Exploratory Study on the Role of Somatic Modulation in Hyperacusis

This study focuses on patients with a primary complaint of hyperacusis. Hyperacusis has been defined as 'abnormally reduced tolerance to sound' and is commonly associated with tinnitus. The effects of somatic modulation upon tinnitus have been studied, but not so for hyperacusis.. The effect of 9 somatic modulations (i.e. 3 jaw modulations and 6 cervical spine modulations) and 1 control movement (i.e. without any somatic modulation effect) in random order on the sound tolerance of a 1 kilohertz (kHz) broadband noise sound and the tinnitus experience will be investigated. More specifically, the perceived loudness and intrusiveness of this sound and the tinnitus sound will be evaluated before somatic modulation and during the somatic modulation.