Hyperacusis

Hyperacusis is a rare hearing disorder; sounds which would otherwise seem normal to most people can be unbearably loud. For example, car engines, dishes clanking, rustling of paper, or even loud conversation. Those with hyperacusis feel uncomfortable enough to avoid such situations, impacting school, job, social life, and relationships.

There are some diseases or disorders that are linked to hyperacusis. Superior semicircular canal dehiscence (SSCD), Bell’s palsy, Chronic fatigue syndrome, Lyme disease, Meniere’s disease, posttraumatic stress disorder, stress, and depression. Additionally, hyperacusis is seen in patients who have experienced head trauma. One major cause of hyperacusis is loud noise exposure. It may be triggered by a single intense noise such as a gunshot, or it may develop gradually from listening to loud noise without hearing protection.

Depending on the cause, hyperacusis may get better with time. Specifically, in cases of trauma to the brain or hearing system, there is a chance that sensitivity to sounds will become more tolerable over time.

There are four things you can do if the sound is too loud for you:

1. Keep yourself surrounded with comfortable sound.
2. Listen to sounds that you like or sounds that bring calmness or peace as often as you can.
3. Wear earplugs or headphones when you really need to.
4. Do some activities that will help you reduce stress and improve your sleep quality.

However, in case you feel like that your sensitivity has not improved, follow these steps:

1. Receive comprehensive sound sensitivity diagnostic testing from us.
2. With our test results, see an otolaryngologist (ENT) to examine your issues medically. The ENT will examine your head, neck, and ears often with imaging such as an MRI and/or a CT scan. Your ENT doctor may refer you to a neurologist if further examination is required.
3. Once you are medically clear, meaning that you do not have any underlying medical conditions, and you still have your sensitivity issues, come back to us to discuss sound retraining therapy.

Sound Retraining Therapy

Our sound retraining therapy consists of acoustic therapy with a pair of devices, sound tolerance evaluation, and counseling. The goal is to reduce your reactions to loud sounds and connect you back to your life. We begin with a sound tolerance evaluation. The subsequent counseling is designed to help you track your progress and realize how your tolerance improves with therapy. Encouragingly, many patients practicing this treatment option receive some degree of relief and report being more relaxed. In our experience, patients who do not have any medical contradictions may complete this therapy within 12 months. We may use special earplugs instead of devices, but the progress could be slower.

What to avoid

Many people who suffer from hyperacusis wear earplugs or earmuffs to reduce incoming sound levels that may be bothersome or withdraw from social situations that may have uncomfortable sounds present. This is a logical response. However, these strategies may not work in the long run—hyperacusis sufferers may be furthering their poor tolerance to relatively soft sounds. Wearing earplugs or earmuffs may provide temporary relief from an environment that seems uncomfortably loud, but when the individual eventually removes the earplugs or muffs, that environment will seem even louder than it might have otherwise.