Hyperacusis: Frequently Asked Questions

Hyperacusis is defined as a collapsed tolerance to normal environmental sounds. It is a rare hearing disorder whereby a person becomes highly sensitive to noise. Sometimes people think they have Hyperacusis because they are bothered by loud sounds like music, heavy equipment or sirens. This is not Hyperacusis as these sounds are loud to the normal ear. Individuals with Hyperacusis have difficulty tolerating sounds which do not seem loud to others, such as a pin dropping. ...

Hyperacusis is an abnormally strong physical reaction by the auditory pathways to sounds of specific physical characteristics, in terms of frequency and intensity. It is a disorder of the controlling mechanisms of the inner hair cells, the outer hair cells and the central auditory pathways in the brain. Hyperacusis may occur with or without tinnitus and with or without hearing loss as measured by a conventional audiogram. ...

Hyperacusis is an over-response of your Auditory system to what other people may consider to be a normal level of noise

Hyperacusis is defined as a collapsed tolerance to normal

Although there may be as many as 1% of the population who are sound sensitive, hyperacusis sufferers go well beyond the definition of sound sensitive and often cannot tolerate their surroundings or even people's voices. Because the media has not publicized this disorder it is hard to get a handle on how rare hyperacusis is, however, it may be as little as one in every 50,000 people. That is extremely rare!

Although there may be as many as 1% of the population who are

Although there may be as many as 1% of the population who are sound sensitive, Hyperacusis sufferers go well beyond the definition of sound sensitive and often can not tolerate their surroundings or even people's voices. Because the media has not publicized this disorder it is hard to get a handle on how rare Hyperacusis is, however, it may be that as little as one in every 50,000 people suffer daily with this condition.

Unfortunately, because hyperacusis is so rare, little research has

Unfortunately, because Hyperacusis is so rare, little research has been done so little is known about it. The onset is usually caused by exposure to loud noise (either prolonged or a single episode) or a head injury. Some experts speculate that the cause is damage to the auditory nerves. Currently, a popular theory is that there has been a breakdown or dysfunction in the efferent portion of the auditory nerve. Efferent meaning fibers that originate in the brain which serve to regulate or inhibit incoming sounds.

Habituation is an obvious necessity for EVERY person that can hear, that has tinnitus. My definition of habituation is different than others though. People who fail in TRT habituation that come to see me failed because they were pushed too fast in the habituation process...or shockingly didn't like another sound of tinnitus in their ears/head. There are a lot more ways to habituate tinnitus than with a pair of Starkey’s. ...

Habituation means, that the tinnitus no longer bothers you in any way. Remission, if it's going to happen will happen AFTER habituation. Habituation is an obvious necessity for EVERY person that has tinnitus. My definition of habituation might be different than others though. People who fail in TRT habituation that come to see me failed because they shockingly didn't like another sound of tinnitus in their ears/head. There are a lot more ways to habituate tinnitus than with a pair of Starkey’s. ...

Follow-up sessions at one month, 2 months, 12 weeks and 6 months are required, with some retesting at the first two sessions included. At the conclusion of hyperacusis treatment, treatment for tinnitus may begin if required.

Yes! Tinnitus is the medical term for "ringing in the ears. " Tinnitus may also be a symptom of Ménière's Disease, an inner ear disorder. Hyperacusis is a condition where all sounds are painfully too loud. Among their recommendations for alleviating tinnitus symptoms, many audiologists suggest masking the ringing sound: play a competing sound at a constant low level, such white noise, to mask the tinnitus and make it less noticeable. ...

Yes! Tinnitus is the medical term for "ringing in the ears. " Tinnitus may also be a symptom of Ménière's Disease, an inner ear disorder. Hyperacusis is a condition where all sounds are painfully too loud. Among their recommendations for alleviating tinnitus symptoms, many audiologists and the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery suggest masking the ringing sound: play a competing sound at a constant low level, such white noise, to mask the tinnitus and make it less noticeable. ...

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