Tinnitus Talk Support Forum

It sounds like it could be as you are very sensitive to touch or noise. :-/

Sometimes @DeanD I notice if I am inside in the quiet that what an inside noise happens it can sound more intrusive, but outside with that ambient soft background that the outside has and sound far away, more tolerable.

@DeanD so with hyperacusis shit usually sounds like someone yelling into a megaphone all day. Like it makes you immediately wanna cover ears and run. Things like running the shower sounds like Niagra falls water fall in a tiny bathroom. Also for some reason crisp chip bags and foil are highly sensitive with H. Not sure if you experience this. Also ppl with very high pitch vocals feel uncomfortable

@DeanD if you are spiking through ear protection it could be that your reactivity is based more off of high frequency noises. I noticed high frequency accidents caused spikes even with my ear pro on. Like creaking doors. Or something simple as opening the fridge or placing a cup on the table. Also phone pings and beep alerts

@ErikaS - ahh I didn't word that very well. I meant internal body sounds vs normal sounds coming in through the ear, rather than indoors and outdoors.

@Sammy0225 - I guess this is where I've really struggled to understand whether I have h. If it wasn't for the way sounds cause worsening of t, and spike t easily, then although sounds seem a little louder, I wouldn't feel the need to cover my ears necessarily.
That said I have been living in ear plugs due to the reactiveness even with ambient 10db noise

@Sammy0225 - well the 25db noise is the sound of a boiler in the next room, so a low rumble. That said a telephone call on loud speaker wearing ear plugs now spikes it - and traffic noise along a residential street with ear plugs and Peltors spikes it.
I was doing much better before the custom ear plug fitting, and not spiking so much - now its spiking to everything.

I did mention this to a well known audiologist in Australia who felt this was a TTTS reaction brought on involunterily by the brain to protect (believing the fitting a threat) triggering the increase in tinnitus and sound sensitivity

@DeanD ty for the detailed reply. So from my personal opinion Dean is that your main issues are coming from reactivity I personally feel that you don't have H but have a sub categorie which is severe reactive Tinnitus. If telephone calls and street noise is spiking through protection then your reactivity is sensitive to the higher spectrum of noises which can cut through ear protection like butter