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Hyperacusis surgery: The lifechanging effects of round and oval window reinforcement using a patient reported outcome
Herbert Silverstein1, John Peleman1, Neil Nayak1
1Ear Research Foundation, 1901 Floyd St #100, Sarasota, FL, United States.
Objective:
To evaluate patient-reported outcomes following round and oval window reinforcement (RWR/OWR) surgery for hyperacusis using a concise disease-specific outcome instrument incorporating sound tolerance, pain hyperacusis, psychological well-being, and global quality-of-life measures.
Study Design:
Retrospective cohort study.
Setting:
Tertiary referral neurotology practice.
Patients:
Eighty-nine patients with debilitating hyperacusis who underwent round and oval window reinforcement surgery from 2014 to 2026.
Intervention:
Round and oval window reinforcement surgery.
Main Outcome Measures:
A novel hyperacusis surgery outcome survey incorporating hyperacusis severity, pain hyperacusis, functional sound tolerance, psychological distress, and global improvement.
Results:
71.8% of patients reported that their hyperacusis was better or much better following surgery. Respondents reported a significant improvement in hyperacusis severity, pain tolerance, sound tolerance, psychologic distress, and global parameters. Overall, 68% (26/38) of respondents would recommend the surgery to someone who has failed conservative therapy for hyperacusis.
Conclusions:
Round and oval window reinforcement surgery demonstrated meaningful improvements in sound tolerance, pain perception, and quality of life among appropriately selected patients with hyperacusis.
