People with Hyperacusis Losing the Reflex Protecting Their Own Voice from Damaging Their Hearing?

Here's the link:
https://www.quora.com/I-have-slight-hyperacusis-How-can-I-prevent-it-from-getting-worse

"If you have a tendency to talk loudly or to yell, get rid of this behaviour. Many people with hyperacusis have lost the reflex protecting their own voice from hurting their inner ear. There's a name for that reflex, I can't recall what it is. Knowing that you may have lost this reflex or that you may lose it at any time will help you control the tone of your own voice. When you lose it, yelling actually hurts physically and increases the chance of losing more frequencies, which in turn increases the tinnitus/hyperacusis."

Does anyone know about this? This sounds very alarming. Having a hard time figuring out whether this is really true. I really wish it's not.

 

This is a hypothesis, not a fact. You know your hyperacusis symptoms was caused by loud external noise.

I wouldn't worry too much about this.

 

@Contrast As of now I feel that speaking does trigger my hyperacusis, also eating crunchy food. Shouting does make my ear hurt. But I don't know whether it's simply because of the hyperacusis or this.

 

I sometimes find myself covering my own ears if I'm having to raise my voice, to call to someone in another room. Otherwise they can ring and complain a bit louder during the rest of that day.

And my wife and kids are pleased that I don't shout as much these days...

 

That's totally unfounded. The Tensor Tympani muscle is what dampens noises like yelling and chewing. Some people with hyperacusis do develop issues with the muscle, however it's usually because it is OVER active, and tenses up at even the slightest noise, causing a bunch of issues. Your voice hurts when you yell because voices are loud, and this sound is being generated close to your ear. Not from your Tensor Tympani not working (unless you have an extremely rare case of that muscle actually failing, but that's not likey).

 

How is that not true?

 

I googled a bit and its called the the acoustic reflex that has to do with stapedius muscle and tensor tympani. If stapedius paralyses normal sounds are perceived as too loud. (Read this from wikipedia)

So my H might really be because of inner ear damage to these muscles. Or i might have tonic tensor tympani syndrome. Huh so this probably means my ear is not going to get better. Very discouraging. But at least now i know what causes this. I just wish there was a proper treatment for this.

 

a whole bunch of things in the inner and middle ear get damaged, Not just one thing. Now think to yourself the TRT'ers pretend everything case of hyperacusis can be cured using the same method.

 

I honestly dont know if i can live with this ear condition

 

Scientist would have been 20 years in advancing understanding these problems if TRT and Mr. Jastreboff did not hold research back decades. We suffer because of their arrogance, it took 20-30 years to just to realize pain from noise was cochlear nerve damage.

 

I wish i had known about this sooner my my life is really over huh. Before i just thought i was noise sensitive and didn't know how that could actually get worse. I did try to protect myself from loud noises but that wasnt enough. I feel like my my symptoms are just getting worse and i tingling sensations in the right side of my face I cant believe this is my my reality.

Knowledge about this truly is outdated, most sources say there's no actual damage accompanied with hyperacusis and that should just get used to sounds. Yeah that definitely is false. Just my luck to get a rare ear disorder like this with no treatments available. It is so severe right now and im losing hope it could get any better.

 

How did your hyperacusis start? Also you're getting tingling sensations? What are the main symptoms you have?

 

It started from noise exposure four years ago. It was mild previously, it only reacted to loud sounds. Now that it got worse i've been experiencing ear fullness, pain from sound that feels also in my face, burning or cool sensations in ear. Sometimes tingling in jaw and cheek. The pain lingers long and the hyperacusis ear feels some level of weird all the time. Tinnitus has also been a bit weird recently. So yeah i's say quite severe :/

 

Have your tried any medications for nerve pain?

 

@MattR i haven't. Do you have recommendations?

 

Lyrica and gabapentin are both used for nerve pain. For some people it helps take the edge of the pain caused from hyperacusis. Some people have side effects and can't take it, others are able to take it for years. Really depends on the person. I'd recommend going to a pain management clinic and seeing if there's anything they'd like to try with you.

Also, there's an article about a woman who had stellate ganglion blocks done and it worked really well for her pain. There hasn't been much research done on it so whether or not it would actually help in most cases is unknown. But it is another possible option.

 

I feel exactly the same. Hopefully I will get help soon with stellate ganglion block. But I'm not holding my breath.

 

I hope it will will help you, and please tell me if it does work for you!

 

Thanks pal, and I definitely will.

 

I don't give any credibility to that. A lot of people yell and do not develop any hearing problems.

 

Acoustic reflex. I've often wondered if mine works properly for various reasons. The only way you can test it is an acoustic reflex test which plays a very loud noise in your ear and is not a good idea for someone with hyperacusis in the first place.

 

I've read about that test. Why does it have to be so ridiculously loud? No hyperacusis sufferer would ever do that if they are informed about its dangers.

 

It has to be that loud to trigger the acoustic reflex.

 

Middle ear muscle disorders can cause the reflex levels of the tensor typani to drop so even soft noises trigger spasms.

These problems have little to no research published on their pathology, we don't know what triggers them other then noise damaging something in the ear. So if someone goes to the ENT seeking help for these problems they'll get nowhere.

 

How loud is the acoustic reflex test? Are they all set at a mandatory db level for all patients?

 

I heard that thing can get over 100db. It's Dangerous.

 

True.
Well said.

 

It's 100 dbs. It is not a good idea to have this test if you have hyperacusis.

 

Check out your symptoms and then google and read up on Dr. Silverstein round window and stapes reinforcement surgery. Pretty remarkable stories of people who had hyperacusis from the middle ear. His institute is in Sarasota Florida, in the USA.

Curious as to what you make of the surgery and the symptoms.
Seems to correspond to your situation.