confused

[Tinker2015]

after my appointment with the ENT doctor I am being referred for tinnitus therapy. Got to have a CT scan. Also a balance test as I get issues with that. I have hyperacausis also I think I might have reactive Tinnitus as this sound gets really loud at times . Everything seems loud to me but was told by ENT person do not put ear plugs in your ears. I feel like blocking all sound out but can’t as I believe it can worsen it. I have gone from hardly hearing the TV to turning it down. Problem is the Tinnitus gets so loud for tv to hear.

[TinnitusUKPat Partner]

Wearing earplugs if you have hyperacusis is felt to be counter-productive as it increases the sensitivity level of someone who is already experiencing sounds as louder than they are, so that's something to take into consideration.

I'm sure that people in the hyperacusis community will beg to differ with me on this, and I accept their lived experience and difficulties are valid, but my understanding would be that it's difficult to build up a level of sound tolerance if someone views sound as inherently harmful or disruptive.

Perhaps our monthly tinnitus and sound sensitivity support group might be helpful - eventbrite.co.uk/e/tinnitus...