Assessment and management of Tinnitus and Hyperacusis
Tinnitus is the perception of noise (e.g., ringing, buzzing, hissing) in the absence of an external sound source. It may be perceived in one or both ears, centered in the head, or localized outside the head. The impact of tinnitus on one’s quality of life can vary (from minimal to severe) Hyperacusis is an exaggerated response to ordinary sounds in the environment that are tolerated well by those without hyperacusis. Hyperacusis may result in a range of reactions and emotional responses to sound, varying by individual. Categories of hyperacusis include loudness, annoyance, fear, and pain. As with tinnitus, hyperacusis varies in severity. The negative responses to sound may be strong enough to cause avoidance of normal interactions and situations and may significantly alter a person’s life. Both these issues affect the quality of life of an individual significantly and may result in various other issues like stress depression etc. These should not be overlooked even for a normal hearing individual and hence understanding their assessment and management is critical to an audiologist.
