Hyperacusis scores and listening characteristics: Extended high-frequency audiograms from a young population without tinnitus and with low noise exposure.

Hyperacusis describes the condition in which mid-level sounds are perceived as uncomfortably loud. This study assessed 36 listeners (mean age = 25.75 years) with low noise-exposure history (Noise Exposure Structured Interview, NESI) and no tinnitus, to investigate the association between assessed hyperacusis scores (Hyperacusis Questionnaire, HQ), measured uncomfortable loudness levels (ULLs), and speech intelligibility in noise (Matrix Speech test). Thresholds were ≤ 20 dB HL, for the standard audiometric signal frequencies (0.25-8 kHz). ULLs were measured for signal frequencies of 0.5-, 2-, and 4-kHz. Extended high-frequency (EHF) audiometric thresholds were also measured for signal frequencies up to 16 kHz. Cluster analysis identified three groups based on EHF audiometric threshold and slope. The cluster EHF thresholds for the three groups were 5.2 dB HL (LOW-hf), 18.3 dB HL (MED-hf), and 45.7 dB HL (HIGH-hf). Results indicated that the MED-hf group exhibited significantly higher HQ scores compared to the HQ scores associated with LOW-hf and HIGH-hf groups. Also, elevated EHF thresholds were generally unrelated to speech-in-noise intelligibility scores, and there was no significant relationship between HQ and NESI scores. For young listeners with relatively low noise exposure, normal or mildly-elevated EHF thresholds (8-16 kHz) may be associated with mid-range HQ scores.