Hyper Acusis

Hyperacusis is an over-reaction to some noise. Below is one individual's personal account of what it is like to suffer with a Hyperacusis condition.

From A Hyper Acusis Sufferer

In early 2005 I was referred by my local GP to see a specialist for an ongoing ear problem. It was on that occasion I first heard these two words Hyper Acusis. The specialist suggested I had one of four things potentially wrong with me and that was the last on his list. Upon reflection I could tell from his tone, even his tentativeness it was something he didn't feel very comfortable mentioning. Was it a field perhaps he didn't know too much about? Or was it just something he feared was irreversible or perhaps untreatable in which case he wasn't leaving me with any specific options?

As a tinnitus sufferer for over 5 years I have never really never had a massive issue when it comes to pain and suffering with Tinnitus. Apart from the odd session of too much booze and a late night with the ringing creeping in around bedtime and some pain in the morning. But I kind of managed to control it to a point where I could sleep, most importantly. Whilst in everyday life I felt there was enough noise to disguise this anyway. Especially as I have run my own music consultancy and PR company where there is always someone or something noisy around you.

But the Hyper Acusis I now experience, due to one large exceptionally loud noise, is a different thing altogether. I am not too sure if it is always suffered as a consequence of Tinnitus, but as I see it and to be honest, the medical people seem to have no real answers for dealing with it. My diagnosis is I have damaged something that was already damaged. Damage upon damage as I see it. One loud noise too many seems to have forced my ears to submit in this rather unusual and painful way and the result is an uncomfortable ear related problems.

Being deaf is a nightmare as is tinnitus, but to stroll through life having to avoid noise is difficult, especially as a Londoner. To explain the condition - as a Hyper Acusis sufferer - everything is always on Volume 10, all of the time. Background noise becomes the foreground. Bus breaks along the high street are unbearably loud; tube trains intolerable and your mates girlfriend that you thought was a little noisy, someone to avoid conversation with at all costs!

It is socially disruptive I can't argue with that, but apart from becoming a total recluse you must find your own way of dealing with the trauma. Especially bearing in mind that most sufferers don't actually have ear damage. My hearing for example is fine, medically speaking and this is really the frustration with this condition and why the medical people can't seem to offer you any relief from the pain. In my case pain can be likened to a couple of very hot rockers inserted just inside the ear; inflammation as a result of any noise activity I guess. Even an evening in pub can bring it on. Up to a week of this pain can really put you off going out, but you must find the places and times that suit you to enjoy most of what other people enjoy.

Mine is just one experience from one sufferer though - what it's like for others I can't really comment as I have never met a Hyper Acusis sufferer (yet!). But I have faith that as time moves forward so will medical developments in this field, so it's down to us to raise awareness and the profile of ear damage and make sure that young and old learn to protect against all the noises and extremities in the modern world in the meantime.