Sound Intolerance to Soft Sounds. Need Help Please.

[Newbie]

Hi I was wondering if i could get some advice please

I have tinnitus a year and a couple of months now and it got louder. However, even though the tinnitus isnt that much of a problem for me as it was before, im suffering from bad anxiety from being in such a hyper alert stage for the 2-3 months my tinnitus was bad.

Over the last few weeks i've been kind of sensitive to some sounds (knives and forks banging, plastic bags rustling, keys jingling, etc) I've tried to put this at the back of my mind and think that everyone hates these sounds.

Recently i've started to notice that the 'S's in everyones words really stand out to be and are kind of bothersome. It seems to be softer sounds like that and also toilet paper crunching or if i rub my clothes, like that sound that makes??

Does anyone know what this could mean? It's not as if they're loud to me they just bother me so i don't think it could be hyperacusis, or could it be that starting off?

Or has anyone got experience of noise sensitivity caused by anxiety? If i could get some good advice that would be great please. And no comments saying 'i'm being stupid' or anything. I really don't need that! thanks

 

[Michael Leigh]

@Newbie You are experiencing hyperacusis (sensitivity to sound) Do you listen to music through headphones?

Please click on the link below and read the post which may be of some help. There is an article in the link titled: Answers to hyperacusis and habituation.https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/an-introduction-to-tinnitus.12100/
Michael

 

[Newbie]

@Michael Leigh really?? could anxiety cause this problem. It's also not ALL of the time. It comes and goes??

 

[Michael Leigh]

really?? could anxiety cause this problem. It's also not ALL of the time. It comes and goes??

You might have some anxiety but I don't think it is causing the sensitivity that you are complaining of. It sounds like hyperacusis to me. Please read the post in the link I have given you it will help. Use a sound machine at night.
Michael

 

[Newbie]

Thanks. Is it possible for hyperacusis to be cured completely?? @Michael Leigh

 

[Michael Leigh]

Thanks. Is it possible for hyperacusis to be cured completely

Yes it can be cured completely. Either naturally without treatment or with treatment if it is severe. The best treatment is TRT. All the information is in the Link I have given you.
Michael

 

[Newbie]

Thanks Michael, That's great

 

[Michael Leigh]

@Newbie Hope you start to feel better soon....

 

[Newbie]

@Michael Leigh last question. I'm very scared this hyperacusis is going to progress and get worse! Does this happen to everyone?

 

[Michael Leigh]

@Newbie You are asking me a difficult question Newbie. Tinnitus or Hyperacusis doesn`t normally get worse without something causing it. If you have no underlining medical problems that are responsible, then it shouldn't get worse unless you are being around loud sounds or using headphones. I can't be certain about this it's just my opinion.
Michael
Ask as much questions as you like, I or someone else will try to help.

 

[LadyDi]

Hi, @Newbie. I agree, reading the stuff on the link @Michael Leigh provided will help and should give you a lot of answers. You also can search for other posts here at TT regarding hyperacusis.

I also agree with Michael: sounds like you have hyperacusis to me. People with this condition often mention noises from utensils, keys, rustling paper as particularly bothersome. You should protect your ears from loud sounds -- but don't overprotect, like wearing earplugs 24/7, or you will make it worse.

The good news is hyperacusis, more so than tinnitus, very often goes away on its own (although everyone is different). I had it along with my tinnitus in the beginning (clattering silverware! Argh!) but eventually, the hyperacusis vanished. It's never come back, although I will sometimes have "sensitive ear days." But nothing that's a problem.

I think the noise sensitivity can make you anxious. It's hard to tell, however, exactly what the relationship is between tinnitus/hyperacusis/anxiety. Hopefully, you are working to keep your anxiety in check.

Good luck.

 

[VRZ78]

Sounds more like misophonia. Doing TRT will help you a lot.

 

[Newbie]

@LadyDi @VRZ78 thank you very much for your advice! I'm very scared about developing bad hyperacusis ! Is there anything I can be doing at home to prevent it getting worse! I don't want to have a bad Christmas

 

[Michael Leigh]

I'm very scared about developing bad hyperacusis ! Is there anything I can be doing at home to prevent it getting worse! I don't want to have a bad Christmas

@Newbie Have a word with your GP about how you are feeling as something can be prescribed to help you cope better. The advice that @LadyDi has given you is good and I advise you to read my post: Positivity and Tinnitus, in the Link that I gave you. The only thing one can do with tinnitus and hyperacusis is to give them time to settle down. Use sound enrichment at night and if you can, get a referral to a Hearing Therapist for some counselling and tinnitus treatment if possible as that would be helpful. Try to avoid being around loud sounds, that doesn't mean you should not go to Christmas parties - go out and have a good time just be careful. Buy a pair of noise-reducing earplugs just in case things get a bit too loud. You will be alright just try not to panic.

All the best
Michael

 

[Newbie]

@Michael Leigh Thank you so much again!! I really appreciate the advice! If my hyperacusis would just stay where it is it would be fine but I can tell it's getting much worse which is worrying me a lot! High pitch sounds like cutlery are like nails on a chalkboard but I also get a vibration off anything low like a car engine train engine or even the noise off men's voices? How can this just get worse ? my tinnitus has calm down a lot it's just the hyperacusis now

 

[Michael Leigh]

I can tell it's getting much worse which is worrying me a lot! High pitch sounds like cutlery are like nails on a chalkboard but I also get a vibration off anything low like a car engine train engine or even the noise off men's voices? How can this just get worse ?

