If you often find yourself being sensitive to sounds, especially loud sounds, then there is a chance that you might have a condition known as hyperacusis. This is more common than you might think, and there are treatments and solutions available to make use of, so it’s something that can be dealt with. But it’s good to understand it as fully as possible, to ensure that you are approaching it in the best way you can.
In this article, we are going to look at exactly what hyperacusis is, how it can be treated and what you can expect from such treatment. All of this should help you to figure out exactly what is going on with your hearing.
What is Hyperacusis?
So first of all, what exactly is it? You may or may not have heard of hyperacusis in the past, but effectively it is just the name for a hearing disorder in which you have a decreased tolerance to sound. That decreased tolerance means that you might be affected in your ability to deal with ordinary, everyday sounds and for that reason it’s the kind of condition that can impact upon your daily life considerably.
For this reason, it’s a condition that normally needs to be treated in order to ensure the ongoing quality of life that you would expect.
What are the Symptoms of Hyperacusis?
So how can you know if you have hyperacusis? The only real way to know for certain, of course, is to get in touch with an audiologist who might be able to help you out. But there are certain signs of hyperacusis that you might want to keep an eye out for. If any of the following become dominantly true for you, then you might just have hyperacusis.
- Ordinary sounds are unbearably loud.
- Holding conversations has become more challenging.
- Noises might annoy you more.
- Sounds you used to deal with fine are now a troublesome issue for you.
If you notice any of these, it might be that you have hyperacusis. The only way to know for sure, as we have said, is to visit an audiologist and allow them to carry out some tests.
The Causes of Hyperacusis
Now that we have seen what it is and what the experience of it is generally like, we might look into the causes behind hyperacusis. We actually know a fair amount about the causes of this condition, so it’s something that we can delve into in some detail. There are a few major triggers that might cause the condition, such as:
- Damage to the inner ear
- Migraines
- Bell’s palsy
- Noise pollution
- Ear damage
- Medications
- Head injuries
These are just some of the most common causes of hyperacusis, but in truth there are a range of other, less common ones too. Whatever the cause behind it, the thing that matters most of all if you are experiencing it is this: how can you treat it?
Treating Hyperacusis
First of all, your audiologist will carry out a review and examination to ensure that it is genuinely hyperacusis that you are experiencing. If it is, they might approach treatment in a few different ways.
Retraining Therapy
With this form of therapy, you will gradually become used to the feeling of hyperacusis, so that it no longer bothers you in your daily life. This involves acoustic therapy alongside therapeutic counseling to ensure that it is being approached from all necessary angles. This should lead to a better quality of life.
Sound Therapy
With sound therapy, you will be required to wear a small hearing aid type device in one or both ears for a few hours each day. This will help the brain to become desensitized to loud sounds, as the devices produce increasing sounds throughout the day.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive behavioral therapy is often used to treat hyperacusis, especially where it is present alongside other issues such as PTSD, depression or anxiety. This is focused on changing your thoughts and emotional patterns in order to be able to cope with the symptoms better.
Prevention
In order to prevent hyperacusis, the only thing you can really do is to try and limit your exposure to loud noises. That means wearing noise-canceling headphones and keeping the volume on your TV low.
If you would like to find out more about hyperacusis and potential hearing loss treatment services, or you want to book in to see an audiologist for a check-up and a hearing test, get in touch with GL Wyeno Hearing Specialists PC at (402) 463-2431.
