Association between Hyperacusis and Tinnitus.

Summary

Many people with tinnitus report hyperacusis, but solid population-level estimates of the association were lacking. In a Swedish population study of 3,645 adults (1,984 with tinnitus, 1,661 without), hyperacusis was strongly associated with having any tinnitus (odds ratio 3.51), with self-reported severe tinnitus (odds ratio 7.43), and with high tinnitus-handicap scores (odds ratio 12.1, rising to 77.4 for severe hyperacusis). The occurrence of hyperacusis among people with severe tinnitus was as high as 80%, showing a very tight relationship between the two conditions.

Key findings

• Hyperacusis was strongly associated with any tinnitus (OR 3.51) in a general-population sample of 3,645 adults.
• The association strengthened with tinnitus severity (OR 7.43 for self-reported severe tinnitus).
• Up to 80% of people with severe tinnitus also reported hyperacusis.
• No difference between sexes was found in the strength of the tinnitus-hyperacusis association.