My Experience With Noise Sensitivity (Hyperacusis)

Hey guys! Decided to finally film a video all about noise sensitivity/hyperacusis. Hopefully I’ve managed to say everything I wanted to, although with brainfog it’s not easy so I’m very sorry if I’ve left stuff out!
If you want to follow me on my new Instagram page then here’s my account:
@chronicallyhannah_
Hope you’re all doing okay! Let me know if there’s any other videos you’d like to see,
Hannah xxx

[@ncf1]

23 years with severe H+T, ME... its tough. Just heard about 'Flare Calmer' ... supposed to help with Hyperacusis and Tinnitus, waiting for them to arrive.. otherwise the best thing to happen was discovering the inner world, learning meditation, because the symptoms we have kind of forces you there, and what was learnt from there has been very rewarding. You deserve tremendous applause just for dealing with such a combination of symptoms, never beat yourself up over it, waste of time.

[@djkurtstudio]

I've been a music producer and DJ for over 20 years, I've been lucky enough to make a living from it. I've had hyperacusis for 7 months now with unbearable tinnitus accompanied by numbness in my head, neck and face because it's become so sensitive to touch, feels like I've been hit over the head with a shovel. Also feels like I have electric probes attached to multiple places on my head and face, causing tremors in my entire head and face, when it gets really bad my whole body. It's literally ruined my whole life. I recently had an MRI scan on my ears (waited 6 months to be seen in UK!) but I think the scan is going to come back with nothing. I read you can get compression on one of your nerves in the top of your spine which can basically cause things like hyperacusis and my other symptoms, due to the pressure on the nerve, like upping the voltage of a battery or the water pressure in a water hose, information being sent to the brain too quickly. I believe this this is probably a common cause but overlooked because doctors are looking in the wrong place. Hope this info helps someone.

[@TheArtofCalebRoe]

I feel ya Hannah. I've been dealing with noice sensitivity for years too. It's hard not to use ear plugs. You'll have good days and bad days. Alot of it for me is paired with anxiety and elements that are out of my control. I struggle with lound sounds at work. But I'm very happy to be able to wear headphone and listen to music again. It's definitely gotten a lot better for me.

[@sylviadavis8278]

Hello, Hannah relapsing is very bad. I’ve had a horrible month, too. You seem so patient with your M.E. I’m just so glad to see you, again. Love you. 🌹🌹

[@ChronicallyHannah]

Hi Caleb! I'm sorry to hear you suffer from noise sensitivity as well, it's really tough. That's very true. That's great to hear it has gotten a lot better for you, was there anything specific that you did that made it better? :)

[@DarkArcticTV]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/sJ_Tdpadqbuiga8

[@log791]

@@sylviadavis8278 What is M. E.?

[@melissakamara4740]

Hiya! I’m so sorry you suffer from this but I’m glad you’re doing all the steps to recover! I myself suffer from this from an extremely traumatic birth.. Noises such as refrigerators, car engine, ventilators set off a trigger for me so places like large supermarkets are a problem.. when I experience these sounds I also get tinnitus flare ups. I’m hoping one day all this will change

[@helen4542]

Hi I was diagnosed with hyperacusis 2019, after suffering with symptoms for years. I was referred to audiologist and was given sound generator hearing aids, and last week had special ear moulds made by the audiologist, that fully fit in my ears and out. I also have a sound system that plays a gentle white and pink noise with full ear phones. I have to wear noise cancelling headphones in certain environments, that just look like normal head phones, the inner moulds I am waiting for. I have all the symptoms you have plus misophonia and tinnitus, it's very disabling, and my neighbours are driving me nuts, kids screaming, power tools, dogs barking and strimmers, plus builders putting gas pipes in outside the house! Use the defenders if you need them..x

[@symbolistartist]

Hm what moulds are you talking about? For sound therapy? 🤔

[@helen4542]

@@symbolistartist it was a substance that was put down in my ear to make a cast of the inside of my ear to block out sound once it has hardened it was taken to lab to be refined.

[@symbolistartist]

@@helen4542 um do you mean a custom made ear plug?🤔

[@helen4542]

@@symbolistartist yes

[@blancacasillas8226]

Helen how are you doing now?

