Sensitive to noise Symptom - Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment
Hyperacusis is a rare disorder where everyday sounds are unbearably loud. It's often accompanied by tinnitus. Most affected individuals have normal hearing. It may involve dysfunction in the ear's protection mechanism, auditory nerve damage, or central processing issues.
Many patients with this sensitivity also experience pain in the inner ear or a feeling of fullness (pressure) in the ears. Here are four categories are :
- Hyperacusis of loudness
- Discomfort hyperacusis
- Painful hyperacusis
- Fear of Sensitivity
Other noise sensitivities include recruitment, hypersensitive hearing to specific frequencies, and misophonia, which is the severe sensitivity to specific soft sounds and an associated emotional response.
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Get A Second OpinionCauses
It affects people of all ages and can affect your hearing in one or both ears. Usually, people are not born with this rare disease. It can develop over a while or emerge quite suddenly. Causes of hyperacusis include, but are not limited to:
- Exposure to loud noises (damaging the cochlea)
- Head injury
- This can often be resolved with lifestyle changes
- Lyme disease
- Bell's palsy
- Tay-Sachs disease
- Williams Syndrome
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- The systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
- Viral infections affecting the inner ear or facial nerve
- Ear damage from toxins or drugs
- Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ)
- Airbag deployment
- Migraines
- Ménière's disease
- Multiple sclerosis
Sometimes children with autism or cerebral palsy also suffer from hyperacusis, and this can occur in children with brain damage.
Diagnosis
If you think you have a sensitive noise issue, you will see an ENT or otolaryngologist. They'll ask you questions about your medical history, take a close look at your ears, and give you a hearing test to confirm it.
Treatment
- Treatment for hyperesthesia focuses on addressing the underlying cause. For example, if the hyperesthesia is caused by a vitamin B-12 deficiency, B-12 supplements will be prescribed. After treating the underlying one, most people will find that the symptoms of hyperesthesia are eliminated.
- If there is an underlying problem in the brain or spinal cord, it will be assessed and treated accordingly. Anticonvulsant drugs can be given to people with seizures. Anti-anxiety medications can be given to people who have fear and anxiety about their condition.
- If you are having an episode of hyperesthesia, lie down in a dark room with no stimuli. This should help the symptoms pass more quickly. Stay calm, do deep breathing exercises, and know that the symptoms will go away within hours.
- Physiotherapy can be helpful for people with hyperesthesia.
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is known to be effective in reducing unpleasant responses caused by any stimulus.
- It is recommended that people with hyperesthesia eat a balanced diet rich in antioxidants.
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Book an AppointmentPrevention
Although the exact cause of Sensitive noise is unknown, you may experience this condition due to damage to your hearing due to excessive noise exposure. To avoid this and other hearing problems such as hearing loss and tinnitus, there are several steps you can take to make sure that your hearing is protected. These include:
- Try listening to music at a lower volume for shorter periods
- Wear hearing protection - for example at concerts or work if necessary
- Be aware that prolonged exposure to sounds above 85 decibels can damage your hearing.
