Sound sensitivity in children linked to increased risk of teenage anxiety

A new study has found that children with sound sensitivity may be at greater risk of experiencing anxiety during their teenage years.

Researchers from the Wolfson Centre for Young People’s Mental Health examined whether hyperacusis, or sensitivity to everyday sounds, could help predict future anxiety.

The study followed over 6,600 children from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). At age 11, children were asked a simple question during a hearing assessment: "Have you ever experienced over-sensitivity or distress to particular sounds?"

Parents also completed questionnaires about their children's emotional difficulties (worries, fears, nervousness, unhappiness, and physical complaints) at ages 11, 13, and 16.

Dr Foteini Tseliou, lead author of the study, said: “Sounds sensitivity is very understudied and affects many children, not only those with neurodiversity. Sound sensitivity is particularly useful for identifying children whose existing anxiety is likely to persist rather than improve naturally during the teenage years.

“We found that heightened sensitivity to ordinary sounds such as classroom chatter, traffic, or conversations, was reported by nearly 4% of children in the study. These children were significantly more likely to experience emotional problems at ages 13 and 16, even when accounting for existing emotional difficulties and neurodiversity.

The study revealed that children who already showed signs of anxiety in primary school and experienced sound sensitivity were twice as likely to continue struggling with anxiety throughout adolescence.

Dr Tseliou added: “A simple question about sound sensitivity at age 11 can help identify children at higher risk of developing or maintaining anxiety during adolescence, providing an additional means for early identification.

“Schools and healthcare providers could incorporate brief sensory screenings into routine assessments, and broader evaluations including sensitivity to light, touch, and smell could further improve early identification efforts.

"This could potentially help identify children who might benefit from environmental adjustments or early support before anxiety becomes entrenched for a young person.”

The article “Sensory hyperacusis as a predictor of anxiety in adolescence” is published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and available to view online.