Paulin, Johan, Andersson, Linus, Nordin, Steven · Noise & health · 2016 · DOI
This study looked at how common sound sensitivity (hyperacusis) is in the general population and what characteristics people with this condition share. Researchers surveyed thousands of people and found that sound sensitivity often occurs alongside other conditions like ME/CFS, anxiety, depression, and fibromyalgia. People with sound sensitivity tend to avoid loud environments and may seek medical help for their symptoms.
ME/CFS patients frequently report sound sensitivity as a debilitating symptom. This study identifies hyperacusis as commonly comorbid with ME/CFS and other conditions, suggesting shared pathophysiological mechanisms or risk factors that deserve further investigation and may inform treatment approaches.
This study does not establish whether hyperacusis causes the comorbid conditions, results from them, or shares common underlying mechanisms. The cross-sectional design means temporal relationships cannot be determined. Self-reported hyperacusis may not be clinically equivalent to physician-diagnosed cases.
About the PEM badge: “PEM required” means post-exertional malaise was an explicit required diagnostic criterion for participant inclusion in this study — not that PEM was studied, observed, or discussed. Studies using criteria that do not require PEM (e.g. Fukuda, Oxford) are tagged “PEM not required”. How the atlas works →
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Primary citation
Paulin, Johan, Andersson, Linus, & Nordin, Steven (2016). Characteristics of hyperacusis in the general population.. Noise & health. https://doi.org/10.4103/1463-1741.189244
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-paulin-2016-characteristics-hyperacusis,
author = {Paulin, Johan and Andersson, Linus and Nordin, Steven},
title = {Characteristics of hyperacusis in the general population.},
journal = {Noise & health},
year = {2016},
doi = {10.4103/1463-1741.189244},
note = {PubMed: 27569405},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/paulin-2016-characteristics-hyperacusis},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-27. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/paulin-2016-characteristics-hyperacusis
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