• To identify the prevalence of hyperacusis in a traumatic brain injury population

• To explore possible risk factors associated with the presence of hyperacusis following a TBI

• To identify the main symptoms of hyperacusis that present in TBI patients

AIMS

METHODOLOGY

Identifying the prevalence and nature of hyperacusis in a traumatic brain injury population

and its relationship to measures of anxiety and depression: An exploratory study.

Keohane Clare1; Bateman Andrew 2; Harrison Roger3;

1,2Oliver Zangwill Centre for Neuropsychological Rehabilitation, Ely, Cambridgeshire; 3University of Manchester, UK

• Mean score on HQ:14.5

• Prevalence 7.5%

• Suggested associations with

hyperacusis after TBI: • Hearing problems

• Anxiety (strong association)

• Depression

• Inability to work

Pearson’s Test Results

RESULTS

Six top ‘symptoms’ of hyperacusis after TBI:

• Reduced concentration in noisy environments

• Stress and tiredness reducing ability to

concentrate in noise

• Certain sounds causing stress and irritation

• Less able to concentrate in noise at the end

of the day

• Listening to conversation in noise

• Reading in noise or loud environments

Correlation

coefficient (r)

95%CI

for r

2 sided p

Anxiety

score/score

on HQ

0.50 0.21-0.70 0.001

Depression

score/score

on HQ

0.35 0.04-0.6 0.02

• Cross sectional study over three month period

• 60 TBI participants recruited from three neurological services in Cambridgeshire

• 14 item Hyperacusis Questionnaire (HQ, Kalfa, et al, 2002) completed

• 39 participants also completed Hospital And Anxiety Scale (HADS)

• Descriptive statistical analysis

• Pearson’s tests to explore correlations

• Item analysis

• Supports previous studies to increase cut off score on HQ and develop standardised

assessment for clinical use.

• Supports theory that hyperacusis is associated with anxiety and depression in TBI.

• Identifies six symptoms that could be explored when identifying hyperacusis following TBI.

ozc_general

ITEM ANALYSIS

CONCLUSION

012345678

ea

rmuff

s

igno

ring

readingin…

concen

trating

liste

nin

g

reduced…

str

eet

nois

e

socia

l n

ois

e

go

ing o

ut

avoid

ance

quiet…

stress/tired…

en

d o

f da

y

irri

tation

No

A Little

Quite a lot

A lot

www.ozc.nhs.uk