PHONOPHOBIA IN MIGRAINE

Quantitative measurement of sound-induced discomfort and pain threshol ds showed that migraineurs (n=65) were significantly more sensitive th an headache-free controls (n=80), both during and outside attack (p <0 .0001). Patients tested with head pain had lower thresholds than those tested without pain (p <0.01). Migraine with and without aura did not differ as to sound sensitivity. There were no significant differences in thresholds between the symptomatic and nonsymptomatic sides (p gre ater than or equal to 0.78). Patients with unilateral headache or pain of pulsating character were more sensitive than those with bilateral headache or pressing pain (p <0.05). Phonophobia did not correlate sig nificantly with duration, frequency, or severity of attacks. The main results were in accordance with a questionnaire study concerning subje ctive evaluation of sound sensitivity. Similarities between phonophobi a and photophobia in migraine provide evidence that both phenomena sha re a common pathophysiological mechanism in this condition.