@Newbie I have been through everything that you have explained. I had to ask people to lower their voice when talking to me as my ears hurt so much, so I know what you're going through. Try and get a referral to a Hearing Therapist. TRT is one of the best treatments for tinnitus and especially hyperacusis if it is severe. Hyperacusis can get better (cured) without treatment but in severe cases TRT and wearing white noise generators is the best.

Carry on using sound enrichment and hopefully you won't have to go the TRT route as it is expensive.
All the best
Michael

 

[Newbie]

@Michael Leigh it's wonderful to hear that hyperacusis is curable! My hyperacusis is constantly coming and going so i have a few hours in the day where it's not there. Does this mean anything or is it you take what you get when it comes to it and no body can tell you for sure?

I do these exercises for it where when i hear a noise that bothers me, instead of leaving the room, i just take some deep breaths and keep telling myself it's just a noise! Is this ok to be doing? thanks for all your replies, you have been very helpful

 

[Sen]

I don't believe noise induced hyperacusis is curable. The symptom, maybe, but not the underlying mechanism. If the underlying mechanism were cured, you'd be able to go to concerts unprotected without experiencing a relapse.

Still though, most people do recover symptomatically to a point where they can return to a normal life.

 

[Michael Leigh]

@Michael Leigh it's wonderful to hear that hyperacusis is curable! My hyperacusis is constantly coming and going so i have a few hours in the day where it's not there. Does this mean anything or is it you take what you get when it comes to it and no body can tell you for sure?

I do these exercises for it where when i hear a noise that bothers me, instead of leaving the room, i just take some deep breaths and keep telling myself it's just a noise! Is this ok to be doing? thanks for all your replies, you have been very helpful

Hi @Newbie Hyperacusis like tinnitus will be experienced differently between people. I disagree with @Sen and believe Hyperacusis is completely curable as in my case. My tinnitus increased to insurmountable levels in 2008 due to noise exposure but my hyperacusis did not return and has remained the same completely cured.

However, I agree that this may not be the case for every individual. As I've said on numerous occasions, the auditory system is more sensitive after noise exposure and habituation has been reached. Therefore, I advise a person to be prudent when around loud sounds by wearing ear protection when necessary. At the same time, try not to make a habit of wearing them to suppress normal every day sounds, as one could make the auditory system hypersensitive which could cause hyperacusis.

We are all different and if you find relief from doing the exercises then continue with them. Try not to pay too much attention to your hyperacusis coming and going and just accept it. Hopefully, in time your brain will habituate and it will cease to be so much of a problem and it will get better (cure) naturally. It takes time. As I've mentioned I had very severe hyperacusis and it took 2 years to be cured- this does not mean the same will apply to you. Just take each day as it comes and continue using sound enrichment and try to get along with life doing everything what you want to. You will surprise yourself at what you will be able to achieve, trust me.

All the best
Michael

 

[PaulBe]

Newbie, the symptoms you are describing, the pattern, the onset, etc is exactly the same as my course. And yes, its hyperacusis, it isn't misophonia, though that tends to come along for the ride anyway. I tend to agree with Sen, but were I you, I'd take Michael's experience as a positive possibility for yourself. I've improved over time (yes, three years) but its certainly not "cured" by any stretch, and the misophonia that hops on for the ride sometimes doesn't help. TRT (done properly) is certainly helpful in creating an auditory safety zone that helps you through. Chat Hyperacusis forum may be a good resource for you if this is the way you want to go.

 

[japongus]

Hi I was wondering if i could get some advice please

I have tinnitus a year and a couple of months now and it got louder. However, even though the tinnitus isnt that much of a problem for me as it was before, im suffering from bad anxiety from being in such a hyper alert stage for the 2-3 months my tinnitus was bad.

Over the last few weeks i've been kind of sensitive to some sounds (knives and forks banging, plastic bags rustling, keys jingling, etc) I've tried to put this at the back of my mind and think that everyone hates these sounds.

Recently i've started to notice that the 'S's in everyones words really stand out to be and are kind of bothersome. It seems to be softer sounds like that and also toilet paper crunching or if i rub my clothes, like that sound that makes??

Does anyone know what this could mean? It's not as if they're loud to me they just bother me so i don't think it could be hyperacusis, or could it be that starting off?

Well it depends. What do you feel, not just ''discomfort'' or ''bothersome''? Give a more detailed description. If you feel movement in your ear it could be myoclonus, levator spasms or TTTS, and if you only feel a rage in your brain it could be misophonia.

 

[Elinor]

@Newbie are you avoiding noise and isolating yourself because of your T or H?

I had severe hyperacusis back in 2012 because of a T spike from 2011. I developed H gradually because I isolated myself and avoided all kinds of noise after the spike. I wore ear plugs way too much and this made my ears hyper alerted.

I had to wear in-ear maskers that generated white noise for two years and I was strictly told to not sit in silence all day. This retrained my hearing and my H is completely gone now.

The increase in sensitivity to certain sound resembles what I had.