JAAA CEU Program

The questions on this page refer to Aazh et al, “Exploding Head Syndrome Among Patients Seeking Help for Tinnitus and/or Hyperacusis at an Audiology Department in the UK: A Preliminary Study,” pages 93–99.

Learner Outcomes

Readers of this article should be able to:

• Identify the prevalence and characteristics of Exploding Head Syndrome (EHS) among patients seeking help for tinnitus and/or hyperacusis.

• Understand the relationships (or lack thereof) among EHS and audiological, psychological, and sleep factors in patients with tinnitus and/or hyperacusis.

CEU Questions

1. Which of the following symptoms is commonly associated with Exploding Head Syndrome (EHS)?

   • Severe headaches during the day

   • Visual fl ashes or jerking of the body during the night

   • Loss of hearing in one ear

2. How is hyperacusis defined in the study?

   • Perception of certain everyday sounds as too loud or painful.

   • The inability to hear high-pitched sounds.

   • Sudden hearing loss in both ears.

3. What is not a common perception experienced by individuals with EHS during a sleep-wake transition?

   • Pain

   • Perception of a sudden loud noise or explosion

   • Abrupt arousal

4. What modification was made to the British Society of Audiology (BSA) procedure when measuring pure-tone audiograms in this study?

   • Starting presentation levels were raised to avoid discomfort.

   • Thresholds were measured without the use of masking.

   • Presentation levels were matched to the adjacent frequency threshold.

5. What is the Uncomfortable Loudness Level (ULL) criterion for diagnosing hyperacusis in the study?

   • ULLmin of 80 dB HL or higher

   • ULLmin of 77 dB HL or below

   • ULLmin of 60 dB HL or below

6. What was the percentage of patients with tinnitus and/ or hyperacusis who had severe insomnia, according to the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI)?

   • 17.5%

   • 30%

   • 25%

7. How many patients in this study reported experiencing EHS at least once a month?

   • 10

   • 5

   • 8

8. Which of the following symptoms commonly occur in patients with EHS following an EHS event?

   • Stomach pain or cramps

   • Waking up suddenly, feeling frightened

   • Painful sensations in the neck

9. What is a possible explanation for the lack of significant findings between EHS and sleep difficulties in this study?

   • The patients had low levels of insomnia.

   • The patients with EHS were younger and healthier.

   • The limited variability in the severity of symptoms across the sample.

10. Does the paper recommend routine screening for EHS among patients with tinnitus and/or hyperacusis?

    • Yes, it recommends screening for EHS in all patients.

    • No, it recommends no routine screening.

    • It recommends screening only for patients with sleep disorders.

Publication History

Article published online:
13 November 2024