Children with complaints of hyperacusis

Abstract

  We aggregated test results for 30 children complaining of hyperacusis. Of these 30 children, the percentage with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) was highest among the preschool children. Only five of the 19 elementary school children had ASD. The WISC–III was given to 17 children for whom consent was obtained. Three children were thought to have visual information processing dominance because the performance intelligence quotient (PIQ) was significantly higher than the verbal intelligence quotient (VIQ), and the perceptual reasoning index (PRI) was significantly higher than the verbal comprehension index (VCI). Conversely, eight children showed auditory information processing dominance. Auditory brainstem response (ABR) was measured in 11 children who became dizzy or crouched down when they heard a loud sound. Large amplitude waves following ABR were seen in eight children. These waves resembled vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (VEMP), but VEMP could not always be detected with simultaneously measured myogenic potentials. Children in whom these large waves were seen on one side showed improved symptoms when the ipsilateral ear was plugged. Functional magnetic resonance imaging was conducted on 13 children who felt sensations other than auditory sensations, such as seeing objects distorted when they heard a particular sound. Colored-hearing synesthesia was suspected in three children. Efforts to ascertain the information-processing and sensory features of children complaining of hyperacusis are important in understanding these children and determining suitable approaches.