Pain is your body’s means of supplying information. It’s not a very enjoyable approach but it can be effective. When that megaphone you’re standing next to gets too loud, the pain lets you know that significant ear damage is occurring and you immediately (if you’re wise) cover your ears or remove yourself from that rather loud environment.
But, in spite of their marginal volume, 8-10% of individuals will feel pain from quiet sounds too. This affliction is referred to by experts as hyperacusis. It’s a medical term for overly sensitive ears. The symptoms of hyperacusis can be managed but there’s no cure.
Elevated sensitivity to sound
Hyperacusis is a hypersensitivity to sound. Most of the time sounds in a specific frequency trigger episodes of hyperacusis for people who experience it. Quiet noises will often sound extremely loud. And noises that are loud sound a lot louder than they actually are.
Hyperacusis is often linked to tinnitus, hearing problems, and even neurological difficulties, although no one really knows what actually causes it. With regards to symptoms, intensity, and treatment, there is a noticeable degree of personal variability.
What’s a typical hyperacusis response?
In most instances, hyperacusis will look and feel something like this:
- The louder the sound is, the more intense your response and pain will be.
- Balance issues and dizziness can also be experienced.
- Everybody else will think a particular sound is quiet but it will sound very loud to you.
- After you hear the initial sound, you may have pain and hear buzzing for days or even weeks.
Hyperacusis treatment treatment
When you are dealing with hyperacusis the world can become a minefield, particularly when your ears are extremely sensitive to a wide assortment of frequencies. Your hearing could be assaulted and you could be left with an awful headache and ringing ears whenever you go out.
That’s why it’s so crucial to get treatment. You’ll want to come in and consult with us about which treatments will be most up your alley (this all tends to be rather variable). The most popular options include the following.
Masking devices
A device called a masking device is one of the most popular treatments for hyperacusis. This is technology that can cancel out certain frequencies. So those offensive frequencies can be removed before they make it to your ears. If you can’t hear the triggering sound, you won’t have a hyperacusis episode.
Earplugs
Earplugs are a less state-of-the-art play on the same basic approach: if all sound is stopped, there’s no possibility of a hyperacusis episode. There are definitely some disadvantages to this low tech method. There’s some evidence to suggest that, over time, the earplugs can throw your hearing ecosystem even further off and make your hyperacusis worse. Consult us if you’re thinking about wearing earplugs.
Ear retraining
One of the most comprehensive methods of treating hyperacusis is called ear retraining therapy. You’ll try to change how you react to specific kinds of sounds by utilizing physical therapy, emotional counseling, and a combination of devices. Training yourself to ignore sounds is the basic idea. Generally, this strategy has a good rate of success but depends heavily on your commitment to the process.
Less prevalent solutions
Less prevalent approaches, like ear tubes or medication, are also utilized to manage hyperacusis. These approaches are less commonly utilized, depending on the specialist and the individual, because they have met with mixed success.
Treatment makes a huge difference
Depending on how you experience your symptoms, which differ from person to person, a unique treatment plan can be developed. Successfully treating hyperacusis depends on determining a strategy that’s best for you.
