Can My Hyperacusis Improve So That I Can Listen to Music with Headphones Again?

[novamateria]

Because of my sound-color and concept-sound synesthesia as well as my ADHD, I have a special relationship with music. Nearly the entirety of my internal world is in music and maintained through music. I've listened to it for 6-12 hours a day since I was eight years old before a botched earwax microsuction procedure left me with severe hyperacusis about a week ago.

Now, I can't tolerate it for any amount of time at any volume through any medium without instant pain. Everything sounds louder, higher-pitched, and more annoying. Percussion and high-frequency notes feel like daggers every time they land and quickly make me opt out. It was fun to feel like a crotchety old person for like a day but now, this shit is getting tiresome. I tried to play it out loud across the room, no luck. With the headphones in my good ear with low volume, no luck. An immediate sense of assault and urgent need to abort the mission quickly.

Is this my life? I know the answer. I know the answer. But seriously, is there anything I can do to like, in six months, be able to listen for like, two hours a day, and not worry? Has someone found an adaptation, an operation, a pill, anything? God help me.

 

[chinup]

You need to rest your ears and stop listening to music completely for a long time. The more you try to force the issue the more you risk setting yourself back even further.

If you rest your ears well enough you will likely heal in time and be ok with listening to music at low to medium volume for several hours a day.

This is just from my experience and everyone is different. But until my most recent setback I was fine listening to music at low levels. Unfortunately I got lazy and started listening on my shitty phone speakers, which set me back yet again.

Also I personally would stop using headphones entirely if I were you.

 

[Stacken77]

I'm very sorry to hear about your hyperacusis, @novamateria.

Now, I can't tolerate it for any amount of time at any volume through any medium without instant pain.

Sounds like you have hyperacusis with pain. I'd advise you to avoid the sounds that do cause this pain, since being exposed to those sounds do not build up your tolerance.

Is this my life? I know the answer. I know the answer. But seriously, is there anything I can do to like, in six months, be able to listen for like, two hours a day, and not worry?

There people that do recover, but you'll have to protect diligently and wait. As for the future of music, I'd advise against using headphones and use a set of high fidelity speakers instead.

Wish you well,
Stacken

 

[weab00]

I thought I'd never be able to use headphones again, and I went through a period of about a year where I didn't once dare put a pair around my ears--given that was the original reason I got hyperacusis. However, I'm cured now and use Bluetooth iJoy headphones because they project 4D sound/distribute the frequency bands in a circular direction rather than linearly blasting sound right into your ears. In my opinion, all headphones should follow this motto and also come with dB constraints/warnings.

 

[chinup]

I thought I'd never be able to use headphones again, and I went through a period of about a year where I didn't once dare put a pair around my ears--given that was the original reason I got hyperacusis. However, I'm cured now and use Bluetooth iJoy headphones because they project 4D sound/distribute the frequency bands in a circular direction rather than linearly blasting sound right into your ears. In my opinion, all headphones should follow this motto and also come with dB constraints/warnings.

Congrats on your recovery dude! How did you get better?

Are you able to play musical instruments again these days? What was the process like of getting back into that?

 

[weab00]

Congrats on your recovery dude! How did you get better?

Are you able to play musical instruments again these days? What was the process like of getting back into that?

Yea I'm back to playing bass and want to start learning electric keyboard (the overtones of acoustic are still a bit too harsh). Electronic drums and beatmaking are other aspirations. I want to study computer science and sound engineering at Berklee College of Music, and eventually open up a record label in Paris. I have bigger dreams I won't share because I'd be laughed at, but they involve Canada.

Y'all should try Zyprexa.

 

[chinup]

Yea I'm back to playing bass and want to start learning electric keyboard (the overtones of acoustic are still a bit too harsh). Electronic drums and beatmaking are other aspirations. I want to study computer science and sound engineering at Berklee College of Music, and eventually open up a record label in Paris. I have bigger dreams I won't share because I'd be laughed at, but they involve Canada.

Y'all should try Zyprexa.

Awesome. I'm happy for you man, you seemed like you were going thru a lot at a young age. Just remember to not do too much too fast, setbacks can happen.

If you can elaborate on what steps you took to recover that'd help a bunch. Like did you just start taking Zyprexa and that was that? Or were there a lot of other things going on along with resting your ears a lot and avoiding music and loud noises.

