Increased Tinnitus and Hyperacusis After Alarm Exposure: Should I Get Hearing Aids?

[Joeseph Stope]

Hello, I am a long-time sufferer of tinnitus and hyperacusis.

I was recently exposed to a series of alarms, including a fire, smoke, and shop alarm. Since then, my hyperacusis seems to have become more sensitive to noise, and my tinnitus has settled into a new baseline, you could say a permanent spike.

Some reports mention that certain tinnitus sufferers respond well after getting hearing aids fitted. That seems a bit counterintuitive, as one might expect the increased volume to make hyperacusis worse.

Your experience, tips, and advice would be much appreciated, especially considering the cost of seeing an audiologist, getting fitted with the devices, and the time and effort involved.

 

[MindOverMatter]

Hello, I am a long-time sufferer of tinnitus and hyperacusis.

I was recently exposed to a series of alarms, including a fire, smoke, and shop alarm. Since then, my hyperacusis seems to have become more sensitive to noise, and my tinnitus has settled into a new baseline, you could say a permanent spike.

Some reports mention that certain tinnitus sufferers respond well after getting hearing aids fitted. That seems a bit counterintuitive, as one might expect the increased volume to make hyperacusis worse.

Your experience, tips, and advice would be much appreciated, especially considering the cost of seeing an audiologist, getting fitted with the devices, and the time and effort involved.

Sorry to hear about your unfortunate experience with this possible permanent spike, Joseph.

Yes, hearing aids can be a bit of a double-edged sword when it comes to hyperacusis and sound sensitivity. You need to address these issues with your audiologist. The hearing aids must be set and adjusted properly. This usually involves some trial and error, and you may need to return a couple of times for further adjustments.

That has been my personal experience. I have a complex "cookie bite" hearing loss myself, moderate, but still challenging, and when combined with sound sensitivity, it was difficult to manage at first.

I only wear them occasionally, usually when I am in quiet surroundings and my ears feel fatigued. It becomes too overwhelming for me in noisy environments.

 

[Eleanor89]

Hello @Joeseph Stope, I have slight hearing loss in my right ear, and I also have hyperacusis and tinnitus. However, it has improved over time. I cannot give you advice on hearing aids, as I found that structured, gentle sound therapy helped me immensely. I also used in-ear sound generators but have since stopped using them. Both @MindOverMatter and I had tinnitus for many years before developing hyperacusis.

I hope this helps.