Prevalence of Hyperacusis and Its Relation to Health: The Busselton Healthy Ageing Study

Smit, Adriana L; Stegeman, Inge; Eikelboom, Robert H; Baguley, David M; Bennett, Rebecca J; Tegg-Quinn, Susan; Bucks, Romola S; Stokroos, Robert J; Hunter, Michael; Atlas, Marcus D

Abstract

Importance
The prevalence of hyperacusis and its relationship with mental and general health is unknown in a nonclinical sample. Therefore, we aimed to determine the prevalence of hyperacusis and its relation with hearing, general and mental health in a population-based study.

Study Design
Prospective population-based study.

Material and Methods
This study uses data from the Busselton Healthy Ageing Study (BHAS). A sample of 5,107 eligible inhabitants aged 45 to 70 years completed a detailed questionnaire and a clinical assessment. A positive answer to “Do you consider yourself sensitive or intolerant to everyday sounds” was used to indicate hyperacusis. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between hearing, mental and general health factors, and hyperacusis.

Results
Of 5,107 participants, 775 (15.2%) reported hyperacusis. The majority of participants with hyperacusis reported an occasional effect on daily life (72.0%). Being female, older in age, having a lower income, physical or mental health difficulties, more severe hearing loss, and tinnitus were all associated with the presence of hyperacusis. Individuals who experience hearing impairment, poorer general or mental health have a higher possibility of hyperacusis having an effect on their daily life.

Conclusions
In this community population-based cohort study, we found a prevalence of hyperacusis of 15.2%. Individuals with hearing loss, mental health problems, and lower physical health have a higher possibility of experiencing effects on their daily life associated with their hyperacusis. Unravelling the relationship between hyperacusis hearing, general and mental health can be of major importance for a better understanding of the condition and its consequences.

Level of Evidence
II-2 Laryngoscope, 2021

Citation

Smit, A. L., Stegeman, I., Eikelboom, R. H., Baguley, D. M., Bennett, R. J., Tegg-Quinn, S., …Atlas, M. D. (2021). Prevalence of Hyperacusis and Its Relation to Health: The Busselton Healthy Ageing Study. Laryngoscope, 131(12), E2887-E2896. https://doi.org/10.1002/lary.29768

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 14, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Jul 22, 2021
• Publication Date: 2021-12
• Deposit Date: Jul 16, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 23, 2022
• Journal: Laryngoscope
• Print ISSN: 0023-852X
• Electronic ISSN: 1531-4995
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 131
• Issue: 12
• Pages: E2887-E2896
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/lary.29768
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/5787210
• Publisher URL: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/lary.29768
• Additional Information: © 2021 The Authors. The Laryngoscope published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.