Exploring the Link Between Tinnitus and Loudness Intolerance

Introduction A ringing sensation in the ear is referred to as tinnitus. It is one of the common symptoms associated with hearing loss. It can be associated even with loudness-related conditions, such as hyperacusis. Objective To investigate the relationship between tinnitus and hyperacusis in individuals with normal hearing and up-to-mild hearing loss, focusing on the manifestation of loudness intolerance. Methods The Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) was administered among 35 adults having primary complaints of tinnitus with normal hearing and up-to-mild hearing loss. Further, the Modified Khalfa Hyperacusis Questionnaire (M-HQ) was used to evaluate the hyperacusis severity among the same individuals. Spearman’s correlation coefficient was used to check the correlation between tinnitus and hyperacusis severity. Results Of the 35 adults who reported tinnitus, 18 (51.4%) of them reported having hyperacusis. The outcome of Spearman’s correlation indicated a moderate positive correlation between the THI and M-HQ scores r_s ¼ 0.401(p ¼ 0.017). Conclusion The results obtained suggest that tinnitus is associated with hyperacusis. With the subjective evaluation, it is clear that the change in the severity of tinnitus perception is interconnected with the perception of hyperacusis severity. But this relationship is not a completely overlapping one. Future research on the comorbid interplay of tinnitus severity and hyperacusis severity may shed further light on this link.