Table 2 Methods of assessing hyperacusis in children
Study Reference | Assessment Method | Description |
|---|---|---|
[20] | Semi-structured interview | The child was asked whether he/she ‘ever experiences over-sensitivity or distress to a particular sound’. If ‘yes’ then a further question was ‘whether they stay away from places or activities because of sensitivity to sounds’ |
[31] | Questionnaire | A structured email questionnaire - not specified |
[32] | ULLs | ULLs using the recommended BSA procedure with modifications |
[33] | Semi-structured interview | Children were asked ‘if they were troubled/ bothered by these symptoms, which noises were particularly troublesome and how they react to them’ |
[34] | ULLs | Frequency 1.2 and 4 kHz |
[37] | Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) | Parent completed 10 cm long line with anchors ‘no hyperacusia’ and ‘worst possible hyperacussia’ |
[38] | Questionnaire | The William’s Syndrome Questionnaire |
[39] | Semi-structured interview | Questions from published hyperacusis questionnaires eliciting recall of various attributes of hyperacusis and defensiveness such as troublesome sounds and associated behavioural responses |
[41] | Neurological assessment | 512 tuning fork, 128 tuning fork |
[42] | Semi-structured interview and parental questionnaire | Semi-structured interview: children were asked if they were bothered by sounds and if so, to choose which ones were bothersome from a list of options. A multiple choice parental questionnaire examining children’s hypersensitivity to sounds and their reactions. |
[46] | Observation and questionnaire | Observation: sounds were presented on speakers and the children’s reactions recorded Questionnaire: four multiple choice items adapted from Coelho 2007. |
[43] | Semi-structured interview and a questionnaire | Interview: questions not specified Questionnaire: Sensory Profile (short form) |
[44] | Semi-structured interview and ULLs | Interview: ‘If a positive answer was given to the question ‘Are you bothered by any kind of sound or noise?’ and the description of this sound and were able to identify at least 10 sounds from a list of 20 sounds, the responses were classified as ‘being annoyed by specific sounds’. ULLs – maximum audiometer output 110 dB HL at 0.25 Hz, 120 dB HL from 0.5HZ to 6.0 kHz and 100 dB at 8.0 kHz. |
[45] | ULLs with history of intolerance to certain sounds | ULLs measured at least to 500, 1000, 2000 4000 Hz |