Sensitive to normal sounds: Hi. I'm finding that... - Tinnitus UK

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Sensitive to normal sounds

Andy0708 profile image
9 Replies

Hi. I'm finding that I'm becoming sensitive to sound. Has anyone else experienced this ? I am frightened and don't know what to do.

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Andy0708 profile image
Andy0708
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9 Replies

You could have Hyperacusis /sensitivity to everyday sounds that comes along with or with out tinnitus.

Wearing ear plugs can cause it if wear them to much around everyday sounds as only need them above 80db.

Building time up around the sounds slowly will help and don't give it any emotional response and think your in control and walk away calmly.

Don't avoid the sound as will become a phobia.

In sever cases white noise generators and TRT treatment or CBT can help .

Sounds like the tv,dishes clattering the sound of your own voice and other things seem to trigger ears feeling uncomfortable or hurt a little and make you wince and cause anxiety and panic.

Their is help so stay calm and relaxed as you can.....lots of love glynis

Andy0708 profile image
Andy0708 in reply to

Thanks Glynis. Your advice is much appreciated. It seems to fluctuate throughout the day for no apparent reason. Sometimes I am ok with a sound then later in the day it will "go right through me".

I'm avoiding wearing earplugs as I've read that this will make matters worse.

I'm astonished how some people in this forum have kept going for so long with such an affliction. It gives me hope.

found the same early on last month Andy, i think part of it was that sound was causing me to re think what was going on so i then started focusing on each sound, kinda became fixated on sound. What i realised is that you gotta some how just relax a bit - not so easy to do i walked to the park for fresh air that was a blessing being around some silent trees awesome, nature really just reminding me, BUT when back in the house same old same as vibration and noise .. honestly i guess we all just gotta find what works for us individually but anxiety can be controlled and from what i have experienced fear was the catalyst for me being worried of course made me anxious, hope this helps in that you realise your not alone on this one .. cups of tea seemed a big plus also and i hope mate your not sitting in aroom all day if so get out even for 5 mins each few hours it does wonders and then a cuppa tea even better.

Hi Andy, I find I'm sensitive to sound especially loud sounds like ambulances, police cars & such like, it actually hurts my ears!

Hi Andy and all

Not been about lately, but I thought that I would reply to Andy0708.

You say about being sensitive to sound, and does anyone else experience it.

I do, but I do not avoid things I carry on as I did before the T days. Not sure what it is though but every time I wake I can hear what is like a distance machine or car running constant, even when we go away in the caravan its there, it's either a coincidence that there's a machine or something near by or it really must be me , my hearing is really sensitive but with T whistling round I cannot hear even an owl unless I put my head out of the caravan.

I was frightened and still don't know what to do but I've sort of got used to it now, its something I have to live with by my self because no one else can hear what I'm going through.

Your In the right place being here Andy

NicBTA profile image
NicBTAPartner

Hello Andy and welcome.

Some people with tinnitus do have a sensitivity to sounds - it's called hyperacusis and it's not unusual. We have written an information sheet about it, and you can find it at tinnitus.org.uk/hyperacusis.

Andy0708 profile image
Andy0708 in reply to NicBTA

Thanks for the information. Much appreciated.

blaze53 profile image
blaze53

Hyperacusis ! I've had this for over 20 years but it got worse after I visited a dentist who used a drill on my teeth in 2014. Furthermore, after a recent hearing test on the NHS I started to experience Tinnitus like sounds afterwards. This in turn, developed into Tinnitus. It works like this, people who are sensitive to external sounds easily imprint whatever sound they are exposed to and through time this gets worse. The best thing you can do is avoid loud noise where possible, carry ear plugs with you if needs be. Hyperacusis can sometimes give you very strange sounds, for example, listening to a storm near woodland you pick up all kinds of sounds: roaring, screaming, howling and whistling because the wind is is bashing into the trees, from one tree to another creating a cascade of weird sounds that sound unnatural but are very disturbing unless you know what is going on. At times the sounds resemble Tinnitus, you don't want both ? Look after your ears. best wishes. P.s. Earplugs are o.k. for hyperacusis I find. But it is pointless for Tinnitus. Though I don't wear ear plugs for very long.

Be careful if your sent for a MRI scan for longer than 15 minutes, the scan is mega loud as I've found yesterday.

One thing I have found is that loud noises hurt, especially sirens, loud ringing telephones, have to cover my ears.

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