Difference in characteristics between tinnitus patients with and without hyperacusis according to three different...

To evaluate the phenotypic differences between patients with tinnitus only and patients with tinnitus and hyperacusis, based on three different definitions of hyperacusis.

A retrospective analysis was conducted on 199 adult patients visiting the tinnitus clinic at Ghent University Hospital. Patients were categorised into two groups: those with tinnitus only and those with tinnitus and hyperacusis, based on three definitions of hyperacusis: anamnesis, Hyperacusis Questionnaire (HQ), and dynamic range (DR). Phenotypic differences between both groups were compared.

Among all patients with tinnitus, 19.6% exhibited hyperacusis based on HQ or DR, whereas 63.8% demonstrated hyperacusis according to anamnesis. Total scores for the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) and Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI) were significantly higher among patients presenting with both tinnitus and hyperacusis, in comparison to those with tinnitus alone. Various other characteristics either displayed no discernible differences between the two groups or exhibited differences depending on the definition of hyperacusis employed.

Patients experiencing both tinnitus and hyperacusis reported higher levels of annoyance (based on a higher THI and TFI total score) in comparison to those solely dealing with tinnitus. Nonetheless, discrepancies in various other characteristics were frequently influenced by the specific definition of hyperacusis employed.