A Delphi survey to determine a definition and description of hyperacusis by clinician consensus

Abstract

Objective

There is currently no singularly accepted definition of hyperacusis. The aim of this study was to determine a definition and description of hyperacusis by clinician consensus.

Design

A three-round Delphi survey involving hearing healthcare professionals built towards clinical consensus on a definition of hyperacusis. Round 1 involved three open-ended questions about hyperacusis. Seventy-nine statements were generated on descriptions, impact, sounds, and potential features of hyperacusis. Agreement on the relevance of each statement to defining or describing hyperacusis was then measured in Rounds 2 and 3. General consensus was defined a priori as ≥70% agreement, or ≥90 for clinical decision making.

Study sample

Forty-five hearing healthcare professionals were recruited to take part in this study. Forty-one completed Round 1, 36 completed Round 2, and 33 completed Round 3.

Results

Consensus was reached on 42/79 statements. From these a consensus definition includes “A reduced tolerance to sound(s) that are perceived as normal to the majority of the population or were perceived as normal to the person before their onset of hyperacusis”. A consensus description of hyperacusis was also determined.

Conclusions

This consensus definition of hyperacusis will help to determine the scope of clinical practice guidelines and influence needed research on hyperacusis.

Keywords:

• Sound tolerance
• sound sensitivity
• uncomfortable loudness levels
• psychoacoustics/hearing science

Acknowledgments

Julie Brady, Julie Carr, David Baguley, Richard Nicholson (Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust), Anirvan Banerjee (South Tees Hospital NHS Foundation Trust), Clare Marris (Sheffield Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust), Pam Comiskey (NHS Fife), Georgina Wilkinson (Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust), Peter Byrom (Peter Byrom Audiology, Sheffield), Laura Turton (South Warwickshire NHS Foundation), Bernadette Parker (University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust), Mary-Louise Montague (NHS Lothian), Leza Munro (NHS Forth Valley), Joanne Goss (GIG Cymru NHS Wales), Ali Hilali (Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust), Veronica Kennedy (Bolton NHS Foundation Trust), Beth Claesen (Bath and North East Somerset – Virgin Care), Tony Kay (Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust), Zarina Naeem (Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust), Alan Hopkirk (Invizear) are thanked for their contributions in this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).