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Why Are Hyperacusis Sufferers Such a Small Minority?

What makes you think I don't use ear plugs?
Well if you do, I take my statement back then. I only mentioned it is because I've talked to tons of hyperacusis guys, and they were able to return to almost a normal life with some modification, like extensive use of earplugs. Me and some unlucky people use both protection and still not get better.
 
Many people with pain-hyperacusis can't work or do other normal everyday activities even with hearing protection because they'd experience (severe) setbacks. Also, depending on how loud someone's tinnitus is or how severe their hearing loss is, they aren't able to understand other people while wearing earplugs and/or earmuffs.
Yeah, this is very individual. I could more or less function with severe hyperacusis, this is not to say I could go to a very loud cafe, or be around traffic for a stroll, but I could do a lot of things, I just put up with the pain and as a result over the years developed some hearing loss.
 
Well if you do, I take my statement back then. I only mentioned it is because I've talked to tons of hyperacusis guys, and they were able to return to almost a normal life with some modification, like extensive use of earplugs. Me and some unlucky people use both protection and still not get better.
Ear plugs irritate my ear canals and if I wear them too long my ears start to ache even more. They also make my tinnitus sound absolutely terrible.

I also worry about getting an ear infection from sticking stuff in my ears all the time.

The entire idea of having hyperacusis and tinnitus at my age just make me so depressed that to be honest I have little desire to "return to a normal life" at the moment.
 
Unfortunately until the right/wrong person is personally affected by hyperacusis we won't stop being a minority. Those handling the purse strings have to figuratively be punched in the eye to see the distress and anguish caused by hyperacusis before change of attitude and priority occurs.
 
My hyperacusis was mostly gone after about two years. It is my understanding that this is very common and that hyperacusis goes away more often than tinnitus.
 
My experience had been different. Tinnitus is 24/7 (and that's the worst thing about it), whereas you are aware of your hyperacusis only when you are around sounds.
I think there are more changes one must make to their lifestyle when they have hyperacusis. For me I'm not only aware of it when there is sound. It is on my mind constantly and I'm always worried about what loud sound is around the corner. Crowded places with loud music are pretty much a no go at the moment (and these types of places are surprisingly common once you start being aware of it). It makes having a social life very difficult at my age.

I also don't really have the option of masking my tinnitus as it either the external noise is too loud and aggravating, it sounds distorted and has a weird whistle tone, or causes my hissing tone to hiss even louder.

Both definitely suck, but having hyperacusis in addition to tinnitus is an absolute miserable experience.
 
Both definitely suck, but having hyperacusis in addition to tinnitus is an absolute miserable experience.
Your hyperacusis might cause you to behave in such a way that you will be more likely to have both your tinnitus and your hyperacusis go away...
 
Your hyperacusis might cause you to behave in such a way that you will be more likely to have both your tinnitus and your hyperacusis go away...
So far I have yet to see a single post about someone who has had their tinnitus go away along with their hyperacusis. I'm okay with some tinnitus lingering, I just want my ears to stop burning and the world to stop sounding so loud and bothering my ears.
 
So far I have yet to see a single post about someone who has had their tinnitus go away along with their hyperacusis. I'm okay with some tinnitus lingering, I just want my ears to stop burning and the world to stop sounding so loud and bothering my ears.
Whenever someone reports that their tinnitus is gone, I ask them whether they can still hear it in a quiet room (to determine whether their tinnitus is actually 100% gone). Check out the search results below. When you click on each of the text links there, you will see my question. Scroll down to see their answer.
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/search/4077923/?q=quiet+room+earplugs+

As you can see, there are many people who end up feeling better.
 
I as well have tinnitus combined with hyperacusis. I am most sensitive to the HARSH frequencies. Think of two metal spoons hitting one another. If I listen to too much of this, I develop migraines that has once lead to vomiting. I contemplated heading to the ER in the middle of the night. It was the worst migraine I had ever experienced.
 
I as well have tinnitus combined with hyperacusis. I am most sensitive to the HARSH frequencies. Think of two metal spoons hitting one another. If I listen to too much of this, I develop migraines that has once lead to vomiting. I contemplated heading to the ER in the middle of the night. It was the worst migraine I had ever experienced.
It's crazy. As my hyperacusis has eased, I can now cope with many things again, like traffic noise, much of the rock music I used to enjoy etc. But the kitchen remains a danger zone.
 
It's crazy. As my hyperacusis has eased, I can now cope with many things again, like traffic noise, much of the rock music I used to enjoy etc. But the kitchen remains a danger zone.
How long did it take for your hyperacusis to get to that point? Pain or loudness hyperacusis?
 
How long did it take for your hyperacusis to get to that point? Pain or loudness hyperacusis?
Loudness. I rarely get pain unless in a loud environment for a prolonged period. I can still get a feeling of fullness from loud sudden noises.

I started to notice improvements after 6 months of life-altering symptoms. Between 6 months and 18 months things have continued to ease. My tinnitus can still be as loud but it's down to maybe 1 loud day a week instead of 3.
 
Loudness. I rarely get pain unless in a loud environment for a prolonged period. I can still get a feeling of fullness from loud sudden noises.

I started to notice improvements after 6 months of life-altering symptoms. Between 6 months and 18 months things have continued to ease. My tinnitus can still be as loud but it's down to maybe 1 loud day a week instead of 3.
Ah yeah, figured most of the success stories come from loudness cases.
 
Ah yeah, figured most of the success stories come from loudness cases.
I can still experience something like a painful jab from very loud sharp sounds. When people talk about pain vs loudness hyperacusis, isn't it just a matter of degrees? Or do you think they are two completely different pathologies?

I'll only consider my case to be a true success story if I am able to return to live music again, both making it and listening to it. Of course there has been little opportunity in 2020 to put that to the test, but perhaps that's not such a bad thing for us.
 
I can still experience something like a painful jab from very loud sharp sounds. When people talk about pain vs loudness hyperacusis, isn't it just a matter of degrees? Or do you think they are two completely different pathologies?

I'll only consider my case to be a true success story if I am able to return to live music again, both making it and listening to it. Of course there has been little opportunity in 2020 to put that to the test, but perhaps that's not such a bad thing for us.
Same dude, I have aspirations of being a musician with pain hyperacusis. Hopefully after regenerative medicine and channel blockers.
 
I can still experience something like a painful jab from very loud sharp sounds. When people talk about pain vs loudness hyperacusis, isn't it just a matter of degrees? Or do you think they are two completely different pathologies?

I'll only consider my case to be a true success story if I am able to return to live music again, both making it and listening to it. Of course there has been little opportunity in 2020 to put that to the test, but perhaps that's not such a bad thing for us.
Nothing sounds louder to me now than before I got hyperacusis and tinnitus (okay I experienced it very rarely, but 99,9% of the time it doesn't sound louder) sounds "just" gives me pain in my ears now. So yes, I'd say there are definitely different kinds.
 
With this stuff I don't think it's a matter of "healing" but rather turning a portion of it off, or switching it back to normal, which isn't likely to happen on its own :/
We'll either need cochlear regeneration or channel blockers and anti-inflammatories while we're waiting for the true fix (FX-322, OTO-413).
 
They aren't. US military suicides go unreported and depression alone gets all the blame.
 
They aren't. US military suicides go unreported and depression alone gets all the blame.
Besides those who join the military and/or are around explosions, loud aircrafts and guns. Not to say they deserve it either but my point is with how noisy the world is these days, it's insane how rare it is to have crippling tinnitus and hyperacusis.
 

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