What is hyperacusis? Discover the causes, symptoms, treatment and whether hearing aids can help

What is Hyperacusis?

Can hearing aids help with hyperacusis?

Hyperacusis overview

Hyperacusis is a hearing condition where everyday sounds seem excessively loud and uncomfortable. It results from the brain’s over-sensitivity to noise and can be caused by noise exposure, head injury, or certain medical conditions. Symptoms include pain, anxiety, and difficulty tolerating normal sound environments. Treatment may involve sound therapy and counselling.

This article aims to explore the causes, symptoms, treatments, whether there is a cure for this invisible condition, and if hearing aids can help.

What is hyperacusis?

Hyperacusis is a condition defined by an increased sensitivity to certain sounds. People with hyperacusis usually find certain sounds that are normally tolerable to some can become very uncomfortable or even painful to them.

For example, common sounds like the sound of a dishwasher, traffic noise, or even the sound of a person's own voice can be intolerable. 

Hyperacusis causes and hyperacusis symptoms

What causes hyperacusis?  Hyperacusis can affect people of all ages and can occur in one or both ears. It can be caused by a variety of reasons, such as exposure to loud noise, head injury, certain medications, and ear disorders.

What are the symptoms of hyperacusis?  The symptoms of hyperacusis can vary from person to person, but may include ear pain, discomfort, or ringing in the ears (tinnitus), a feeling of fullness or pressure in the ears, and an increased sensitivity to certain sounds.  

Below is a breakdown of the common symptoms of hyperacusis:

• Discomfort or pain to everyday sounds that are not normally labelled as loud or painful, such as the sound of a dishwasher, or car engine.
• A feeling of fullness or pressure in the ears.
• Tinnitus symptoms, such as buzzing or ringing in the ears.
• A feeling of discomfort to certain irritating sounds, such as those made by people chewing or swallowing.
• Anxiety, stress, or social withdrawal related to the discomfort caused by hyperacusis symptoms.
• Headaches or migraines to certain sounds.
• Fatigue or exhaustion due to constantly filtering out unwanted sounds.

Hyperacusis treatment

How is hyperacusis treated?  Hyperacusis can be a tricky condition to treat, and the best approach will depend on the specific symptoms and causes.  Along with an audiologist, you can develop a treatment plan that is tailored to your specific symptoms and needs.

Here is a breakdown of some common treatments of how to treat hyperacusis:

• Sound therapy: Sound therapy involves the use of white noise or other soothing sounds to help desensitise the ear to certain sounds. This can involve the use of white noise machines, hearing aids, or even smartphone apps that play soothing sounds.
• Hyperacusis and anxiety: Counselling may be helpful for people with hyperacusis who are experiencing anxiety, depression, or other emotional issues related to their condition. A therapist can help individuals cope with the emotional and psychological effects of hyperacusis.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT is a type of therapy that can help people with hyperacusis change their negative thoughts and behaviours related to sound sensitivity. CBT can be especially helpful for people who are experiencing anxiety or depression related to their condition.
• Lifestyle modifications: Making lifestyle changes such as avoiding loud noises, wearing earplugs or earmuffs when in noisy environments, and reducing stress levels can also help manage hyperacusis symptoms.
• Medications: Some medications may help manage hyperacusis symptoms, such as anti-anxiety medications or antidepressants. 
• Tinnitus and hyperacusis:  Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) is a type of therapy that involves the use of sound therapy and counselling to help retrain the brain to perceive sound differently. TRT can be helpful for people with hyperacusis who are also experiencing tinnitus.

What is hyperacusis and what can help?

Hyperacusis and hearing loss

Are there links between hyperacusis and hearing loss?

Hyperacusis and hearing loss are two different conditions that can sometimes occur together. Hyperacusis is a condition where a person experiences an increased sensitivity to certain sounds while hearing loss is a condition where a person has difficulty hearing certain sounds.

A person can have both hyperacusis and hearing loss together. In some cases, hearing loss can lead to hyperacusis because the brain becomes more sensitive to certain sounds as it tries to compensate for the hearing loss. 

Hyperacusis can also cause hearing loss. If a person with hyperacusis avoids certain sounds because they are uncomfortable or painful, they may be depriving their ears of important auditory stimulation. Over time, this can lead to a decreased ability to hear certain sounds.

Hyperacusis and hearing aids

Treatment for both hyperacusis and hearing loss will depend on the specific symptoms and causes of each condition. If you suspect that you have either condition, you will need to see an audiologist for a professional diagnosis and treatment plan.

If you are considering hearing aids, you need to work with an audiologist who can guide you through the process. They may recommend hearing aids that have advanced features, such as frequency compression, that can help to reduce the discomfort with certain sounds.

The audiologist may recommend a gradual approach to using hearing aids for people with hyperacusis. This may involve starting with very low amplification levels and gradually increasing the volume over time as the person becomes accustomed to the new sounds.

Hearing aids aren't for everyone with hyperacusis

For some people with hyperacusis and hearing loss, hearing aids may be a helpful treatment option. However, hearing aids are not always recommended for people with hyperacusis, as they can sometimes exacerbate the symptoms of sound sensitivity.

An audiologist can help determine the best treatment plan for each individual based on their specific symptoms and needs.

Hyperacusis test

How do you test for hyperacusis?  Hyperacusis can be a challenging condition to diagnose and a evaluation by an audiologist is necessary to determine the best course of treatment.  Hyperacusis is often diagnosed through various tests and evaluations such as audiological, Loudness Discomfort Level (LDL), acoustic reflex, and Electromyography (EMG) tests.

Is there a hyperacusis cure?  Currently, there is no known cure for hyperacusis. However, there are several treatment options available that can help individuals manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life.

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