title: Study of the relationship between the degree of tinnitus annoyance and the presence of hyperacusis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hyperacusis can be defined as a manifestation of an increased of central auditory pathways gain and can be considered a pre-tinnitus state. In some cases tinnitus can be caused by such increased gain.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the prevalence of hyperacusis in patients with tinnitus and its relation to the annoyance of tinnitus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study with patients from the neurotology service complaining of tinnitus in the first consultation were submitted to clinical evaluation, a questionnaire and audiological evaluation of tinnitus and hyperacusis. The degree of annoyance of tinnitus and hyperacusis was measured using a visual analog scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We analyzed medical records of 309 patients, 169 (54.7%) females and 140 (45.3%) males. The mean age was 53 years. The median degree of tinnitus annoyance was 7. Hyperacusis was present in 57 (18.4%) patients, with a median degree of 5. The degree of annoyance due to tinnitus patients with hyperacusis was similar to that of patients without hyperacusis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hyperacusis was present in 18.4% of patients with tinnitus. The degree of annoyance due to tinnitus had no correlation with the presence of hyperacusis.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual de Campinas, CampinasSP, Brasil, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Alexandre Caixeta
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Guimarães
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual de Campinas, CampinasSP, Brasil, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Guilherme Machado de
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.affiliation: Aeronáutica, Departamento de Medicina, São PauloSP, Brasil, Departamento de Medicina da Aeronáutica, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Márcia Maria de Freitas Dias
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Voltolini
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual de Campinas, CampinasSP, Brasil, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Carlos Eduardo Monteiro
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Zappelini
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual de Campinas, CampinasSP, Brasil, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mezzalira
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual de Campinas, CampinasSP, Brasil, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Guita
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stoler
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual de Campinas, CampinasSP, Brasil, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Jorge Rizzato
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Paschoal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012001:Hyperacusis / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000150:complications*; D055815:Young Adult