What is hyperacusis?
The term hyperacusis indicates a condition of auditory hypersensitivity that makes the patient intolerant to sounds and noises that are otherwise perceived as normal by other people (screams, barking dogs, laughter, high-pitched whistling, the sound of thunder, fireworks, motorcycles, exploding balloons, ambulance siren, ringing telephones, etc.).
People with hyperacusis may experience an increased sense of anxiety and a continuous state of panic with the need to cover their ears and reduce the pain.
Symptoms of hyperacusis
Intolerance to sounds is accompanied by pain in the ears. The main reactions of the patient with hyperacusis to sounds perceived as annoying are:
- Feeling of increased anxiety
- Panic attacks
- Anxiety
- Stress
- Dizziness
- Dizziness
- Ear pain
- Need to cover ears
- Need to leave the room
- Headache
Diagnosis of hyperacusis
For a correct diagnosis, it is necessary to undergo some audiometric tests to assess the severity of hyperacusis. These include tonal audiometry, stapedial reflex test and LDL test.
What are the causes of hyperacusis?
Hyperacusis can affect people of any age and gender. There are still no known causes of hyperacusis at present. The most experimental theories are:
- Hearing loss
- Migraine
- Tinnitus
- Exposure to high decibel levels for a prolonged period of time.
- Brain contusion.
- Autoimmune diseases
- Lyme disease
- Bell’s palsy
- Addison’s disease
- Ménière’s syndrome
- Whiplash Injury
- Ongoing ear infections
- Ear surgery injury
- Williams syndrome
- Depression
- Temporomandibular joint disorders.
Treatment for hyperacusis
Today, there is still no known precise therapy for hyperacusis. Even so, the treatment that has proven to be most effective is the so-called sound therapy, and ear re-education, the purpose of which is the acoustic desensitization of the patient. It is performed by applying a sound dispenser in the ear.
Exposure to noise is daily, with a duration of 6 to 8 hours, for a period of 12 to 18 months.