I was so close to a legit recovery and I somehow set myself back this month with some very minor missteps, really sucks. But your story gives me hope.

 

[novamateria]

I see that so many of us are strongly attached to music and/or in the industry. A testament to nature's delight in sadism. I'm very interested in pharmacological solutions like muscle relaxants or even (legal) psychedelics, but it seems that I'm dealing with pitch distortion and middle/inner ear damage from barotrauma, so I don't know if there's any hope of a good prognosis. I think this can be treated like a blast injury or something similar. I just read this article about how a kiss on the ear can create a suction that's enough to displace the small bones of the inner ear and initiate a cascade of processes that makes you go deaf. Its architecture is so intricate that any one thing screwing with it is enough to have you screwed, it seems. I've been doing a course of steroid drops for about 5 days and just convinced a family member to buy me a Bose speaker for Black Friday. But my laptop speaker experiment with a very sedate song tonight- "Nothing's Gonna Hurt You Baby"- failed to live up to its name.

 

[Michael Leigh]

Is this my life? I know the answer. I know the answer. But seriously, is there anything I can do to like, in six months, be able to listen for like, two hours a day, and not worry? Has someone found an adaptation, an operation, a pill, anything? God help me.

Hi @novamateria.

I am sorry to know that you are going through a lot of difficulty at the moment with hyperacusis. It and the tinnitus usually improves with time. Some people may not require any specialist treatment for this to happen, by being referred to a audiologist that specialises in tinnitus and hyperacusis management while others do.

On your profile it's mentioned tinnitus began since January of this year. Have you been seen at ENT and had tests to find out whether you have any underlying medical problems within your auditory system, that is contributing to the severe hyperacusis that you are experiencing? It is important to know whether your tinnitus and hyperacusis are noised induced or caused by a medical problem.

The information in your post indicates that you have noise induced tinnitus. If this is the case and you haven't noticed any improvement in the past 11 months, then my advice to see an audiologist that specialises in tinnitus and hyperacusis management. Noise induced tinnitus with hyperacusis is not usually treated by an ENT doctor, because this is not their area of expertise. Sound therapy in the form of white noise generators are one of the best treatments for hyperacusis.

As I have said, hyperacusis and tinnitus when noise induced can improve without specialist treatment over the course of 6 to 18 months sometimes longer. However, if there is no significant improvement within this time, my advice is to seek professional help that I have mentioned.

There are some self help techniques that one can try that are mentioned in my posts: Hyperacusis, As I See It, The Habituation Process, New to Tinnitus, What to Do? You will find them by clicking on the links below. Please go to my started threads, there you find additional information on tinnitus and hyperacusis.

You have asked will your hyperacusis improve and can you use headphones again? As I have already said hyperacusis can often improve by itself or specialist treatment. I want to stress, that I am referring to hyperacusis that is noise induced. I once had very severe hyperacusis that has completely been cured for over 20 years.

Regarding headphones use with noise induced tinnitus and hyperacusis. Whilst hyperacusis can improve or be completely cured at the moment, tinnitus can't. A person's tinnitus might reduce to a very low level to the point where it is rarely heard or not at all. However, be under no illusion the tinnitus is there quietly waiting in the background and ready to strike. I know this from my personal experience having habituated for over 8 years for the majority of the time it was rarely heard. Then suddenly it returned with a vengeance caused by a second noise trauma.

I have have corresponded with many people that have noise induced tinnitus who have habituated and suffered a similar fate to me. Their tinnitus increased because they returned to using headphones, earbuds, headsets etc. Although they kept the volume low at first everything seemed fine then at some point the tinnitus changed. All I am saying, if your tinnitus reduces to a low level and you habituate and return to using headphones. Each time you use them there is a risk of making your tinnitus worse.

When a person develops noise induced tinnitus with or without hyperacusis, they are never completely out of the woods. The tinnitus is never cured and each time they use any form of headphones or subject their ears to loud sounds, they risk the tinnitus becoming worse. Earplugs are no guarantee a person is completely safe from loud noise exposure. The reason being, sound can pass through the head and transfer to the inner ear by bone conduction. This could spike the tinnitus or increase it to a new permanent level.

