Association Between Hyperacusis and Tinnitus: Analysis of Prevalence and Impact on Daily Functioning

: Hyperacusis is a common, but often underrecognized comorbidity in patients with chronic subjective tinnitus. Reduced sound tolerance is associated with a greater tinnitus-related burden, impaired communication, reduced social participation, and poorer daily functioning. However, published data regarding its prevalence and clinical impact remain limited and inconsistent....

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Audiologists managing chronic tinnitus patients should routinely screen for hyperacusis, as co-occurrence is associated with significantly greater burden on daily functioning and may require adjusted management strategies.

Understanding the hyperacusis–tinnitus comorbidity burden helps clinicians prioritise comprehensive assessment and could justify combined treatment approaches for this population.

1. 01Hyperacusis (extreme sound sensitivity) is a frequent comorbidity in chronic tinnitus patients.
2. 02Patients with both conditions report significantly greater impairment in daily functioning than those with tinnitus alone.
3. 03Reduced sound tolerance correlates with increased tinnitus burden scores.
4. 04Findings support routine hyperacusis screening in tinnitus clinical populations.
5. 05Study design is cross-sectional and analytical, limiting causal inference.

PMID

42776768

DOI

10.3390/audiolres16050126.

Journal

Audiology Research

Publication type

research_article

Evidence level

3

Population

Adults with chronic subjective tinnitus attending audiology clinics

Intervention

Prevalence analysis and impact assessment of hyperacusis as a comorbidity in tinnitus patients

Comparator

Chronic tinnitus patients without hyperacusis