What can be done to help with hyperacusis?

Posted by wayfarer @wayfarer, Mar 10, 2019

Hyperacusis is a rare hearing disorder. Normal sounds are amplified to the point of becoming painful. Have been to 2 ENTs, had a brain MRI, had 5 audiology tests, took prednisone meds, and tried a hearing aid. Nothing helped. Was told to learn to live with it. Does anyone have a helpful suggestion?

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@mikepa

@lhester10 I just read a great article today in the latest edition of Hearing Health magazine, which is the quarterly publication from the Hearing Health Foundation (hhf.org). They are currently doing research into hyperacusis and part of their funding is coming from a non-profit called Hyperacusis Research Ltd. (hyperacusisresearch.org). The article was written by a founder of Hyperacusis Research, Bryan Pollard, who decided to start the Foundation when he couldn't find adequate information online. Their website has a lot of good info also. HHF also is doing research into Tinnitus, so it is worth looking at both websites for info. Another source is the American Tinnitus Association (ata.org). Good luck.

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Thank you

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@wayfarer

I'm avoiding noisy places, using earplugs to help lower the volume, and trying to condition my brain to accept the disorder.

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I also use earplugs but that seems like the plugs hold the sound in but still use them.Also have hyperacusis and it is so aggravating. People don't seem to take you serious when you tell them. Take care and hope we find a treatment so something that helps .

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@wayfarer

Mzhp1988, I know the feeling of being miserable because I have to be so careful now when I go out because of the loudness of ordinary sounds. I have missed many events at our local Performing Arts Center and even church services are painful. Many restaurants as well. I am going to try to learn from others who have the issues. Keep trying. Thanks, Wayfarer

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I feel the same way.Don’t want to go out because of sounds. So fustrating

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@lhester10

I have hyperacusis and tinnitus in both ears and it is constant never stops. Have had it since about 1988 I believe, have been to different ent’s and had ear surgery to help relieve the tinnitus but made it worst. I have tried multiple things to no avail. Would sure like to find a treatment that works but so far no.

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@lhester10, hyperacusis and tinnitus can seriously reduce quality of life. I found this article written for audiologists
- The Quick and Dirty on Hyperacusis https://canadianaudiologist.ca/the-quick-and-dirty-on-hyperacusis/

It suggest several approaches for audiologists to use with their patients. They are largely based on knowledge and retraining therapy. Has this type of approach ever been discussed with you?

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@colleenyoung

@lhester10, hyperacusis and tinnitus can seriously reduce quality of life. I found this article written for audiologists
- The Quick and Dirty on Hyperacusis https://canadianaudiologist.ca/the-quick-and-dirty-on-hyperacusis/

It suggest several approaches for audiologists to use with their patients. They are largely based on knowledge and retraining therapy. Has this type of approach ever been discussed with you?

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No

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@colleenyoung

@lhester10, hyperacusis and tinnitus can seriously reduce quality of life. I found this article written for audiologists
- The Quick and Dirty on Hyperacusis https://canadianaudiologist.ca/the-quick-and-dirty-on-hyperacusis/

It suggest several approaches for audiologists to use with their patients. They are largely based on knowledge and retraining therapy. Has this type of approach ever been discussed with you?

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Thank you Colleen.

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@rivers99

Wayfarer--Yes, the condition of hyperacusis is rare but you are not alone. I would recommend the website of the Hyperacusis Network. I tried to include their link, but this page refused to print it. Once there, read from some of the drop-down menus and then go onto the message board. This website is not selling anything, it's a group of sufferers who pass along information to each other. Also keep in mind that you will see that the consensus for hyperacusis treatment among many audiologists is a bit counter-intuitive. Their approach involves a gradual re-introduction of daily sounds into your life while the brain slowly re-sets itself. I have also suffered from this problem and I know it's maddening, but recovery is possible.

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No she is not alone, I have tinnitus and hyperacusis and it is about to drive you crazy at times. Tried hearing aids but could not wear them because of amplification of sound and tried several other things to no avail. Should would like to find a effective treatment.

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I thought I had Hyperacausis. It turned out to be a terrible hearing aid fitting. When I found an audiologist that did Real Ear Measurements - REM, it took 4 bi- weekly sessions with exposing myself to every day noises to allow my brain to adapt, to bring my hearing aids up to my prescription. I no longer have a problem. If you don't need aids, therapies that slowly increase various sound levels while your brain adapts can be very helpful.

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@wayfarer

Mzhp1988, I know the feeling of being miserable because I have to be so careful now when I go out because of the loudness of ordinary sounds. I have missed many events at our local Performing Arts Center and even church services are painful. Many restaurants as well. I am going to try to learn from others who have the issues. Keep trying. Thanks, Wayfarer

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I have tinnitus and hyperacusis and it it awful,hearing noises 24/7 and all noises are amplified. Been to several ent’s over the years and even had ear surgery at Shea clinic in Memphis Tennessee. The surgery did not help actually made it worst but at that time I was looking for something that would give relief. Also tried other things but too no avail.The government is not spending enough on research to find a cure or treatment. Hope you all have a good day and god bless.

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Hi. I have had similar experiences to most of you. In the early days of my hearing loss, 14 or 15 years ago, I couldn't leave my apartment because everything was just too loud. I went outside once and a bus came by and it felt like a bomb had gone off in my head. Also, my tinnitus was so loud inside my head that it was hard to deal with, even if I stayed inside. After a couple of months, my hyperacusis went away, or at least my brain acclimated to it. My tinnitus never went away, it's always there, but I'm so used to it at this point that it mostly fades into the background. It's funny that just typing this out has made my tinnitus louder and more apparent. I still get hyperacusis from time to time, when I have an attack (I have Meniere's), but it usually lasts for less than a week. To this day I still don't go to loud restaurants, movie theaters, concerts, etc. I wish I could say it's less frustrating 15 years in to this, but I still find it all incredibly frustrating. I try to find restaurants that have outdoor seating and that aren't super crowded (at least when we're not in the middle of a pandemic). I have tried wearing a hearing aid in my right ear (my left is completely gone) but I had the same experience as lhester10. It just made everything too loud and painful. I'm sorry that wayfarer has been experiencing this for such a long time, I can't imagine what it would have been like if mine hadn't eased off.

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