loudness levels (ULLs), and speech...

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No actionable clinical change — this is a small, exploratory study in a narrowly defined healthy population; findings are preliminary and require replication in larger, more diverse samples before influencing practice.

Understanding how extended high-frequency hearing relates to hyperacusis sensitivity in young, noise-naïve adults may help establish baseline norms and early markers before overt auditory damage develops.

1. 0136 young adults with low noise exposure and no tinnitus were enrolled.
2. 02Extended high-frequency audiometry (above 8 kHz) was used alongside standard audiometry.
3. 03Hyperacusis questionnaire scores were compared against audiometric listening characteristics.
4. 04The population was specifically selected to minimise confounding from noise damage or tinnitus.
5. 05Published in Hearing Research (2026); findings are exploratory given the small sample.

PMID

42607640

DOI

10.1016/j.heares.2026.109766.

Journal

Hearing Research

Publication type

research_article

Evidence level

4

Sample size

36

Population

Young adults with low noise exposure and no tinnitus

Intervention

Extended high-frequency audiometry and hyperacusis questionnaire assessment