Over Sensitive Hearing? The volume up TOO loud? Fans drive you crazy?!?

[4cm in Pacific Northwest]

I cannot not stand the sound of fans- since my AN surgery… and consequently spend half my life walking around with a fashion statement of a florescent orange ear plug in my good ear. Air conditioning and or heating systems are the worst – for me anyway.


I have learned something new this month and a new “neurological word� for sensory overload- particularly auditory.
 
“Hyperacusis�
 
A link for those of us on auditory overload
What is Hyperacusis?
http://www.hyperacusis.net/hyperacusis/what+is+hyperacusis/default.asp

Anyway Sue from Vancouver USA- suggested I share this here ...for you-all. 

Keep moving forward!

DHM

[Lorenzo]

Ah yes, familiar with the term and the effects. Fortunately for me, the sensitivity has settled to somewhere near normal.
Ciao 

Lorenzo

[Brendalu]

I am sooooooooooo glad I am not alone in this one!  Loud noises drive me nuts and everyone thinks they have to yell and turn the TV up.  Ceiling fans have never been my friend, a/c I can deal with, (you have to in Texas)
Brenda

[saralynn143]

I can't stand the volume up on the TV, and I can't tolerate the ceiling fan on high. I have a terrible time in large spaces, especially when there are lots of different conversations. I do fine in a regular church service, but could hardly stand picking the kids up after Bible School. Same place, different noise levels.

My word recognition falls from 85% at 50dB (normal conversational level) to 64% at 75dB. The audiologist told me this is typical of hearing loss due to nerve damage. An amplifying hearing aid would do me no good. Fortunately I am functional in day-to-day activities.

Sara

[Rivergirl]

I think what bugs me is I can't figure out what the noise is and where it is coming from, thus increasing my sensitivity.

[Tumbleweed]

For awhile, I also heard distortion in my affected ear when listening to music, but thankfully this has resolved itself and doesn't happen anymore. Avoiding very loud sounds and eating a balanced diet seem to have helped, but I can't be sure if that's just coincidence.

Tumbleweed

[Jim Scott]

I noticed some slight intensity of loud sounds as my hearing degenerated.  I assumed this was due to the fact that all sound now had to enter only one ear and that would, naturally. increase sound intensity.  Being SSD, I try to protect my functioning ear when sounds become too loud. 

That noted, I can't claim to suffer from hyperacusis.  Loud sounds don't cause me pain, just some momentary discomfort, at most.  However, I can understand why having this condition could be deleterious to one's equanimity.  I'm fortunate - and grateful - that it isn't a real problem for me.  In fact, most of the time, I don't hear well enough.  That is a separate issue, I know but I wanted to mention it in order to put this hyperacusis issue in some sort of context.  However, I do sympathize with those who have to deal with it. 

Jim

[MAlegant]

This bothered me a great deal but has steadily improved since surgery.  In the first couple of weeks, when my dogs barked I cried.  Kind of Pavlovian if you think about it.
M

[thornapple]

I have a picture of myself arm in arm with a famous politician with a big old day-glo orange earplug sticking out of my ear.

I have since learned they come in beige, but I was thinking of putting sparklies on it and suspending a few bead dangles and turning it into a fashion statement. What the heck!

 

[4cm in Pacific Northwest]

LOL     

[Debbi]

Yep, I've got that hypersensitivity to noise in my hearing ear, too.  (I also have a bright pink - in support of breast cancer research - ear plug - festive!)  I asked my neurotologist about it (the sensitivity, not the ear plug) last week when I saw him and he said it was fairly common and should go away in time. He called it "recruitment" by the way...

I am constantly asking my husband to turn the volume DOWN on the TV, which we both find pretty funny since I am totally deaf in one ear!  And, when our dog barks, it is like a spear going into my ear!  Ah, isn't life grand?   

Debbi

[4cm in Pacific Northwest]

deleterious to one's equanimity.  

Jim

 

I do love Jim Scott’s contributions as he does expanded my vocabulary- tenfold... since I joined the ANA forum. 

“phuminoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanocâ€? is sooh Scotty 

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Synonym_for_loves_big_words



Ok Ok admit it people who else had to pull up Encarta (or some other dictionary  sources) to define Jim’s writing?

Don’t change Scotty- we love you as you are - our illuminative moderator. 

DHM 

[mema]

Thanks so much for the attachment on hyperacusis.  When my husband and I read it he said, " it sounds just like you".  Even the ear pain that I experience hit home.  Earplugs made the pressure in my ear worse, so I wear ear muffs, when riding my bike or going to my grandkids indoor sports.    Big brown ear muffs.   And I live in Florida.   Don't I make  a fashion statement!

mema

[Tisha]

Oh, thank you so much.  I've noticed that in the past 2 weeks this is what I have, and actually came to this board to see if everyone experiences this that has an AN.  Do you know anyone who has tried this?  I was going to ask about a hearing aid that might help, but maybe this is what I should try first?

It's bad enough knowing I have this tumor in my head...but to have the pain of sound.  I was sitting in the FR yesterday and my son was filling his glass with ice from the ice machine.  It was SO LOUD and distinct I couldn't believe it.

Tisha

[mema]

Tisha,

Every night, about 10-15 min. after I get in I get the loudest PINGGGGGGGG sound in my ear.  My hubby closing a door causes it.  A sound on the TV causes it.  Him running the bathroom sink causes it.  But the weird thing is "IT HAPPENS EVERYNIGHT"  Gee!  Sounds like a good movie title.




mema