Youth with chronic headache disorders often experience sensitivities to light and sound that trigger or exacerbate their headaches and contribute to functional disability. At present, there are no known validated measures for assessing these sensitivities and their impact on functioning in youth with chronic headaches. This pilot study sought to develop and assess the feasibility of measures of headache-related light and sounds sensitivities in youth with chronic headache disorders. The initial item pools were generated via an intensive literature review, an informal quality improvement project, and a panel of experts in chronic pain. Then, youth (n = 20) presenting for clinical evaluation of headaches completed the revised items as well as assessments of the measures’ feasibility and items’ understandability. A subset (n = 2) completed formal cognitive interviews as well. The resulting 20-item Headache-Related Light Sensitivity Inventory (HALSI) and 18-item Headache-Related Sound Sensitivity Inventory (HASSI) for youth assess headache-related sensory sensitivities, as well as related emotional and behavioral responses. Through the iterative incorporation of feedback, these measures appear to be feasible to administer and understandable tools for assessing light and sound sensitivity in youth with chronic headache disorders. Once they are empirically validated, they have the potential to serve as important tools for understanding the patient experience, developing interventions, and assessing treatment response.

Date Presented 04/8/21 Pediatric chronic headache and its associated hypersensitivities to light and sound significantly disrupt participation in daily occupations. This study examined the effectiveness of auditory and visual desensitization through an exposure approach. Promising results indicate significant reduction in symptoms and significant improvement in functioning. OTs should strongly consider using desensitization to treat and manage pediatric headache–related hypersensitivities. Primary Author and Speaker: Megan Silvia Additional Authors and Speakers: Erin Foster Contributing Authors: Beau M. Ances

Date Presented 03/22/24 To improve clinical utilization, this study further examined the psychometric properties of two newly developed and validated measures of photo- and phonosensitivity-related avoidance behaviors in youth ages 8-18 with chronic headache. Primary Author and Speaker: Megan Silvia Contributing Authors: Allison Smith