Chronic Back Pain Tied to Auditory Hypersensitivity

Pain reprocessing therapy produced small but measurable reductions in cross-modal sensory amplification, pointing to a broader neurological signature of chronic back pain than previously recognized.

By
Kerri Miller
March 3, 2026
5 min

Conexiant

Overview

Revise to include a clearer explanation of the significance of the effect sizes.

Background

Chronic back pain (CBP) affects a significant portion of the adult population and is often associated with heightened sensory sensitivities. Understanding the relationship between chronic pain and auditory hypersensitivity can inform treatment approaches, particularly in the context of psychological therapies. This study extends previous research on multisensory sensitivity, providing insights into the neurobiological underpinnings of pain perception.

Data Highlights

Group	Auditory Unpleasantness (Hedges g)	Pressure Unpleasantness (Hedges g)
Chronic Back Pain	~1.0	~0.5 to 0.6
Controls	Lower	Lower

Key Findings

Patients with chronic back pain reported greater unpleasantness for aversive sounds compared to controls.
Effect sizes for auditory stimuli were approximately 1.0, indicating stronger amplification compared to mechanical pressure pain (0.5-0.6).
Neuroimaging showed greater activation in primary auditory cortex and insula in patients with chronic back pain during auditory stimulation.
Pain reprocessing therapy significantly reduced auditory unpleasantness ratings compared to placebo.
Increased back pain severity correlated with higher unpleasantness ratings for auditory stimuli among patients.

Clinical Implications

The findings suggest that clinicians should consider the impact of auditory stimuli on patients with chronic back pain and explore psychological therapies like pain reprocessing therapy as potential interventions. Understanding the sensory amplification in chronic pain can guide more effective treatment strategies.

Conclusion

This study highlights the significant relationship between chronic back pain and auditory hypersensitivity, suggesting that targeted psychological interventions may help mitigate these sensory sensitivities.