Individuals with sensory hypersensitivity have a distinct physiological and neural reactivity that manifests in hyper-excitability and over-reactivity to sensory stimuli [1] [2] [3] . This may affect function and participation in daily life activities [4] [5] . According to Dunn [6] the role and effect of sensory processing on peoples’ daily life is generated from studying sensory processing from many perspectives. This study aimed to measure the neurophysiological responses to sound in adults with sensory hypersensitivity compared to those without hypersensitivity, from the neurophysiological perspective, using neurophysiological measurements and correlate these manifestations to the behavioral responses of daily life perspective.

Sensory Processing and Sensory Processing Disorders (SPD)

Sensory processing involves the reception of a physical stimulus, transduction of the stimulus into a neural impulse, perception of the conscious experience of the sensation as well as creating a behavioral responses to sensory input [1] [6] .

Sensory Processing Disorders (SPD) may include hyper- or hypo-sensitivity as expressed in extreme behavioral responses to sensory stimuli, due to difficulties in balancing sensitivity (identification of novel or changing stimuli) or habituation (adjusting to familiar or ongoing stimuli) [7] .

Dunn [8] proposed a model in which sensory processing depends upon: 1) neurological threshold (level of stimulation needed to respond to sensory stimuli), and 2) behavioral response strategy (active or passive) to this threshold. A high threshold combined with a passive response is classified as “low registration of stimuli”. A high threshold combined with an active response is classified as “sensory seeking”, in that the individual actively pursues intense sensory stimulation. A low threshold combined with a passive response is classified as “sensory sensitivity”, whereas a low threshold combined with an active response is classified as “sensory aversion” in which the individual actively avoids sensory experiences [6] . According to Dunn the interaction between neurological threshold and behavioral response forms a continuum, the edges of which represent the four sensory processing patterns mentioned above. People with extreme sensory processing patterns may experience functional as well as emotional and cognitive difficulties in dealing with their daily environment, which negatively impact performance and social relationships [9] .

Studies have established a link between SPD and atypical CNS processing. Individuals with sensory hypersensitivity were found to have a distinct physiological and neural reactivity that manifests in hyper-excitability and over-reactivity to sensory stimuli [1] [2] [3] [10] . These studies validated that individuals with SPD have distinct physiological, neural, electrodermal, and vagal tone differences, as compared to typical individuals.

The impact of these sensory processing experiences, on daily performances, function and participation in daily life activities, was emphasized in the literature along the years and across life span. Several studies showed a gradual worsening of sensory processing throughout the adult life span, which begin in middle age and continue in old age. For instance, older adults were found to be less responsive to startling auditory stimuli [11] and less responsive to uncomfortable temperatures compared with younger adults [12] . A decline in the main sensory modalities also noted in touch sensation among elderly participants [13] . When studied among 245 adults 18 - 86 years of age, performance in sensory processing of auditory tactile visual, and global sensory modalities were found to be significantly worse among middle age participants than of young adults and significantly better than that of older adults. [14] .

Engel-Yeger, Hus, & Rosenblum, [15] examine sensory processing among 118 healthy, independently functioning adults, in four age groups: 31 - 45, 46 - 60, 61 - 75 and 76+ years. They found that age significantly predicted sensory-processing abilities, as presented in all four patterns (Low Registration, Sensation Seeking, Sensory Sensitivity and Sensation Avoiding). Older people showed lower sensory-processing abilities then younger ones, mainly manifested in sensory seeking and low registration patterns. These correlations were attributed to a manifestation of degenerative processes of the sensory organs, tracts and of the brain ability to process sensory information [13] .

SPD may limit participation, decrease social skills, impair friendships and relationships, self-confidence and self-esteem affect the interaction with the physical and human environments and cause the person to withdrawal from specific daily activities, that includes choice of clothing, where they go and with whom they relate emotionally, type and choice of a person’s activities and also on their interpersonal relationships [1] [16] [17] [18] [19] . SPD also, negatively impact the ability to parent, work, or engage in home management, social, and leisure activities [20] . Since sensory processing affects participation, therefore, if significant correlations were found between sensory hypersensitivity as measured by the adult/adolescents sensory profile (AASP) and neural responses, as measured by event-related potentials (ERPs), then a link between daily life experiences and neural mechanisms related to hypersensitivity could be established, supporting the evidence from both subjective and objective perspectives.