I wish you well,
Michael

Hyperacusis, As I See It | Tinnitus Talk Support Forum
New to Tinnitus, What to Do? | Tinnitus Talk Support Forum

 

[Matchbox]

I see that so many of us are strongly attached to music and/or in the industry. A testament to nature's delight in sadism. I'm very interested in pharmacological solutions like muscle relaxants or even (legal) psychedelics, but it seems that I'm dealing with pitch distortion and middle/inner ear damage from barotrauma, so I don't know if there's any hope of a good prognosis. I think this can be treated like a blast injury or something similar. I just read this article about how a kiss on the ear can create a suction that's enough to displace the small bones of the inner ear and initiate a cascade of processes that makes you go deaf. Its architecture is so intricate that any one thing screwing with it is enough to have you screwed, it seems. I've been doing a course of steroid drops for about 5 days and just convinced a family member to buy me a Bose speaker for Black Friday. But my laptop speaker experiment with a very sedate song tonight- "Nothing's Gonna Hurt You Baby"- failed to live up to its name.

Care to link that? That would also argue for the use of muscle relaxants and even mild diuretics.

How'd your barotrauma occur?

 

[DaveFromChicago]

I noticed, Michael, that you conveniently ignored novameteria's comment about how a microsuction procedure resulted in severe hyperacusis when previously you indicated that this was safe for the absurd reason that since you yourself had undergone it with no problems it must be safe for everyone.

@Juan was entirely correct.

You are an utter fake (and I could add various other expletives that would fully characterize your lack of character).

You cherry pick only those topics that appear to support your commentary and never consider admitting and therefore revising such woefully, just-plain-wrong advice regarding the alleged safety of microsuction.

Posters, the Lesson Learned is that there have been so many Posters' reports of microsuction being harmful that (at least for myself) it behooves us to carefully consider it if an ENT / Audiologist recommends it.

 

[novamateria]

How'd your barotrauma occur?

The microsuction.

Care to link that?

Here's the link: Innocent 'kiss of deaf' can cause permanent hearing loss

What do you guys think about the etiology of hyperacusis? I've been considering, as of today:

- high-frequency hearing loss (leading to auditory gain)
- general hearing loss (leading to auditory gain)
- displacement/hypermobility of eardrum (leading to distorted/increased sound intake)
- dislocation of bones in middle ear (leading to distorted/increased sound intake)
- pressure changes in middle/inner ear from barotrauma
- activation of nociceptors from acoustic trauma
- activation of PSTD-like auditory/brain pathways from acoustic trauma
- other middle/inner ear damage

I'm sure it's all there. In the context of the microsuction procedure I had, I'd like to know what's most likely to be the case, and if anything can be done.

One thing that concerns me is the extreme pitch changes I've been having. I assume that's from some kind of non-uniform hearing loss, but it could also be something to do with the functioning of the ear, who knows. I could see the noise-induced pain going away, but base, percussion, guitars, electronic beats, and high notes sound so harsh that I can't imagine them ever going back to normal again. What has been your experience with pitch changes, if any?

 

[Taw]

@chinup, what speakers did you use to listen to music before the setback? Just curious, I am planning to buy some high fidelity ones.

@weab00, many people are very curious what you did to improve and asked this, including in your topic and also here. You were an inspiration to many of us and we are really curious how you did it.

Btw Zyprexa is not a walk in a park, it should be taken very cautiously:

I Beat Hyperacusis Only to Suffer An Even More Terrible Fate

 

[chinup]

@chinup, what speakers did you use to listen to music before the setback? Just curious, I am planning to buy some high fidelity ones.

I have some Wharfedale Diamonds, nothing incredible but for the price they have served me well. Of course I bought them long before hyperacusis took over...

I've noticed that ever since I started protecting heavily and avoiding all sounds from my phone and my laptop I've recovered much quicker from this setback than prior setbacks. I don't think I'll ever use my phone or laptop speakers again for any reason...

 

[Taw]

I have some Wharfedale Diamonds, nothing incredible but for the price they have served me well. Of course I bought them long before hyperacusis took over...

I've noticed that ever since I started protecting heavily and avoiding all sounds from my phone and my laptop I've recovered much quicker from this setback than prior setbacks. I don't think I'll ever use my phone or laptop speakers again for any reason...

Yes, I wish I can avoid those also, but I have many meetings and I cannot avoid the laptops. Also my computer fan is annoying me, I will buy a fanless PC.

