Treatment & Research - Hyperacusis: Information Site

State of the art

information, research, and treatment.

Current treatments include desensitization therapies or acoustic therapies, often combined with pharmaceutical support. Dr Pawel Jastreboff developed his unique approach in the 1980s, using sound therapy to improve tolerance levels. His approach has been adopted at our clinic, and our data collection reflects the very high level of improvement (85%) of patients who complete the program.

Gentle sound therapy is tailored to the personal situation of each patient who enters the clinic. Over time, about six months, we find signficant improvement and increased range for loudness. Some patients have more complicated physiologic conditions, and recovery is simply not possible, but we attempt to find a combination of therapies to help each person achieve an improved quality of life.

Current literature searches on PUBMED revealed the following new studies

Current Research and Abstract Summaries

Scandinaviian Audiology 1999;28(4):219-230 Anari, Axelsson, Eliasson, Magnusson

Hypesensitivity to sound---questionnaire data, audiometry, and classification. 100 people with hypersensitivity to sound were tested and questioned. It was found that hyperacusis strikes younger people than tinnitus, is not related strongly to noise induced hearing lss, and 86% also suffer from tinnitus. Sounds are painful and exposure can make the condition worse for some. Headaches are common. Usually normal hearing is present or slight high frequency loss. Tolerance levels for sound of pure tone is less than 90 dB. A careful history taking is advised.

Scandinaviian Audiology 2000;29(1):28-36 Sammeth, Preves, Brandy

Hyperacusis: case studies and evaluation of electronic loudness suppression devices as a treatment approach.

14 patients with severe hyperacusis were given passive attenuators (earplugs) and then fitted with

experimental eletronic loudness devices, custom fit and severely compressed. Many subjects found better tunctioning with the devices in some listening situations.

International Tinnitus Journal 1999;5(2):76-91 Sahley, Nodr, Musick

Endogenous Dynorphins: possible role in peripheral tinnitus. A study of a neurochemical model that links a hormone called a neuromodulator, or neuroactive opioid peptide, which in turn are derived from precursor
hormones. These hormones act in humans including the auditory system and help modulate nerve sensitivity and nerve function. This study proposes that these hormones may be involved with inducing hyperacusis

and tinnitus by altering neural excitability. It is stated these hormones increase during stress.

Journal of American Academy of Audiology 2000 June;11(6):295-9

Evaluation and Treatment of Severe Hyperacusis. Valente, Goebel, Duddy, Sinks, Peterein

A single case study of 57 year old male with baro-trauma (aiplane) induced severe bilateral hyperacusis with LDLs of 20-34 dB HL. Several therapies were tried and finally he used electronic custom units.

International Tinnitu Journal 1996;2:83-89

Tinnitus - Hyperacusis and the Loudness Discomfort Level Test - A Preliminary Report. Goldstein, Shulman

42 patients were evaluated for tinnitus and hyperacusis. There was found a positive correlation between tinnitus and hyperacusis, as well as between hyperacusis and the LDL test. Present methods of testing for hyperacusis includes pure tone audiometry, LDLs, Feldmann Masking Curves, and the Metx test for recruitment. They suggest a classification system for hyperacusis.

Journal of American Academy of Audiology 1998 Oct;9(5):371-9

Disturbances of loudness perception. Phillips, Carr

Review of loudness perception auditory disorders: hyperacusis, dysacusis, phonophobia. Various mechanisms are offered and different causes are mentioned including peripheral conditions and central conditions. It is suggested different labelling be used to show the different origins of the disorders.