Role of Exposure in Hyperacusis
Study Details
Study Description
Brief Summary
This study focuses on patients with a primary complaint of hyperacusis. Hyperacusis has been defined as 'abnormally reduced tolerance to sound'. It shows a high comorbidity with tinnitus, the perception of sound in the absence of a sound source. For the period of one month, hyperacusis and tinnitus severity and exposure to sounds will be evaluated by use of Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) in all participants. A novel approach to assessments, EMA prompts participants during their daily life to answer short questionnaires, increasing ecological validity and minimizing the risk for recall and memory biases. At a randomized time point during the one-month period, participants will individually receive a single psychoeducation session (1h) delivered by an experienced audiologist. The goal of the study is to investigate if the psychoeducation session leads to an increase in exposure to sound and a decrease in hyperacusis severity.
| Condition or Disease | Intervention/Treatment | Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
N/A |
Study Design
Arms and Interventions
| Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
|---|---|
| Experimental: Psychoeducation The goal of the psychoeducation session is to provide insight in the hyperacusis symptoms, take away the fear of external noises, and encourage exposure to noise. |
Behavioral: Psychoeducation
The goal of the psychoeducation session is to provide insight in the hyperacusis symptoms, take away the fear of external noises, and encourage exposure to noise.
|
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcome Measures
- Change in EMA questions from baseline to end of the study [8 random time points each day during the period of the study, from baseline and after intervention, though study completion for an average of 1 month]
Change in questions concerning exposure, hyperacusis and tinnitus during the day from baseline measurement to last day of the study period
Secondary Outcome Measures
- Hyperacusis Questionnaire [before intervention, immediately post intervention]
Hyperacusis severity self-report questionnaire, ranging from 0-42 with a higher score representing a higher sensitivity to sounds. A score of 28 is the cut-off for auditory hypersensitivity.
- Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI) [before intervention, immediately post intervention]
Tinnitus severity self-report questionnaire, ranging from 0-100 with a higher score representing a more severe tinnitus
Eligibility Criteria
Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- primary complaint of hyperacusis
Exclusion Criteria:
-
primary complaint of misophonia
-
primary complaint of tinnitus
-
undergoing another therapy at the moment of the study
Contacts and Locations
Locations
| Site | City | State | Country | Postal Code | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University Hospital Antwerp | Antwerp | Belgium |
Sponsors and Collaborators
- University Hospital, Antwerp
- Universiteit Antwerpen
Investigators
None specified.Study Documents (Full-Text)
None provided.More Information
Publications
- Blaesing L, Kroener-Herwig B. Self-reported and behavioral sound avoidance in tinnitus and hyperacusis subjects, and association with anxiety ratings. Int J Audiol. 2012 Aug;51(8):611-7. doi: 10.3109/14992027.2012.664290. Epub 2012 Mar 24.
- Goldberg RL, Piccirillo ML, Nicklaus J, Skillington A, Lenze E, Rodebaugh TL, Kallogjeri D, Piccirillo JF. Evaluation of Ecological Momentary Assessment for Tinnitus Severity. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2017 Jul 1;143(7):700-706. doi: 10.1001/jamaoto.2017.0020.
- Henry JA, Thielman E, Zaugg T, Kaelin C, Choma C, Chang B, Hahn S, Fuller B. Development and field testing of a smartphone "App" for tinnitus management. Int J Audiol. 2017 Oct;56(10):784-792. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2017.1338762. Epub 2017 Jul 2.
- Kratochwill TR, Levin JR. Enhancing the scientific credibility of single-case intervention research: randomization to the rescue. Psychol Methods. 2010 Jun;15(2):124-44. doi: 10.1037/a0017736. Review.
- Exposure in Hyperacusis