I am trying to find the best solution for the work meetings somehow. I tried 2 Bluetooth speakers but nothing spectacular, because many times I have delayed pain.

Btw, did you also have stabbing burning pain, or just loudness hyperacusis?

Thanks.

 

[chinup]

Yes, I wish I can avoid those also, but I have many meetings and I cannot avoid the laptops. Also my computer fan is annoying me, I will buy a fanless PC.

I am trying to find the best solution for the work meetings somehow. I tried 2 Bluetooth speakers but nothing spectacular, because many times I have delayed pain.

Btw, did you also have stabbing burning pain, or just loudness hyperacusis?

Thanks.

I have both. Stabbing pain from loudness and then delayed burning pain that can last weeks. Plus horrible tinnitus, like 10 different tones from 1 kHz all the way up to 10 kHz. I would not be surprised if I have the bottom 10% worst ears on this forum.

 

[Philip83]

@novamateria, I've had several pretty nasty spikes of hyperacusis after noise traumas that ended up settling down quite substantially over the course of 6-8 months. There's a big chance you'll get better. Just try and give it time and not worry to much about it (as hard as it is). In my experience, emotional engagement exacerbates hyperacusis way more than it does tinnitus.

Since my last noise trauma a year ago my current hyperacusis is really shitty though, 90% of the time. Pretty much all sounds hurt and are agitating. Sometimes I have short periods when it's a lot better for no apparent reason, and I keep begging my brain to keep it like that, but it never does :/

 

[Taw]

I have both. Stabbing pain from loudness and then delayed burning pain that can last weeks. Plus horrible tinnitus, like 10 different tones from 1 kHz all the way up to 10 kHz. I would not be surprised if I have the bottom 10% worst ears on this forum.

Sorry to hear that, I am in the same boat with you, I have constant burning pain from dusk to dawn for months, I don't remember the last painless (meaning the pain was mild) day, maybe it was in September.

I also have tinnitus but I ignore it because, compared to hyperacusis, it's a walk in the park.

Also TMJ, neck and head pain all the time, although I take 3 types of pain pills without good effects. Do you take any pills?

 

[Taw]

@novamateria
Since my last noise trauma a year ago my current hyperacusis is really shitty though, 90% of the time. Pretty much all sounds hurt and are agitating. Sometimes I have short periods when it's a lot better for no apparent reason, and I keep begging my brain to keep it like that, but it never does :/

How did you get your last trauma?

Yes, this happens to me also, i have like painless 3-4 hours on some days, then the pain returns again. Dunno why.

 

[GoatSheep]

@novamateria, I've had several pretty nasty spikes of hyperacusis after noise traumas that ended up settling down quite substantially over the course of 6-8 months. There's a big chance you'll get better. Just try and give it time and not worry to much about it (as hard as it is). In my experience, emotional engagement exacerbates hyperacusis way more than it does tinnitus.

Since my last noise trauma a year ago my current hyperacusis is really shitty though, 90% of the time. Pretty much all sounds hurt and are agitating. Sometimes I have short periods when it's a lot better for no apparent reason, and I keep begging my brain to keep it like that, but it never does :/

What were your noise traumas?

 

[Philip83]

How did you get your last trauma?

What were your noise traumas?

I have a Bluetooth tracker with a button on it. When you press that button, my phone rings so that you can find it. And for that function to work, the software overrides the volume controls and put it on max so that you can hear the phone.

Some jackass programmer forgot to disable this and redirect the audio to the phone speakers when Bluetooth headphones are connected to the phone. Guess what happened? I accidentally pressed the button with my headphones on...

It gave me very reactive dysacusis for 2-3 months. That has mostly subsided by now but my loudness hyperacusis is way worse since then, and I developed chronic pain hyperacusis. I've had episodes of it before, but it always subsided. Doesn't seem like I'm as lucky this time.

 

[Taw]

@Philip83, I fear Bluetooth a lot. Bought some Sony ANC headphones which are quite nice for low frequencies but in the middle of nowhere I get "low battery" at a high volume that cannot be changed.

And things like this. It's horrible. I hope you will get through this.

 

[Philip83]

@Philip83, I fear Bluetooth a lot. Bought some Sony ANC headphones which are quite nice for low frequencies but in the middle of nowhere I get "low battery" at a high volume that cannot be changed.

And things like this. It's horrible. I hope you will get through this.

