Hyperacusis
Pronunciation: hy-per-a-KYOO-sis
A condition characterised by abnormal sensitivity or intolerance to everyday environmental sounds at intensities that most people tolerate without discomfort.
Full Definition
Hyperacusis is a central and peripheral auditory processing disorder in which ordinary sound levels provoke exaggerated, often painful responses. Unlike recruitment, hyperacusis can occur in individuals with normal hearing thresholds and is not confined to frequencies of cochlear damage. It is commonly associated with conditions such as tinnitus, Lyme disease, Williams syndrome, post-traumatic stress, and perilymphatic fistula. Clinical management typically involves sound desensitisation therapy and counselling. In editorial contexts, hyperacusis is frequently confused with misophonia (emotional aversion to specific sounds) and phonophobia (fear of sounds); editors must verify which clinical phenomenon the author intends.
Usage
Usage note: Do not use as a synonym for recruitment; hyperacusis is a clinical condition, recruitment is an audiometric phenomenon.
In Context
- "The patient reported debilitating hyperacusis, with even moderate conversational levels causing pain." — Audiology triage intake form
- "The manuscript incorrectly labelled the patient's condition as recruitment; the correct diagnosis, as confirmed by the clinician, was hyperacusis." — Peer-review editorial comment