Hyperacusis is defined as a decreased tolerance to common everyday sounds. A numer of the sufferers have tinnitus. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the hyperacusis scores between tinnitus sufferers and people without tinnitus.
✦ The floor
Discussion
Signed responses from readers of the wire.
Audiologists managing tinnitus patients should routinely screen for hyperacusis, as this study suggests meaningful co-occurrence; however, practice protocols should await replication in larger, well-controlled studies.
Clarifying the overlap between hyperacusis and tinnitus can improve comprehensive assessment and treatment planning for patients presenting with sound-sensitivity complaints alongside tinnitus.
- 01Study investigated rates and severity of hyperacusis (sound oversensitivity) in tinnitus patients.
- 02Hyperacusis and tinnitus frequently co-occur, but the relationship is not yet fully characterized.
- 03Hyperacusis scores were compared across tinnitus patient groups.
- 04Published in the Iranian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology (2026).
- 05Findings support routine dual-screening but require replication.
Hyperacusis co-occurs at a measurable rate in patients with tinnitus.
studypartially supportedHyperacusis severity scores differ significantly across tinnitus patient subgroups.
studyunclear- PMID
- 42583143
- DOI
- 10.22038/ijorl.2026.94349.4125.
- Journal
- Iranian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology
- Publication type
- research_article
- Evidence level
- 3
- Population
- Patients with tinnitus
- Intervention
- Hyperacusis assessment/scoring in tinnitus patients
- Comparator
- Tinnitus patients without hyperacusis or differing hyperacusis severity levels
Primary outcomes
Hyperacusis scores in tinnitus patients; Rate of co-occurrence of hyperacusis and tinnitus