Clinical and Health Affairs Hyperacusis and Misophonia The Lesser-Known Siblings of Tinnitus

■ Hyperacusis (decreased sound tolerance) and misophonia (fear of sound) are two conditions about which little is known. Consequently, physicians often struggle when they encounter patients who are affected by them. This article attempts to educate the medical community about hyperacusis and misophonia, both of which can have devastating effects on the lives of patients, and ways to manage them. Hearing loss and tinnitus are the primary hearing-related reasons people seek help from physicians. There are, however, several lesser-known maladies that result in suffering and affect a person's quality of life. Among these are hyperacusis (decreased sound tolerance) and misophonia (dislike or fear of sound). The prevalence of these conditions is not welldocumented; however, it is believed that between 10% and 17% of the population experiences tinnitus and of that population, 37% requires specific treatment for hyperacusis and misophonia