Exploring research trends in decreased sound tolerance: A preliminary scientometric review

The present review aims to conduct a comprehensive scientometric analysis of decreased sound tolerance conditions, such as hyperacusis, misophonia, phonophobia, and noise sensitivity. By examining research trends, collaboration networks, and emerging themes, this study seeks to track the evolution of research in this field and highlight potential future directions. A comprehensive search strategy was used to retrieve publications on decreased sound tolerance conditions from the Scopus database, which covered studies conducted between 1990 and 2025. Only conference papers, reviews, and articles were included. Data analysis and visualisation were performed using VOSviewer, Biblioshiny, and Microsoft Excel. After applying appropriate filters and duplicate removal, a total of 4103 relevant publications were included for the analysis. The results revealed a sustained growth in research on decreased sound tolerance, with rapid expansion in the early years followed by a transition to a mature and stable growth phase. The United States emerged as the leading contributor in terms of publication output and global collaborations, while several European countries demonstrated higher citation impact per article. Cluster analyses and thematic mapping highlighted a multidisciplinary research landscape dominated by clusters around topics such as migraine, hyperacusis, and misophonia, integrating perspectives from neurology, audiology, psychology, and otology. Future research should prioritise multidisciplinary integration to elucidate the mechanisms underlying decreased sound tolerance, particularly for developing themes such as misophonia and vestibular-auditory interactions. Translational studies comparing pharmacological, audiological, and psychological interventions, along with large-scale epidemiological studies, are also essential to enhance global research impact in this field.