One common trait of sensory hypersensitivity reported by children as well as adults with sensory hypersensitivity, with or without other co-morbidities, is auditory hypersensitivity [5] [21] [22] . Auditory hypersensitivity consists of a reported marked intolerance to ordinary environmental sounds while hearing thresholds are quite often normal. It is commonly used to describe the situation of a person who reports that sounds which would be acceptable to most normal hearing people are extremely loud or uncomfortable [23] . The current view of auditory hypersensitivity states that it is not only a subjective trait, but rather that the hypersensitivity arises from within the auditory system, either peripheral or central [24] .

Therefore, research which combines the basic and applied science of neural reactivity and the daily performance of individuals with hypersensitivity may help substantiate the behavioral phenotypes of sensory hypersensitivity and refine the definition of sensory hypersensitivity, in addition to traditional behavioral definitions. Thus, it may improve assessment and intervention programs to raise performance and quality of life for people with sensory hypersensitivity.

Using Event-Related Potentials (ERPs) for studying auditory processing

Event-Related Potentials (ERPs) to auditory stimuli reflect activation of structure in the CNS and measure timing, magnitude and anatomic location of auditory processing and a spatio-temporal window into the processing of the auditory system [25] . Thus, ERPs provide an important bridge in studying the relationship between behavioral performance and brain activity [26] . In general, ERPs can be divided into two major categories: sensory (auditory) evoked potentials (such as P₁-N₁-P₂), and processing-contingent potentials (MMN; N₂b-P₃b; P₃₀₀; N₄₀₀; P₆₀₀). Components are believed to be associated with sensory or cognitive information processing and are often measured by their amplitude and latency [26] . Latency is a time interval between stimulus onset and response [27] and amplitude is “The maximum extent of a vibration or oscillation, measured from the position of equilibrium” and is directly related to the intensity of a sound. [https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/amplitude]

Auditory perception as a reflection of sensory processing can be expressed by the ability to detect changes in different sound dimensions, such as frequency and intensity. Natural sounds in the environment, such as speech and music, are complex acoustic signals that involve changes in intensity and frequency [27] . Therefore, abnormalities in amplitudes and latencies of ERPs in response to changes in frequency and intensity may contribute to the understanding of extreme behaviors related to sensory hypersensitivity in daily life [28] .

ERPs technology was employed to examine auditory processing in individuals with hypersensitivity [4] [25] [29] [30] [31] . When using ERPs paradigms to measure sensory gating (the ability of the CNS to inhibit responses to redundant or irrelevant sensory stimuli) in response to paired auditory stimuli (two clicks), individuals with hypersensitivity exhibited less efficient sensory gating (i.e., lower suppression of auditory ERP P₅₀ and N₁ components) [29] . Decreased P₅₀ responses were correlated with perceptual modulation difficulties (feelings of being flooded by sounds), whereas decreased N₁ responses were correlated with an inability to filter out background sounds. The N₁ has been suggested to reflect the basic ability to detect an acoustic change in the environment, whereas, the P₂ is associated with early stages of stimulus evaluation and responses to the stimulus, including perceived affective attributes [32] .

To successfully cope with the ever-changing environmental conditions of everyday life, people must quickly process external events [32] . The N₁-P₂ complex is associated with detection of the onset of a perceived stimulus, and can be evoked by an abrupt change in the perceived auditory environment. Dynamically changing intensity is an environmentally important cue for guiding locomotion and anticipating the arrival of a sound source. A change of intensity without a change in frequency may signal a slower moving object or vocal features, such as emphasis or affect in vocal communications [27] [33] . Changes of frequency represent a new auditory object in the scene or a marked change in an existing object, such as the Doppler Effect, due to fast motion toward or away from the listener, or a meaningful communication or warning call [33] .

When comparing response to stimuli differing in intensity and frequency, measures of N₁-P₂-N₂-P₃ children with hypersensitivity displayed the most disorganization in their patterns of brain activity to auditory stimuli compared to typical children and adults [25] . Gavin et al. [4] also found different brain activity in children with hypersensitivity who demonstrated significantly smaller P₃₀₀ amplitudes and shorter N₂₀₀ latencies than typically developing children. They suggested that children with hypersensitivity are not able to dismiss a sensory experience with early attention and detection, and continue to process the information for much longer and more intensely. These brain activities correctly distinguished children with hypersensitivity from children who were typically developing and adults with 77% - 90.5% accuracy.

Analyzing the responsiveness of the auditory system by using ERPs may provide a window to better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of extreme sensory processing and their behavioral and functional expressions. This information may assist in creating intervention programs that will be tailored to the person’s unique sensory characteristics and needs in relation to real life experiences.

