From the Research
Hyperacusis is a hearing disorder characterized by an increased sensitivity to everyday sounds, where normal noises seem uncomfortably loud or even painful, and it can be effectively managed with sound therapy, counseling, and medical evaluation, as supported by the most recent study 1.
Definition and Characteristics
Hyperacusis is a condition that affects one or both ears and may develop suddenly or gradually. It's commonly associated with tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and can result from various causes including noise exposure, head injury, certain medications, ear infections, or neurological conditions. People with hyperacusis often find ordinary sounds like running water, kitchen appliances, or traffic noise intolerable. This condition differs from phonophobia (fear of sound) and misophonia (hatred of specific sounds), though these conditions can overlap.
Treatment and Management
Treatment typically involves sound therapy to gradually desensitize the auditory system, counseling to develop coping strategies, and sometimes hearing protection in extremely loud environments (though overuse of ear protection can worsen the condition). A new therapy, cognitive sound exposure therapy (CSET), has shown promising results in reducing hyperacusis by combining psychoeducation, sound exposure, and counseling 1. Medical evaluation is important to identify any underlying causes that may require specific treatment.
Impact on Quality of Life
The condition can significantly impact quality of life by limiting social activities and causing anxiety or depression, but with proper management, many people experience improvement over time. A study on cognitive behavioral therapy for hyperacusis found significant improvements in loudness discomfort levels and quality of life measures 2. Another study on sound therapy for hyperacusis and tinnitus found that sound therapy can reduce auditory gain and increase loudness tolerance for people with hyperacusis 3.
Key Points
- Hyperacusis is a hearing disorder characterized by increased sensitivity to everyday sounds
- It can be effectively managed with sound therapy, counseling, and medical evaluation
- Cognitive sound exposure therapy (CSET) is a promising new treatment for hyperacusis
- Medical evaluation is important to identify underlying causes that may require specific treatment
- Proper management can improve quality of life and reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, as supported by studies 4, 5.