Sound Advice

Do You Suffer From Hyperacusis?

Do sounds such as running water, crinkling paper or other moderately-loud sounds cause you discomfort? Do you wear hearing protection when riding in the car because you feel that the road and wind noise is too loud? Do you have tinnitus? If you’ve answered yes to these questions, you may be suffering from a disorder call hyperacusis. Hyperacusis is defined as a greatly reduced tolerance to normal environmental sounds. Individuals who suffer from hyperacusis report that sound, including their own voice in some cases, is uncomfortably loud, that it causes their tinnitus to become more severe and that it may also cause discomfort or popping in the ears. Hyperacusis is not uncommon. It has been estimated that approximately 40% of tinnitus sufferers also have hearing sensitivity or hyperacusis. Hyperacusis makes living in this noisy world very challenging. Therefore, these individuals will often use hearing protection (including ear plugs and earmuffs) in environments that seem too loud and will likely begin to overprotect their ears because they develop a fear of sound (phonophobia). However, over protection will only further increase ones sound sensitivity. Hyperacusis is often caused by the very thing that leads to hearing loss and tinnitus – namely damage to the inner ear. This damage may result from unprotected exposure to loud sounds, certain medications or drugs, ear diseases such as Meniere’s disease and head injury.

To schedule an appointment, request a FREE INFORMATION PACKET or sign up for one of our Tinnitus seminars, please call our office at (770) 425-1095 or visit us on the web at http://hearsolutions.net.