The purpose of this study was to compare neurophysiological responses to auditory inputs in adults with sensory hypersensitivity to those of typical controls and to correlate their neurophysiological responses and reactivity to auditory stimuli in daily life.

Hypotheses. 1) Participants with sensory hypersensitivity will show significantly larger neurophysiological manifestations to changes in sound intensity and frequency than typical controls, as measured in amplitude and latency of ERP components N₁ and P₂; 2) Participants with sensory hypersensitivity will have significantly exaggerated behavioral auditory responses in daily life than typical controls; 3) Significant correlations will be found between the ERPs components and auditory hypersensitivity, as expressed in daily life scenarios.

ERP manifestations of sensory hypersensitivity-differences in ERP components N₁ and P₂ between groups

No significant differences were found between the groups regarding latencies and amplitudes of N₁ in response to changes in frequency and intensity. However, participants with hypersensitivity had significantly longer P₂ latencies than controls, in response to large changes in frequency (250 Hz to 375 Hz) [F (2, 40) = 4.55, p = 0.01, µ² = 0.18]. Participants with hypersensitivity also had consistently longer P₂ latencies than controls, in response to small changes in frequency (250 Hz to 275 Hz) and in response to large change in intensity (60 dB + 8 dB), yet these differences did not reach statistical significance.

Manifestations of sensory hypersensitivity in daily life as reflected in self reports

Table 2 presents the means of the AASP scores and the frequency of participants found in each sensory processing performance range in each group. As evident from Table 2, the hypersensitive groups scored significantly higher than controls in Sensory sensitivity (p < 0.05) and Sensation avoiding (p < 0.01) AASP quadrants.

Hyperacusis score in the hypersensitivity group was significantly higher (M = 35.50, Med = 37.00, SD = 8.14) than the control group (M = 22.64, Med = 22.64, SD = 5.33) t = 5.392, p < 0.01. In the general sample, Sensory sensitivity AASP scores and Sensation avoiding AASP scores were significantly correlated with the total hyperacusis score (r = 0.75, p < 0.001, r = 0.71, p < 0.001, respectively).

Correlations between the objective and subjective measures of sensory hypersensitivity in the total sample

As can be evident in Table 3, higher sensory sensitivity and sensation avoiding were found in the auditory processing items, measured by the AASP, and greater hyperacusis complaints, measured by the hyperacusis questionnaire, were found and were significantly correlated with larger responses to both large frequency and large intensity changes, as measured by latency and amplitudes of N₁ and P₂.

This is one of the first studies to examine the relationship between neurophysiological manifestations of responses to auditory stimuli in adults with sensory hypersensitivity and their daily life expressions. According to our results, participants

*p < 0.05; **p < 0.01, SD = standard deviation.

*p < 0.05; **p < 0.01, ms = milliseconds, nV = nano-volt.

with hypersensitivity reported greater auditory sensitivity expressed in hyperacusis in daily situations, compared to typical controls.

The differences between both groups were also manifested in different ERPs, as measured by P₂ Latency in response to a large change in frequency. The P₂ wave reflects the process of stimulus evaluation [32] and is associated with perceptual analysis and attentional allocation [42] . The prolonged P₂ latency among the hypersensitive group indicates the longer time required for perceptual analysis [42] . In daily life, this may lead to allocating more attention to sensory stimuli, which may accompany the overwhelming, uncomfortable sensory experience, and may account for functional difficulties in daily life, reported by adults with hypersensitivity [43] .

In the present study, such uncomfortable sensory experiences were noted in the responses to the hyperacusis questionnaire. Participants who indicated that they are more troubled with social and leisure activities, for instance, in relation to the questions “Do you find the noise unpleasant in certain social situations (e.g. night clubs, pubs or bars, concerts, firework displays, cocktail receptions)?” and “Do you ever turn down an invitation or not go out because of the noise you would have to face?” had significantly greater ERP responses, as can be evident in Table 3. These correlations may reflect a limitation in participating in social and leisure activities.

Also, indicated in Table 3, it was found that among the entire sample, the sensory sensitivity and sensation avoiding scores of all sensory modalities, and especially in relation to the auditory items, were significantly correlated with the ERP responses. Hence, the more sensitive or more avoiding was the behavior, the larger were the amplitudes of N₁ and P₂, and the more prolonged were the latencies. This may reflect the greater attentional resources needed to process the details of a change [43] among people with sensitive and avoiding patterns.

