Theme: Sensitive hearing plan: What is hyperacusis? The features of hyperacusis?

OUTLOOK / PROGNOSIS
What can I expect if I have this condition?
Healthcare providers and medical researchers are still studying the long-term effects of hyperacusis. For many people, hyperacusis is a long-term condition they learn to manage with treatment. Others experience symptom relief following surgery or once the underlying condition resolves.
LIVING WITH
When should I see my healthcare provider?
Many people with hyperacusis symptoms start by trying to drown out the sounds around them with earplugs or headphones. They may avoid social settings. But these options can make things worse. People who wear headphones or earplugs may experience sound even more intensely once they remove them, and social isolation can lead to (or worsen) behavioral health issues.
Don’t try to manage symptoms on your own. Instead, see a healthcare provider if you’re experiencing hyperacusis symptoms. It may take a while to identify what’s likely causing the issue, but there are therapies that can help.

Noise sensitivity (hyperacusis)

Hyperacusis is when everyday sounds seem much louder to you than they should. Treatment can help. See a GP if you think you have hyperacusis.

Check if you have hyperacusis

You may have hyperacusis if some everyday sounds seem much louder than they should. It can sometimes be painful.

You may be affected by sounds like:

jingling coins

a barking dog
a car engine
someone chewing
a vacuum cleaner
Your sensitivity to noise can affect relationships, school or work and your general wellbeing.

Hyperacusis can affect 1 or both ears. It can come on suddenly or develop over time.

Other types of hearing sensitivity include:

some sounds making you angry (misophonia)

some sounds making you anxious (phonophobia)
your ears having trouble adjusting between quiet and loud sounds (recruitment)
Non-urgent advice:See a GP if:
everyday noises feel too loud or painful
Your GP may refer you to a hearing specialist for further tests and treatment.

Treatment for hyperacusis

If hyperacusis is caused by another condition, such as migraines or Lyme disease, treating the condition may stop your hyperacusis.

If there's no clear cause, you may be offered treatment to help make you less sensitive to everyday sounds.

This could be:

sound therapy to get you used to everyday sounds again, and may involve wearing ear pieces that make white noise

cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to change the way you think about your hyperacusis and reduce anxiety
Things you can try to ease hyperacusis
Do
try some relaxation techniques, such as breathing exercises

Don’t
do not use earplugs or muffs unless you really need to

do not avoid noisy situations, as this will make you become even more sensitive to noise

Causes of hyperacusis

The cause of hyperacusis is unclear.

It can appear on its own or after hearing a sudden loud noise, such as fireworks.

It can also appear alongside other conditions, like:

tinnitus
a head injury

Ménière's disease
Bell's palsy
Lyme disease
migraines
Williams syndrome
autism
Children are often more sensitive to loud noises than adults. It often gets better as they get older.


But some children may become more sensitive to noise than others after having an ear infection, for example, or if they have another condition, such as autism.