Assessment of misophonia, hyperacusis, and tinnitus using questionnaires in patients with low- and high-frequency hearing loss who will use hearing devices
Tuba Doğan Karataş1, Ahmet Aksoy1, Merve Çiftçi2, Marwan K.s. Alhazzar1, Mansur Doğan1
1Cumhuriyet Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Kulak Burun Boğaz Anabilim Dalı, Sivas, Türkiye
2Erbaa Devlet Hastanesi, Kulak Burun Boğaz Hastalıkları Kliniği, Tokat, Türkiye
Keywords: Frequency-specific hearing loss, hearing loss, hyperacusis, misophonia, tinnitus.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the frequency and severity of misophonia, hyperacusis, and tinnitus in patients with low- and high-frequency hearing loss using standardized questionnaires.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study, conducted between 01.05.2025 and 31.08.2025, included 100 patients (52 males, 48 females; mean age 62.5±13.8 year; range, 14 to 95 year) classified into low-, high-, or mixed-frequency hearing loss groups. Misophonia was assessed using the Misophonia Questionnaire (MISO), hyperacusis using the Hyperacusis Scale, and tinnitus using a standardized tinnitus survey. Associations between hearing loss type and symptom severity were analyzed using Chi-square tests, Monte Carlo simulations, Cramér’s V statistics, and logistic regression analyses. Effect sizes were estimated using bootstrap methods.
RESULTS: Among auditory sensitivity disorders, tinnitus showed a significant association with frequency-specific hearing loss (p<0.05). In contrast, no statistically significant associations were found for misophonia or hyperacusis. Frequency loss was significantly associated with misophonia, hyperacusis, and tinnitus (Cramér’s V=0.61-0.73, permuted p<0.001). Gender was independently associated with hyperacusis (OR≈3, p=0.046). A moderate positive correlation was observed between misophonia and hyperacusis severity (Spearman ρ=0.29, p=0.01). Subgroup analyses by age and gender revealed similar trends.
CONCLUSION: Tinnitus is more prevalent in individuals with frequency-specific hearing loss, highlighting the need for individualized assessment prior to hearing aid fitting. Although misophonia and hyperacusis are commonly observed, no significant associations with audiometric patterns were identified.