Dunn [8] claimed that individuals with sensory avoidance limit sensory opportunities because they have difficulties in perceiving, organizing and responding to unfamiliar sensory inputs that may be perceived as “threatening”. The positive strong correlations that were found between the AASP measures of both sensory sensitivity and sensation avoiding in all the sensory modalities with the hyperacusis complaints, measured by the hyperacusis questionnaire, support Dunn’s claim, and the relationship between neural mechanisms and behavioral measurements of hypersensitivity.

Interestingly, both groups did not differ significantly in N₁ measures_. According to Nishihara et al. [44] , N₁ reflects the basic ability to detect whether changes in the environment have accrued. Thus, N₁ reflects a change-detection system; a memory-based comparison process, in which amplitude and latency are dependent on the physical attributes of a difference between standard and deviant sounds [44] . In the present study, any change, either in intensity or in frequency, as reflected in N₁ was noticed by the participants in both groups at approximately the same latency or magnitude (amplitude response). This basic ability to detect whether changes in the environment have accrued was not significantly different between the groups. Support for this finding can be found in a study conducted by Bar-Shalita et al. [45] and in Bar-Shalita et al. [10] , demonstrating that sensory hypersensitivity does not imply lowered sensory thresholds, (i.e. the ability to identify a stimulus change). Our results suggest that people with hypersensitivity have a similar ability to detect stimuli as typical people, however, as indicated by the later component P₂, people with hypersensitivity have larger responses when perceiving the stimuli and responding to their affective attributes. This may explain the emotional hyper-arousability frequently reported among people with sensory hypersensitivity [46] .

This study referred only to patterns of hypersensitivity and was based on a relatively small sample of typical adults. Since the stimuli were somewhat moderate, as were the differences between them, this together with the small sample might account for the inability to reach statistical significance in all the tested conditions. The correlations and differences found in the present study should be further examined on larger samples of individuals’ extreme sensory processing patterns and illuminate the relationship between the underlying neural mechanisms of sensory hypersensitivity and the person’s coping with daily life demands. Also, further studies, on larger sample sizes across larger age range, with hyposensitive as well as hypersensitive patterns, and on populations with special conditions, are recommended.

The study has added to current knowledge by describing the underlying neurophysiological mechanisms of auditory hypersensitivity and their daily life expressions. The correlations and differences found in the present study may indicate that daily life expressions of auditory hypersensitivity are supported by neurophysiological manifestations and may explain the unique experience that adults with hypersensitivity frequently experience in daily life, in compare to those who have typical sensory processing patterns.

The correlation between daily life experience of auditory hypersensitivity and their neurophysiological manifestation may improve evaluation and intervention for people with extreme sensory processing patterns that interfere with their daily life performance and routine.

Implications for clinical practice

In 2001, the World Health Organization (WHO) emphasized the need for universally applicable classification and assessment tools, both for activity levels and overall levels of participation and roles of social life for people who are limited in their activity due to disease, impairment, disability, handicap or disorder; such one is SPD and specifically sensory hypersensitivity.

Thus, understanding the relationship between neural mechanisms, behavioral and participation in daily life, may enable a better diagnosis of sensory processing patterns and, may focus intervention on the person’s specific needs in a real-life context. This may assist the person with sensory hypersensitivity and his/her family to better cope with sensory challenges in behavioral aspects and environmental adaptations, all of which may optimize meaningful participation in daily life and well-being. We recommend that by elevating people’s awareness to their special sensory processing patterns, their neural origin, their functional expressions, clinicians together with the person can enable the development of strategies to better cope with daily sensory challenges, optimize the person’s participation in daily life and elevate wellbeing.

We wish to thank all the participants who participated in this study.

Zlotnik, S., Attias, J., Pratt, H. and Engel-Yeger, B. (2018) Neurophysiological Manifestations of Auditory Hypersensitivity Correlate with Daily Life Experiences. Neuroscience & Medicine, 9, 29-45. https://doi.org/10.4236/nm.2018.91005

ERP protocol, based on Dimitrijevic et al. (2009) [33] .

Changes occurred 1300 milliseconds post stimulus onset and were randomly selected in the series of stimuli from four types of changes (1 or 1.3 second in duration):

1) A large increase in frequency from 250 Hz to 375 Hz.

2) A small increase in frequency from 250 Hz to 275 Hz.

3) A large increase in intensity of 8 dB from the 60 dB intensity at onset.

4) A small increase in intensity of 2 dB from the 60 dB intensity at onset.

- Each stimulus was either 3.3 or 3.0 seconds in duration from onset to off-set

- Each stimulus was randomly presented 150 times

- The Inter Stimulus Interval (ISI) was 500 or 700 milliseconds