Table of contents:
- What is hyperacusis?
- Do you have hyperacusis?
- Causes of hyperacusis
- Can this condition be cured?
- Complications
Noises such as car horns, ambulance sirens, screaming children, too loud music, or construction tools are very distracting. However, you may have encountered people who are overly sensitive to certain sounds. When they hear certain sounds that are loud enough, they will appear to be overreacting. Or maybe you are experiencing this condition yourself? It turns out that not being able to stand noise can be a serious medical condition. This condition is known as hyperakusis. People who suffer from hyperacusis will feel very uncomfortable when they hear voices they hate. Read on for the information below to find out all about hyperacussis.
What is hyperacusis?
Hyperacusis is a hearing loss that causes a person to be overly sensitive when picking up sounds. People who have hyperacusis will receive a voice in a louder level than other people. In everyone who has hyperakusis, it can take different forms. For example, there are people who are overly sensitive to the sound of a child's crying but who accept music that is too loud. There are also people who can't stand the clink of cutlery but don't really feel bothered by the sound of chainsaws. However, there are also people with this condition who simply can't stand noise, whatever the source. Some people with hyperakusis will even feel very uncomfortable with the normal sounds that are around them everyday. Hyperacusis that is severe enough can greatly interfere with the daily activities of the sufferer.
Hyperakusis is a rare condition around the world. The prevalence is one in every 50,000 people. However, this condition can attack anyone indiscriminately. Both adults, children, men, and women can experience hyperacusis. This hearing loss can appear suddenly or slowly.
Do you have hyperacusis?
The symptoms and features of hyperakusis are almost indistinguishable from the irritation or irritation that everyone usually feels when there is a noise. So, take a look at some of the following traits to find out if you are just plain irritated or have hyperakusis.
- Feel uncomfortable
- Angry, nervous, anxious, restless, tense, and scared
- Ear pain
- Avoid crowded places
- Difficulty concentrating
- Sensitive or can't stand a very specific sound
- Insomnia
Causes of hyperacusis
Until now, there is no definite cause for this hearing loss. However, if you can't stand certain noise, there may be a certain disease or condition that triggers it. Here are some of the factors that increase your risk of hyperacusis.
- Tinnitus or ringing in the ears
- Brain or ear damage, for example from trauma to the head, ear surgery, ear wax removal procedures, ear infections, or hearing loss due to noise
- Work environment with very loud engine noise
- Stress and depression
- Psychological trauma to certain situations, for example, to soldiers who are on the battlefield with the sound of explosions or the sound of a gun
- Autistic spectrum disorder (ASD)
- Williams Syndrome
- Bell's palsy or paralysis of the muscles on one side of the face
- Meniere's disease or inner ear disorder
- Drug side effects
Can this condition be cured?
Treatment or treatment given for hyperakusis sufferers usually varies, depending on the trigger factor. In most cases, hyperakusis disorder will go away after the disease or condition that triggered it healed. However, as long as the trigger factors have not disappeared, hyperacussis can only be relieved by the symptoms.
Your doctor may prescribe a sedative to help control anxiety. You are also advised to undergo therapy together with a psychologist, psychiatrist, or neurologist. Therapies that can be tried to treat hyperacusis include cognitive and behavioral therapy (CBT) and sound therapy with special tools to reduce your sensitivity to annoying sounds. You may also be taught relaxation techniques to reduce the pressure or discomfort of hearing certain sounds. If the sound you hear is too distracting, you can use ear plugs (earplug) while in public places.
Complications
In certain cases, hyperacusis can cause fear or hatred towards sounds, also known as misophonia. Some people who cannot stand annoying noise also become afraid to leave the house and withdraw from their social environment. If you or someone close to you is suffering from depression due to hyperacusis, seek professional help immediately.
