Hyperacusis! - the ugly sister of tinnitus!

Area_808 · 2023-12-01T12:46:54.420Z

Does anyone else suffer from this?

I do in my right ear, from being stupid and producing music too loudly fifteen years ago! But it still haunts me to this day. It’s waaay less severe now, but it’s there, and it will flare up if I go just a little too loud (which is not very loud!).

I have tinnitus in that ear too, naturally, but would consider that to be absolutely fine in comparison. For those that don’t know, Hyperacusis is the physical discomfort toward certain (usually higher) frequencies, sound can hurt! That’s definately one way to end a studio session!

It’s so misunderstood too. I have to tell my GP what it is!! Does anyone have any stories or approaches to managing this condition?

Look after your ears!

pidgeo · 2023-12-01T12:58:26.988Z

nope, I’ve never heard of it till now. I have tinnitus pulsatile tho.
24/7 y’all

Hyperacusis doesn’t sound nice at all.

wriggy_b · 2023-12-01T13:04:16.021Z

I get a certain amount of rattling now at frequencies in a range that correlates with the crying of my firstborn. (Bedtimes could be very difficult)
I think the intensity during those episodes was pretty extreme and it takes less to trigger the buzzing now. I’ve had to stop play sessions when they’re become to loud sometimes.
I try to keep music volumes moderate - and I’ve not had a problem but I don’t know if that gives me a bias when mixing.

pidgeo · 2023-12-01T13:06:55.269Z

I’ve had that thing at loud gigs before when the sound physically hurts at some points, like someone was screaming right into your ear. the ear drum rattles n everything distorts like a mofo.

didn’t feel very healthy at the time.

is it similar to that?

muied_lumens · 2023-12-01T13:18:53.846Z

Please go to a hearing specialist for advice. I am not one so please take what I say with a grain or two.

This can happen if you over-protect your ears to loud noises. You are essentially sensitising your hearing. The brain compensates for it by turning up the gain. It is thought that tinnitus comes from the same process – the hairs in your inner ear responsible for a particular frequency have died and the brain tries to compensate, essentially turning up that frequency to the max, and that’s why you hear a tone at that frequency.

You don’t want to damage your hearing more than you already have so you shy away from any loud noises. This is where you might want to get professional advice and not listen to online chatter, but some loud noises aren’t damaging as long as they’re not prolonged. They help keep our hearing in check.

If you on the other hand constantly wear hearing protection, even if you don’t have to and only after a week or so you take them out, everything will sound terribly loud. Similar things can happen to our other senses, which various experiments have shown. It shows how amazing our brain really is.

The good news is that it might just be curable, unlike tinnitus which we still don’t seem to have a cure for.

christianlukegates · 2023-12-01T13:45:15.998Z

I definitely have an over-sensitivity to some sounds in my right ear, off and on (ie not constant). I wouldn’t describe it as painful or even discomfort necessarily, but it’s unpleasant, like the aural equivalent of someone shining a very bright light into your eye(s). No tinnitus with it, tho in my left ear I do. No idea what to attribute any of it to as ive always been pretty cautious with noise levels exposure, but I have a theory that vaping (and in particular the PG that’s in most vape juices) may be a culprit, as I vaped a lot throughout my 30’s (im now 40), which is when this stuff came on. Ive also read that depression, stress and anxiety are sometimes linked, as is bruxism/TMJ issues, all of which im on nodding terms with. Am actually seeing an ENT consultant about it in a few weeks time, so this post is timely. You don’t see/hear a lot about hyperacusis, and yes ive had that experience of having to explain certain ear issues to a GP. In my experience ive found they aren’t that interested/knowledgable about ear stuff., and it can be very frustrating

g3o2 · 2023-12-01T14:05:27.890Z

Most of the time, these troubles are ultimately triggered by external stress, however, what many people underestimate or ignore: oftentimes, the bed is prepared by psychological stress over a certain period. Tinnitus also worsens when you’re stressed, which includes fatigue. It is therefore also a stress indicator.

Strutter · 2023-12-01T14:10:08.158Z

I have this in my left ear. Probably caused by hi-hat and lack of earplugs.

I kinda clicks, like a lid of a jar that can be pushed in, causing it to click inwards.

Sometimes it doesn’t happen at all and I don’t even notice it but at times it’s fucking awful and hurts so much and in the most disgusting way imaginable.

Irreparable damage for sure.

Area_808 · 2023-12-01T14:30:16.879Z

Thanks for this. I am in the process of being referred for a hearing test. Thankfully, I have not noticed any hearing loss in the 15 years I’ve been suffering this condition, however there MUST be at least a little. I will also push for a consultation with a specialist about hyperacusis specifically.

Definitely guilty of over-protecting my ears, which I suspect doesn’t actually help as you say. I haven’t put plugs in for a couple of weeks now, which is good for me. I’ve turned the volume right down when making music, yet the spectre of it triggering is there, I can feel it. However, it has made me realise that just because I suffer, it doesn’t mean I am causing further damage, which is a really important distinction, and the first time I’ve truly realised it in 15 years. It simply CAN’T be because of the incredibly moderate volumes I’m working at.

It’s therapy in itself just talking about it like this tbh. I have shed tears over this. The thing you love to do is causing you pain. I’m pretty amazed I’m the first person ever on this forum to start a thread about it. This is a common condition among musicians, particularly orchestral performers.

Area_808 · 2023-12-01T14:47:23.882Z

You are not alone, really sucks right?

Mad thing is, if you’re stupid in your 20s and you break your leg, it will heal. If you’re stupid in your 20s and you ravage an ear, you will need to manage that damage for the rest of your life! It’s a real kick in the nuts from a younger, stupid you.

Special shout out to @christianlukegates for the “nodding terms” comment. Am deffo using that

Strutter · 2023-12-01T15:27:02.070Z

It does suck but in the end it was completely my own fault, and I still have one good ear haha.

The ten year latency for the damage to start manifesting was quite surprising tho.

joeykaram · 2023-12-01T20:53:20.572Z

Strutter:

I have this in my left ear. Probably caused by hi-hat and lack of earplugs.

This

rotallytuined · 2023-12-01T21:05:02.586Z

My wife has this as a symptom of her particular brand of autism, I have to modify my speech sometimes when speaking from the heart or stomach as she will wince at certain plosive words or sequences. It seems to be a select few frequency bands.
She can’t stand any of my work

oomo · 2023-12-02T09:14:57.644Z

I’m not sure if this is what I have or not (I’d never heard of it before today), but in one ear certain frequencies make it feel like someone is swelling the volume and hitting a painful threshold.

It’s only in my right ear, and happens most obviously when listening to trumpet sounds above a certain volume (makes me have to keep the volume to a sensible level when listening to Miles Davis).

My left ear doesn’t suffer from it, but does have tinnitus, so maybe one day they’ll cancel out…

Rics · 2023-12-02T09:31:17.917Z

oomo:

My left ear doesn’t suffer from it, but does have tinnitus, so maybe one day they’ll cancel out…

“Phases” of life

I’ve something like that on my left ear, happens only when I’m talking with people that start to talk very loud or scream, or when I’m in places/ with a lot of people talking together generating loud buzz.
Happens too when I’m in places with sound system overbalanced on mid frequencies (matching human voice frequencies more or less), but rarely, almost never in clubs with good sound systems.

What I hear is something like initial clicks that then become band passed noise.

Need an audiometry check for sure.