[@fruluna1499]

Hello dear Hannah! So good to see and hear you again:-) I understand so well your noise sensitivity, how debilitating it must be, and how it effects your other symptoms as well (fatigue etc.) . The way I see it: Your autonomic nervous system is overloaded, probably happened in your cousins wedding, and now it is oversensitive and turns on the "alarm"-function in your body far too often. This is the same thing that can happen to people with anxiety etc., it is just that this is purely physical. That is probably why your doctor wanted you to gradually expose yourself to noise again and not avoid it totally; to gradually let your nervous system get used to it, and see that sound is OK and not harming you . Our nervous system is designed to protect us, but unfortunately it sometimes overreacts... Maybe you instead of seeking the actual noise can use other techniques to calm your nervous systemm and assure it that it is all right. There are many who offer this kind of help. Let me know if this resonnates with you, dear Hanna! You will get well again, I am sure! BTW: I am the mother of two who had chronic fatigue; both are 100 % well now. Our apporach has been what I explained above :-)

[@ChronicallyHannah]

Aww thank you! Wow thank for sharing this, what great information and what a great explanation! I will have to look into this more for sure. Wow that's amazing your children have fully recovered!! Did they also suffer from noise sensitivity? Was there anything else that stood out that helped with their recovery from Chronic Fatigue? Thank you so much for commenting xx

[@fruluna1499]

@@ChronicallyHannah Glad the explanation resonnated with you! My children did not suffer from noise sensitivity in particular, but hypersensitivity to any kind of sense stimuli is very common with ME /CFS, and will often cause pain and/or fatigue if your nervous system does not find equilibirum after stress/trigger/trauma. To break this response, it is nescessary to "rewire" the brain to a new automatic response, so that new and correct signals are sent to the body. I advice you to look into a programme that explains this dynamic very well, along with a lot of sucess stories from around the world. retrainingthebrain.com/ Take your time and dive into it!

[@fruluna1499]

PS: I do NOT have a commercial interest in the programme linked above, but have firsthand experience with it ;)

[@naomirichardson6315]

These earplugs are made specifically and moulded. They are musicians earplugs. So they should mean the lowest sound I hear is 25 decibels. And would reduce all other sounds too. I hear so well that I get overwhelmed with how many different sounds I can hear at once.

[@coffee1814]

I have this and I want you to know that you are not alone

[@bethanyproctor]

Same! I’ve had this condition pre COVID but now since everyone is home it’s loud and it’s making me physically sick. I live in a small apartment complex and the woman keeps hosting play dates on the property. The screaming children, talking, running, jumping, and vibrations of the running got so bad. Then a neighbor who has the tv on all day. A neighbor who’s just loud in general. I’ve also got non stop construction going on. Finally bought a sound bar and blast it all day.

[@lancebrown6051]

Is it gone now

[@symbolistartist]

Hi and thanks for sharing. I think the way audiologists view hyperacusis is very much like the GET therapy, and it just doesn’t seem to work when people have a serious neurological disorder. I myself have hEDS and chronic fatigue is a part of my issues. Like so many of us, I’ve just accepted that I have to protect my ears when I go out and that’s the price for going out at all. Needless to say, I’m not keen at all. I’m getting worse and worse so not about to push it, but rather treat it like I treat my body in general (pacing etc). Rest is not an overrated commodity. By the way when you say hearing aids I assume you mean sound therapy generators. I use Bose noise cancelling headphones as those ear buds don’t fit and make awkward noises (at least one I tried). Good luck and be sure to join the community e.g hyperacusis central.

[@ernietorres182]

I have mild hyperacusis. Only bothersome when people talk very loudly. I also have tinnitus in my right ear. I hear your brain adjusts to the loud noise and goes back to normal with time.

