Distinct profiles of tinnitus and hyperacusis in intensity deviant responses and auditory evoked potentials

Abstract

ERPs in response to intensity deviant stimuli are assessed in four age and hearing matched groups of various combinations of tinnitus and hyperacusis (both conditions, one of the conditions, neither condition). Distinct profiles for tinnitus and hyperacusis are shown, as well as additional more nuanced interactions. This not only moves our understanding of each condition, but also speaks directly to possible mechanistic subtypes of tinnitus (and of hyperacusis) which might be disentangled through the cheap and available technique that is single-channel EEG. The current findings may also explain some discrepant findings in past literature.