Sound hypersensitivity phenotypes and sound hypersensitivity disorder

This paper proposes an overarching definition for sound hypersensitivity, a common symptom frequently observed in patients with hearing loss, tinnitus and other neurological and psychiatric disorders. This multifaceted condition includes several phenotypes, which may exist in isolation or combination in the same individual: loudness hypersensitivity (hyperacusis), noxacusis, misophonia, phonophobia and noise-induced...

Audiologists treating patients with hyperacusis, misophonia, or noise sensitivity should monitor this proposed framework; if adopted broadly, it may standardise assessment and treatment pathways, but clinical practice change should await validation and consensus endorsement.

A unified taxonomy for sound hypersensitivity could transform research consistency and clinical communication across audiology, neurology, and psychiatry, ultimately improving diagnosis and care for a widely under-served patient group.

1. 01Paper published in Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews proposes a unified definition for 'sound hypersensitivity disorder'.
2. 02Sound hypersensitivity is an umbrella covering conditions like hyperacusis, misophonia, and phonophobia.
3. 03Current lack of standardised definition hampers cross-study comparisons and clinical management.
4. 04Proposed framework aims to harmonise phenotyping across audiology, neurology, and psychiatry.
5. 05The paper is conceptual/framework-building; clinical validation of the taxonomy is still needed.

PMID

42269959

DOI

10.1016/j.neubiorev.2026.106796.

Journal

Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews

Publication type

review

Evidence level

5

Population

Patients with sound hypersensitivity across audiology, tinnitus, and neurological conditions

Intervention

Proposed unified taxonomic definition and phenotypic classification of sound hypersensitivity disorder