Hyperacusis, misophonia, and mental health in young adults in Canada: Estimated prevalence and associated factors

Introduction Despite growing recognition of hyperacusis and misophonia, evidence regarding their prevalence in young adults remains limited. This study aimed to address this gap by estimating the prevalence of hyperacusis, misophonia, and tinnitus, identifying sociodemographic and health-related factors associated with these conditions, and examining their associations with current anxiety and depressive symptoms. Methods A total of 606 young adults completed validated self-report questionnaires, including the Hyperacusis Questionnaire, Hyperacusis Assessment Questionnaire, Misophonia Assessment Questionnaire, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, and Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Results Of the total sample, 8.60% met criteria for significant hyperacusis; 24.50% reported at least mild misophonia, including 8.60% with moderate or greater severity; and 12.70% reported constant tinnitus. More than 70% of participants with hyperacusis or tinnitus also reported misophonia. Moderate or greater current anxiety and depressive symptoms were reported by 53.10% and 42.10% of participants, respectively. Multiple linear regression analyses showed strong associations between hyperacusis (32.80%) and misophonia (33.0%) symptom severity, while hearing issues, tinnitus, overall health status, and gender showed smaller associations. Current anxiety (44.50%) and depressive (44.60%) symptom severity were likewise strongly associated, while overall health status, ethnicity, and family history of hearing issues showed smaller associations with these symptoms. Moreover, hyperacusis was independently associated with current anxiety symptom severity ( p <0.001). Conclusions The findings indicate that hyperacusis, misophonia, and tinnitus frequently co-occur, and that anxiety and depressive symptoms are strongly interrelated in young adults. These highlight the role of sound hypersensitivity in mental health, and the importance of integrated assessment of auditory and psychological disorders.