Understanding Hyperacusis
A comprehensive guide to sound sensitivity: symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment options
Hyperacusis is a hearing condition where everyday sounds appear much louder than they should, often causing discomfort or pain. This condition can significantly impact daily life, but with proper understanding and management, many people find effective ways to cope and improve their quality of life.
Symptoms of Hyperacusis
Hyperacusis can manifest in various ways, affecting daily life and emotional well-being. Common symptoms include:
- •Discomfort or pain in response to specific sounds or general noise levels.
- •Avoidance of noisy environments.
- •Anxiety or stress due to noise exposure.
- •Possible co-occurrence with other auditory disorders such as tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
Types of Hyperacusis
- •Loudness hyperacusis
- •Misophonia (annoyance hyperacusis) (Misophonia Folder)
- •Phonophobia (fear/avoidance hyperacusis)
- •Pain Hyperacusis (pain in ear following exposure) Tonic Tensor Tympani
Causes of Hyperacusis
Medical conditions previously linked to decreased sound tolerance include:
- •tinnitus
- •Bell's palsy
- •Lyme Disease
- • Asberger’s
- •Williams Syndrome
- • Ramsay Hunt Syndrome
- •Stapedectomy
- •Perilymphatic fistula
- •Head injury
- •Migraine
- •depression
- •withdrawal from benzodiazepines
- •increased Cerebral Spinal Fluid (CSF) pressure
- •Addison's disease
Additional Documents
Medical conditions previously linked to decreased sound tolerance include
Hyperacusis and Lyme Disease
Diagnosis Hyperacusis
Diagnosis of hyperacusis through a complete history, including assessment forms (Khalfa, depression, OCD, tinnitus etc), complete audiological and UCL testing.
Additional Documents
Khalfa Hyperacusis
Khalfa Hyperacusis Scoring
Treatments Counseling
Studies found that listening to low level sounds for several months can alleviate tinnitus and hyperacusis. The association of positive experiences with sound treatment can result in the elimination of hyperacusis symptoms. Behavioral modification is NECESSARY to reverse aversion to phobic stimuli before loudness desensitization can occur.