Connect
Noise (hearing) Sensitivity Increasing With Age
If this is not the correct board, please forward to the board that is the best option. I am a 72 year old male with increasing sensitivity to noise over the last several years. I have no significant hearing loss, certainly nothing that needs treating. In fact, my hearing appears to be more acute than it was even a few years ago. I am constantly telling people I am in the room or car with that they can speak at a lower volume. I often ask my wife to lower the volume on the TV.
I am becoming intolerant with loud noises, regardless of the nature of the noise. It can be someone’s voice, the volume on a TV, music, etc., etc. Many noises just go right through me causing actual pain. I have not been to a movie theater in over 30 years because I can’t tolerate the high volume at theaters.
I have not brought this up to my primary doctor yet, but plan to do so during our September visit. Is there anything I can read or study about insensitivity to noise before I see the primary? Is this something to discuss with an ENT doc (or maybe a different specialty?).
For background, I am a 40+ year diabetic with no neuropathy and well-controlled sugars. I use a DEXCOM G7 and keep my sugars between 80 and 180 about 80% of the time. I have major gastro issues including IBS (50+ years) and acute pancreatitis (3 years thanks to long Covid). I had ACDF surgery nine years ago with multiple fusions, so spinal stenosis is an issue. The pain is less since the surgery, but still with me daily. At the time of the surgery, an EMG test showed I had carpal tunnel, but I had no symptoms. In the last year or so, I have started losing sensation and grip in the right hand, dropping things, unable to open some jars, etc. A new EMG showed progression of the carpal tunnel. My neurologist has me wearing a wrist brace for 90 days since the carpal tunnel is still not significant. She wants to determine if it might be a pinched nerve causing the issues.
I ran across an older discussion board here at Mayo that spoke to a rare nexus between noise sensitivity and spinal stenosis, with a specific mention of ACDF surgery. That board has not been active in at least three years and I did not receive any answer when I did post there.
The only thing to add is I am retired from the Air Force and served in Desert Storm/Desert Shield. As with anyone who served there, we really don’t know what we were exposed to. I doubt it has anything to do with this hearing issue, but I mention it just in case. My endo doc is convinced I have been exposed to radiation at some point.
Enough for now. If anyone knows, is there a connection between noise sensitivity and spinal stenosis and/or ACDF surgery?
Thanks.
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Support Group.
Connect
Even if hubbs weren't hard-of-hearing, it would be torture for me to have to listen to his TV shows all day and all night.
Carylw
I have had PET since May 7 th . Tried estradiol nose drops noe trying Patulend nose drops.. It has become a little worse. I can't live with the anxiety . Am getting help with that . I want to apply to Mayo. I'm 85 years old and this is no way to live. I have an important question for doctors when I make contact. I pray you will recover and now
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionGood ideas. Nature. Reading books. Meditation. I can have sensory and cognitive overload too.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionThis recent issue of the magazine published by the Hearing Healthcare Foundation (HHF) is focused on tinnitus and hyperacusis. I just received this link and think it's worth sharing. Both tinnitus and hyperacusis are attracting quite a bit of research, but so far there doesn't seem to be a 'cure' for either.
We can be grateful there are researchers working on this. Here's the link to the magazine. https://hearinghealthfoundation.org/hearing-health-magazine
Disclaimer: HHF is a non profit research organization. They are always seeking financial support like all non profits do. However, this magazine is free. Financial support is a choice.
Thank you so much! I've seen bits of this in blogs, but never all of this in one place where it is explained so clearly. I've printed The 5 Distinct Sound Hypersensitivity Disorders article for my wife to read. I don't think she realizes this is a real thing. She did see my reaction today, ironically, when we had lunch at a family-style restaurant where you would expect there to be children present. What we did not expect was two families arriving with a total of 8 children, all very loud, all very active, and all four parents totally ignoring them. The voices, often nearly yelling and at the higher pitch typical of young children (no child in the group was over 9 years old) cut through me like a knife entering my head. I became immediately anxious, anger, fear, and annoyance. We had our food and I decided to stay and try to work through it. I had experienced all of those symptoms before with loud noises, although not usually all together. Today, I added a new symptom not mentioned in the article. I was physically shaking by the end of our meal, I suppose that was a reaction to all the other symptoms. It took almost two hours to calm down at home. I'm a writer working on a new biography, so I went to my desk, while my wife went to the den to watch TV. Writing helped me calm down, but maybe I would have gotten calm anyway. Thanks again for sending this link.
I am 62 and have been experiencing increasing noise sensitivity for 5 years. It was primarily higher frequency issues (silverware on plates, paper/wrapper crinkling, children squealing, etc) but it is turning into general sensitivity to sounds that leads to something like migraines. My hearing test shows a slight drop-off at 4kHz but hearing aids were not recommended. Honestly, I can't imagine doing anything to increase my hearing! My wife has the flu right now and her coughs are deafening. I use Bose noise-cancelling headphones when I can't control the environment. I've tried several earplugs and get the best results from Zound plugs. They allow me to be around the grandchildren, go to restaurants, movies, church and even concerts. The only advice I've gotten so far is not to isolate too much and try to train myself to tolerate the painful sounds.
@julieo4 I have moderate hearing loss but cannot wear hearing aids, older person... also got hyperacusis years ago - cant hear clearly what husband is saying, but can hear a pin drop... have to wear commercail type ear "muffs' when vacuumin etc. but cant hear door bell: laste year or so now on top of tinnitus have musical ear syndrome whichis a mix of the constant "tennis balls in the dryer" sound with repetative musical notes some familiar some not .. and eustachian tub dysfunciton dr said no tubes for me as 50 per cent get infection: some days can handle it some days not, i put a you tube on same one all night on ipad next to my pillow to try and stop the brain "hearing" music in ears.. for the last month its: "somewehre over the rainbow" tune ... and yes i feel sorry for myself at times as have other issues to deal with.. so i feel for everyone with thse types of brain/ear issues, j.
@lacy2
Have you ever tried anti anxiety meds to calm that down..I take that (low mg Xanax) and it works very well for loud noises. Excellent for anxiety.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsThis is an update to my 2025 posts above. After several visits with an ENT and an audiologist, I received a diagnosis of hyperacusis. The doctor acknowledged that my hearing is getting more acute, although I have just enough hearing loss in a couple of ranges to qualify under Medicare for hearing aids. Obviously, I don’t want them. Luckily, there is no tinnitus. The doctor said I just need annual exams going forward. I carry ear plugs with me all the time now. They help to some degree. The grandkids were off from school today and we were taking care of them. They have no idea how loud they get and how it just goes through my head. So, this is the new normal.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 Reactions@jamiemj .... I am older and have a laundry list of illnesses and seem to be all over mayo connect, and really find it helps, but also sad, to read others' medical issues: so really apprecaite your suggestion. During adult years I wa on Zoloft and Clonazepam for many many years in fact the doctor just kept giving it to me too long... so when I got Normal Pressure Glaucoma the specialist said no meds which raise eye pessure so I actaully got myself off both drugs... it was very very hard and I almost didnt make it mentally but have been off for months and hesitate to take "anything" again. I did have those holes made in each eye in case pressure rises - I have narrow angles - but to be honest I am too scared to take any meds that raise eye pressure in cas the Iridotomies have close up: so am between a rock and a hard place. I probably would benefit from Xanax etc. but I actually think I was "born anxious." J.