TABLE I.
An overview of hyperacusis questionnaire development studies.
| Questionnaire | Purpose | Participants | Item development | Scoring | Relation to other measuresa |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyperacusis questionnaire (HQ;b Khalfa et al., 2002) | Quantify and characterize the clinical presentation of hyperacusis | 201 adults (132 female; mean age = 28 years old) randomly selected from the general population | Based on literature review | 14 items scored on a 4-point scale ranging from “no” (0 points) to “yes, a lot” (3 points) | Higher HQ scores were associated with self-reported decreased noise tolerance |
| Multiple Activities Scale of Hyperacusis (MASH; Dauman and Bouscau-Faure, 2005) | Characterize situations during which an individual experiences noise discomfort | 249 adults (105 female; mean age ∼ 53 years old) who had tinnitus | Not specified | Structured interview quantifies the level of sound-related annoyance during everyday activities (rated from 0 to 10) | MASH scores positively correlated with the level of self-perceived “annoyance of hyperacusis” (rated from 0 to 10) |
| German Questionnaire on Hypersensitivity to Sound (GÜF; Nelting et al., 2002;c Nelting and Finlayson, 2004;c Bläsing et al., 2010) | Assess subjective distress related to hypersensitivity to sound | 226 hospitalized adults who had tinnitus combined with hyperacusis (27.9% inpatients; Nelting et al., 2002) | Based on clinician statements defining hypersensitivity to sound | 15 items scored on a 4-point scale ranging from “never correct” (0 points) to “always correct” (3 points) | GÜF total score positively correlated with hyperacusis impairment as judged by an ear specialist (Nelting et al., 2002) |
| Noise Avoidance Questionnaire (NAQ, Blaesing and Kroener-Herwig, 2012) | Assess avoidance of sound in everyday life | Sample 1: 74 adults (40 females; mean age = 52 years old); sample 2: 86 adults (45 females; mean age ∼ 49 years old) who had either tinnitus alone, tinnitus combined with hyperacusis, or neither condition | Guided by two existing questionnaires (Avoidance-Endurance Questionnaire and Mobility Inventory) | 25 items scored on a 5-point scale ranging from “never” (0 points) to “very often/always” (4 points) | NAQ scores positively correlated with GÜF scores; NAQ scores negatively correlated with LDLs; participants with hyperacusis had significantly higher NAQ scores than those without hyperacusis |
| Inventory of Hyperacusis Symptoms (IHS; Greenberg and Carlos, 2018) | Quantify the impact of decreased sound tolerance on quality of life, mental health, and general functioning | 450 adults (60% female; mean age = 35 years old) across 37 countries (53% United States); 80% had tinnitus | Based on literature review, analysis of existing hyperacusis questionnaires, and qualitative data collected from audiologists and individuals who had tinnitus combined with auditory hypersensitivity | 25 items scored on a 4-point scale ranging from “not at all” (1 point) to “very much so” (4 points) | IHS scores significantly correlated with self-report measures of quality of life, anxiety, depression, tinnitus severity, and overall levels of auditory sensitivity |
| Hyperacusis Impact Questionnaire (HIQ; Aazh et al., 2022) | Assess the impact of hyperacusis on the patient | 266 adults (146 female; mean age = 54 years old) who had tinnitus alone or tinnitus combined with hyperacusis; retrospective analysis | Based on common complaints of hyperacusis patients who were seen at a tinnitus and hyperacusis therapy clinic in the United Kingdom | Eight items scored on a four-point scale ranging from “0–1 days” (0 points) to “11–14 days” (3 points) | HIQ score negatively correlated with minimum LDL; HIQ score positively correlated with HQ score and with self-report measures of mental health and tinnitus handicap |
| Sound Sensitivity Symptoms Questionnaire (SSSQ; Aazh et al., 2022) | Assess the type and severity of sound intolerance symptoms | 266 adults (146 female; mean age = 54 years) who had tinnitus alone or tinnitus combined with hyperacusis; Retrospective analysis | Based on categories of hyperacusis described by Tyler et al. (2014) | 5 items scored on a 4-point scale ranging from “0-1 days” (0 points) to “11-14 days” (3 points) | SSSQ score negatively correlated with age and minimum LDL; SSSQ score positively correlated with HQ score and self-report measures of mental health and tinnitus handicap |
a
The relation to other measures as reported in the initial validation studies.
b
A 25-item modified version of the HQ is widely used in research and clinical practice, but it has not been validated. Fackrell et al. (2015) have also proposed a ten-item version of the HQ.
c
Nelting et al. (2002) and Nelting and Finlayson (2004) are written in the German language. A follow-up study by Bläsing et al. (2010) provides an English translation of the GÜF and is referenced in Table I.