Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for hyperacusis.
A randomized controlled clinical trial published in Behaviour Research and Therapy (2014) evaluated the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for hyperacusis, a condition marked by reduced tolerance to everyday sounds. Sixty patients were randomly assigned to either a CBT intervention or a waiting-list control group. The CBT program targeted maladaptive beliefs, fear responses, avoidance behaviors, and emotional distress associated with sound intolerance.
The findings showed that patients receiving CBT experienced significant improvements in sound tolerance, measured by increased loudness discomfort levels, along with reductions in hyperacusis severity, anxiety, depression, and sound-related fear. Effect sizes ranged from moderate to large. When the control group later received the same treatment, similar benefits were observed. Importantly, treatment gains were maintained at 12-month follow-up, indicating lasting therapeutic effects.
The study concludes that CBT is an evidence-based and durable treatment option for hyperacusis, reinforcing the role of psychological and cognitive mechanisms in sound intolerance conditions. These results are particularly relevant for clinicians and researchers interested in non-pharmacological interventions for auditory hypersensitivity and related conditions such as tinnitus distress.
Reference:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0005796714000084