Hyperacusis is a rare neurological disease affecting one in every 50,000 people. The brain fires electrical signals or impulses in response to various stimulae. If these impulses are altered in any way, it can result in brain malfunctions such as epilepsy. Hyperacusis is thought to occur from a similar malfunction.
Symptoms
The first symptom is usually a collapsed tolerance of sound. Every day sounds such as the washing machine, the lawn mower and the radio become uncomfortable and painful to listen to. Even ordinary speech can hurt and the sound of a baby crying may be unbearable in some sufferer's. Along with the collapsed tolerance is severe earache, reddening of the ear lobes and sometimes neck and head pain. The head pain is not the same as a headache and feels similar in sharpness to the ear pain. It occurs at the lower back of the head.
The pain is usually constant in nature but can be made worse by various noisy activities like vacuum cleaning. Depending on the severity of the condition, it may keep the sufferer awake at night or be too painful to lie on his or her side due to leaning on the ear lobe.
There may be accompanying tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and hearing loss, but most sufferer's find their hearing is in the normal range.
Many activities people take for granted such as watching TV, going to a disco or bar, going to restaurants or even answering the phone may be impossible or very difficult. Therefore many sufferers have to change their jobs or seek disability benefits.
If left untreated it can persist for years. It is a complex medical condition that takes time to correct, but with the right help, you can recover.
What Causes Hyperacusis?
There are a number of causes including:
- Brain injury - normally the result of trauma such as a car accident or fall
- Brain injury or neurological damage caused by viruses, bacteria or toxins
- Sudden loud noise, such as from a drill
- Adverse drug reactions.
How Is Hyperacusis Diagnosed?
You will need to see your family physician to rule out other possibilities such as ear infection. He will then refer you to an ENT specialist (ear, nose and throat doctor). You will be examined and will undergo hearing tests and a full medical history will be taken.
What Treatments Are There?
'Pink noise' therapy is the main therapy doctors will offer you. Pink noise is varying pitches of sound emitted simultaneously through a device which looks identical to a hearing aid. It sounds very similar to radio interference. You would wear it for a period of time until your sound tolerance increases. It works by gently re-training the brain to interpret sound correctly. You may need to wear it long term depending on the severity of your condition.
Some people are given anti-inflammatory medications which may relieve pain.
Self-help measures can be used such as putting a hot lavender wheat bag around the neck and ears to ease pain or using ice packs. Vitamin supplements support the immune system. Sleeping on hot water bottles and even putting heat lotion on the neck may relieve symptoms.
You can also block your ears with ear plugs to make sound more bearable (although this may aggravate the condition in the long term).
Most importantly, do not suffer alone! Tell your doctor. The sooner you are diagnosed, the sooner you can get treatment.
 |
