Struggling to Distinguish Normal vs. Harmful Sounds with Hyperacusis

[parmesean225]

Hey guys, this is my first post here.

I've been dealing with hyperacusis and tinnitus in both ears for four years now. I've had two hearing tests, and no hearing loss was found.

I'm struggling to differentiate between normal loud sounds and those that might be too loud. Because of my hyperacusis, I can't tell anymore.

At work today, I was closing a metal gate when it let out a split-second high-pitched screech. It made my right ear feel full. Are my ears okay, or is this just a reaction from my hyperacusis?

 

[trevl]

A very common comment on this and other forums is: "I have tinnitus, but my hearing tests show no hearing loss."

Hearing aid tests typically measure only six frequencies, and the dB-HL algorithm, which is commonly used, down-weights both high and low frequency responses. Other algorithms, such as dBA, likely do the same. Do not expect a hearing aid test to reveal hearing loss accurately. With so few data points spread across a 10,000 Hz range, too much information is missed. The results will usually show a more or less straight line—perhaps with a trend, but nothing particularly obvious.

For a more precise measurement, you should test your hearing at 250 Hz increments, covering a range from 250 Hz up to 10,000 Hz or more, depending on what you think you may need.

Environmental protection agencies in various countries provide workplace guidelines for acceptable noise levels, including both decibel values and duration limits. Duration is one of the key factors contributing to hearing loss. Two audiologists I have spoken with have stated that any sound above 70 dB is damaging to your ears. That means environments such as shopping malls, busy roads, machinery, kitchen devices, driving certain vehicles, and even wind in trees can be harmful. Therefore, you should wear earplugs or noise-canceling earbuds in these situations.

Regarding the gate operation, your right ear was likely reacting to the frequency and volume of the noise. You asked whether your ears are okay. If it was only your right ear reacting to the gate noise and not your left, then your right ear may have damage in the frequency range that the gate produced.

Since you could hear the sound, there are two possible explanations:

a) You are not deaf but may have some deficiency in that frequency range.
b) You have significant hearing loss in that range, and other cells—still functioning well in different frequencies—are being recruited to compensate. This recruitment process can cause ear pain.