Yep, Bluetooth is unreliable like that. I have both the Sony and the Bose Quiet Comfort. The Bose are mostly fine, EXCEPT for when answering and/or hanging up calls. Then you get a super loud BEEP-BOOP. So annoying...

Same with AirPods Pro. Everything is fine except low battery signal, which is at max volume always... why??

 

[Taw]

Yep, Bluetooth is unreliable like that. I have both the Sony and the Bose Quiet Comfort. The Bose are mostly fine, EXCEPT for when answering and/or hanging up calls. Then you get a super loud BEEP-BOOP. So annoying...

Same with AirPods Pro. Everything is fine except low battery signal, which is at max volume always... why??

The companies never heard of hyperacusis. Like us also, before we got it.

 

[Philip83]

The companies never heard of hyperacusis. Like us also, before we got it.

True, when Googling I've read a lot of people complaining about this though. And some of it is just bad/inconsistent programming.

 

[Philip83]

I know it's potentially a bit off topic, but I started testing a hearing aid yesterday. I'd had a pretty substantial fear that they would aggravate my hyperacusis, but to my stunning surprise they did the opposite. Immediately after putting them in, the loudness/pain from my own and other peoples voices was significantly reduced! It has been an amazing relief. Also, listening to music is much more enjoyable again and my tinnitus is way less reactive to it!

And the even crazier thing is that after I take them out, the reduced hyperacusis seems to be enduring, as if the hearing aids have been reconditioning my brain. I've woken up two days in a row now with maybe a 40-50% reduction in hyperacusis. This is crazy.

Anyone with hyperacusis and the possibility to try a hearing aid should definitely give it a shot!

 

[Taw]

@Philip83, good news!

Can you tell us what type of hearing aid do you use? I know that the hearing aids must be configured by an audiologist and usually they increase the sound volume...

Do you listen to music using speakers or headphones?

 

[Philip83]

@Philip83, good news!

Can you tell us what type of hearing aid do you use? I know that the hearing aids must be configured by an audiologist and usually they increase the sound volume...

Do you listen to music using speakers or headphones?

I'm trying out the Phonak Audéo Paradise P90. I've been listening without headphones on good speakers, but I tried briefly with my Bose over-ear headphones too and it works just fine. No feedback or so.

The increase in volume is very, very slight and only in the frequencies where I have the audiogram -dips. The amplification is mostly around 5 dB and on some frequencies up to 7 dB if I remember correctly, even though my audiogram dips down to 35-45 dB in the worst areas. When I put the hearing aids on I notice barely any increase in volume, but the clarity-difference is pretty noticeable. And when listening to music and switching them on/off the difference is profound.

After experiencing this first hand I more clearly understand the difference between WIN scores and pure tone scores. It wouldn't surprise me if my pure tone scores actually didn't increase even when wearing these hearing aids, but I'm pretty sure my WIN scores would. Maybe I can ask my audiologist if he could do a test on me wearing them when I'm bringing them back in late January.

 

[Artem]

I'm trying out the Phonak Audéo Paradise P90. I've been listening without headphones on good speakers, but I tried briefly with my Bose over-ear headphones too and it works just fine. No feedback or so.

The increase in volume is very, very slight and only in the frequencies where I have the audiogram -dips. The amplification is mostly around 5 dB and on some frequencies up to 7 dB if I remember correctly, even though my audiogram dips down to 35-45 dB in the worst areas. When I put the hearing aids on I notice barely any increase in volume, but the clarity-difference is pretty noticeable. And when listening to music and switching them on/off the difference is profound.

After experiencing this first hand I more clearly understand the difference between WIN scores and pure tone scores. It wouldn't surprise me if my pure tone scores actually didn't increase even when wearing these hearing aids, but I'm pretty sure my WIN scores would. Maybe I can ask my audiologist if he could do a test on me wearing them when I'm bringing them back in late January.

Glad to read about your experience. I read about the opposite view of wearing hearing aids for hyperacusis. What is the frequency range of this model?

Best regards,
Artem

 

[Philip83]

Glad to read about your experience. I read about the opposite view of wearing hearing aids for hyperacusis. What is the frequency range of this model?

Best regards,
Artem

100 Hz to 8000 Hz apparently:

https://www.phonakpro.com/content/d...se/documents/datasheet_audeo_paradise_312.pdf