Priorities for future research in hyperacusis

Hyperacusis is a disorder characterized by increased sensitivity to certain frequencies and volume ranges of sound, and can be debilitating in affected patients. It is almost always bilateral. The team aimed to identify gaps in knowledge on hyperacusis and to find where there are opportunities to address these gaps.

The researchers identified 8 major research questions as priorities for future research in the area. Their conclusions were recently published in the journal HNO. The questions highlighted in the paper were: What is the prevalence of hyperacusis in adults and children? What are the risk factors associated with hyperacusis? What is the natural history of hyperacusis? How is ‘pain hyperacusis’ perceived? What mechanisms are involved in hyperacusis? What is the relationship between hyperacusis and tinnitus? Can a questionnaire be developed that accurately measures the impact of hyperacusis and can it be used as a treatment outcome measure? What treatments, alone or in combination, are effective for hyperacusis?

With interest in this field growing, an increasing number of studies to address these issues are likely in the near future. Future work is also planned to identify patient-prioritized research.

Source: Baguley DM, Hoare DJ. Hyperacusis: major research questions. HNO. 2018 Feb 1.