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Supersensitive To Sounds
(c) 2002 by Neil Bauman, Ph. D. (neil@hearinglosshelp.com,
www.hearinglosshelp.com)
There are four different conditions that all can have similar
characteristics--normal sounds are TOO LOUD to stand. Sometimes it can be
difficult to tell these conditions apart, namely: 1. hyperacute hearing, 2.
hyperacusis, 3. recruitment and 4. phonophobia.
1. Hyperacute hearing: This is a rare condition where a person can hear certain
sounds at a much softer volume than a person with normal hearing.
Therefore, if these sounds are even of moderate loudness, they can seem
very loud if you have hyperacute hearing at that frequency.
2. Hyperacusis: This is a condition where a person perceives ALL normal sounds
as too loud. Most people with hyperacusis have normal hearing. Hypecacusis can
be brought on by trauma to the head, excessive noise and certain drugs.
Hyperacusis does not have anything to do with hearing loss.
3. Recruitment: This condition is ALWAYS a by-product of a sensorineural
hearing loss. (If you don't have a hearing loss, you can't have recruitment.) A
person with recruitment perceives volume increases much faster than the actual
volume increase. As a result, sounds rapidly become too loud to stand. A hard of
hearing person may have both recruitment and hyperacusis at the same time.
4. Phonophobia: This is a mental condition where people become or are afraid of
certain sounds that they associate with "bad things". As a result, they perceive
these sounds as much louder than they really are.
Disturbances
Of Loudness Perception
Hyperacusis
HelpNet
Hyperacusis Network
Hyperacusis Speculations
Based on "Tinnitus -- New Hope for a Cure"
Hyperacusis:
When Sound Hurts
Introduction to
Hyperacusis
Is
Central Hyperacusis A Symptom Of 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) Dysfunction?
Loudness Recruitment and Hearing Aids
Recruitment
Explained
Tell Me About "Alternative
Therapies"
The Hyperacusis Network
444 Edgewood Drive
Green Bay, Wisconsin 54302-4873
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