What Is Hyperacusis and Why This Survey Is So Important

Hyperacusis involves an increased sensitivity to everyday environmental sounds that would normally be tolerable to most people. It is suggested more than 8% of adults and 3% of children have hyperacusis. The presence of hyperacusis can mean that these sounds can present as uncomfortable, painful or intense. Hyperacusis can also often coinside with tinnitus.

When someone has a hearing test for a hearing aid, a test called Uncomfortable Loudness Levels or 'ULLs' may be conducted. This test measures the level at which a sound starts to become uncomfortable. Information such as this is important for an audiologist programming your hearing aid to make sure certain sounds will not be uncomfortable for you. Therefore if you do suffer with hyperacusis it is a good idea to mention this your assessment for a hearing aid appointment.

There is still a lot that is unknown about hyperacusis, If you are someone who suffers with hyperacusis, or a friend, family member or teacher of someone who is, there is a survey that could really do with your help. Are their unanswered questions you have about Hyperacusis? The survey simply requires you to write down the top 10 questions you have about hyperacusis, whether it is is do with the causes, treatment, management or what services are avaliable to you. This information is invaluable to those working in research regarding hyperacusis as it will help address and tackle the main issues that people are having difficulty with and need answers to today.

Here is the link to the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/hyperacusis