Hyperacusis

Audiology Ear Care - New Brighton, MN

651-628-4327

Sometimes sounds can become unusually loud for a person. This is a problem when sounds that most people find acceptable are intolerable.

This condition is called hyperacusis and can prevent some people from enjoying many everyday activities. Any activity that includes louder sounds - even those that are safe for your ears - can cause extreme discomfort for someone with hyperacusis. In severe casis, hyperacusis can affect people in normal everyday environments with no loud sounds. Hyperacusis is characterized by a physical - and often emotional - response to louder sounds. This is sometimes described as a visceral reaction and is unavoidable for the person experiencing it.

People experiencing hyperacusis frequently avoid daily activities that are consider routine for others and some may even avoid going outside. Many people with hyperacusis wear earmuffs or earplugs when going outside, due to a fear that a loud sound may occur unexpectedly. Using any kind of hearing protection is definitely not recommended, however, as it may cause hyperacusis to worsen as a result of auditory deprivation.

Help is available! If you or a loved one experience hyperacusis, there is no need to continue suffering. Hyperacusis can be improved through an individualized plan of treatment by a qualified audiologist.

Contacting us for an appointment is the first step. When you schedule an appointment for hyperacusis exam, here's what you can expect during your appointment:

We will discuss your health history. This includes what may have caused your hyperacusis, other health conditions, medications, and listening habits. This helps us guide our examination, assess any need for other specialists and guide our plan of treatment.
We will perform an exam. This includes looking in your ears and assessing multiple functions of your auditory system. We will be careful to avoid any tests or parts of tests that include loud sounds.
As part of the exam, we will carefully measure your hyperacusis. It is really important that we measure what sounds are OK and when sounds begin to get uncomfortable.
We will share the results with you, including any hearing loss or other findings. We will explain our results clearly so there is no confusion or guessing on your part. Please ask any questions you have!
We will work with you to develop a plan of treatment. You will be involved in developing a plan of treatment that is feasible and fits within your lifestyle.

Don't live with hyperacusis another day.
If you are suffering from sensitivity to loud sounds, schedule an appointment today and find out how we can help.