SELF-REPORT VS. PSYCHOACOUSTIC MEASUREMENT IN THE INVESTIGATION OF HYPERACUSIS IN NORMAL-HEARING ADULTS

• Grant number: 24/21496-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2025
• End date: December 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Speech Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Sthella Zanchetta
• Grantee: Caio Rodrigues Felix
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: Hyperacusis (HPA) is a hearing perception disorder characterized by intolerance/discomfort to the loudness of everyday sounds, where others in the same environment exposed to the same stimulus do not experience the same sensation. Although it is not a recent symptom or sign, there has been a notable increase in studies on HPA over the last decade. These studies converge in their attempts to standardize the term and its definition, highlighting the lack of validated self-report tools for its identification and reference values for discomfort thresholds (LD) in individuals without comorbidities or other hearing disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder, tinnitus, or hearing loss.Objective: To analyze and compare the responses of the Hyperacusis Questionnaire (HQ) to LDs in normal-hearing individuals with and without complaints of discomfort with loud sounds.Sample and Methods: The study sample will consist of 50 normal-hearing individuals, aged 18 to 59 years, of both sexes. In the first phase, participants will undergo pure-tone audiometry, acoustic immittance measurements, and mental status screening. Those with adequate results in these assessments will be considered eligible for the second phase of the study.In the second phase, the research procedures will include a structured interview and the application of questionnaires/scales, all adapted to Brazilian Portuguese: the HQ, the Amsterdam Inventory Auditory Disability Handicap (pt-AIADH), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the measurement of LDs for pure tones and noise stimuli.Data Analysis: Results from the first phase will serve as inclusion criteria. Scores from the pt-AIADH and HADS will characterize the sample alongside demographic data (age and sex distribution). The normality of the dependent variables (LD and HQ) will guide the choice of parametric or non-parametric tests. Analyses will include comparisons of LDs between ears, LDs for different sound stimuli, and correlations between LDs and HQ scores. Data analysis will be conducted using GraphPad Prism 10, with a significance level of 5% (p < 0.05).