[@Josejulio-zf1ic]

Dios te escuché hermano

[@sylviadavis8278]

🌿🌿Yes, I have noise sensitivity and light sensitivity. I stay away from people talking over people, in restaurants and any place where the noise is TOO MUCH to tolerate. Some days are worse. I have come to the conclusion to stop feeling bad about my M.E. However, it’s still shitty to have this crap. I’m with you all the way. You must always be yourself. I have missed you. I have to move and I’ll pay for every second of it. I will let you know how that goes. Stay away from COVID-19. I could talk all night, just know that I’m going through all the same things. Sometimes, I get furious but it only stresses me out more. My own family don’t believe me. Hanna, we are special people. TTYL 💕

[@ChronicallyHannah]

Hello Sylvia, long time no see! I'm sorry to hear you also suffer with noise sensitivity, as well as light- that must be super tough. Wow that's great you've come to that conclusion, I should try and do the same! Hope the move is as gentle on you as it can be, yes please let me know how it goes! Oh that's awful, I'm so sorry to hear they don't believe you Sylvia, Just know that there are people who do, including myself! Thanks so much for commenting, Sending love and hugs xx

[@naomirichardson6315]

Yes, I am sensitive to noise and artificial light. I got a hearing test and was recommended noise reducing earplugs. I am looking forward to trying these. Wire coathangers clanging togethor...

[@lgraham4hp]

How are u doing now

[@bob_the_biker]

Hi Hannah, it’s frustrating isn’t it! I have Hyperacusis and Tinnitus, many sounds cause me pain and my Tinnitus to spike which can take 48hours to come back to a manageable level. I try not to use ear plugs as they don’t help in the long term, just have to try and relax and deal with it. I hope yours improves over time.

[@georgiannaheimerl5338]

Hi Hanna Thanks for sharing your story about your sensitivity to noise.I can relate. I have had the same symptoms as u experience for 9 years now. I cope with listening to 🎶🎶on my Bose Noise canceling 🎧 or listening to music on the 📺 That all helps me cope. I wish you well. Georgi

[@DarkArcticTV]

ive had hyperacusis for 3 years its been getting moderately better, pink noise helps

[@CharlizeWilder22]

What is pink noise? I suffer from hyperacusis and I really want to help myself! And do you think staying away from noise places or headphone use worked?

[@Adamantaimai]

How loud do the pink noise needs to be?

[@RunsWithCamera22]

Hi Hanna, this was a lovely video. I think a lot of people will see it and know that they are not alone. I have found the best information for hyperacusis to be at hyperacusis.net. I live in America and I have a daughter who developed Severe Hyperacusis at the age of 10. Now she is 17. She went through a "raw" stage where very quiet sounds like the buzz of lights, water in pipes, people breathing in the same room, moving her head on a pillow, etc were all too loud. Sound is everywhere so there was very little relief. At the age of 12 she started to show signs of Marfan Syndrome or connective tissue disorder. Now at 17 she has fatigue and chest pains. My hypothesis is that her loose connective tissue has made her middle ear as loose as the rest of her. Her little ear bones might move more and therefore increase sound. But that is just my hypothesis. We have found it easier just to accept a sound sensitive lifestyle. We've had to come up with a system for doing everything. My advice for anyone with sound sensitivity is to not hesitate to make changes. Folks need to know that it is not all in their head, there is often a physical explanation that may be very hard to find. We also try to do things have a really healthy diet and let my daughter follow her own sleep cycle. For entertainment she like to read and play on her ipad. Her sister is trying to get her to join online D-and-D. Having a pet also helps. I hope you find little moments of relief and know that you are not alone. Thanks for the video!

[@symbolistartist]

I have hEDS too. I believe my pain hyperacusis is a neurological condition.

[@JackCh91]

The best advice I think I’ve seen throughout most ‘success’ stories on KZbin, is to not be afraid of sound, because even though you’re sensitive, it won’t damage your ears, and not shy away from the sounds, in fact, expose yourself to the sounds you normally would have done before you had H, at a safe level of course, and only use ear protection when needed, such as concerts, heavy tools etc... and let your ears adjust again, obviously the beginning will be tough, but the only success I see in these videos is from people who do that, and over the months, it improves.

[@DarkArcticTV]

stop spreading harmful myths please

[@symbolistartist]

Most people will disagree with this advice, we are sick people, not robots!!

[@JackCh91]

@@symbolistartist I’m just saying what worked for me, a year and half on and my ears don’t bother me 95% of the time.

[@symbolistartist]

@@JackCh91 if you’ve listened to other people then you should know that this is rubbish advice for most people with severe pain hyperacusis. People have killed themselves because doctors kept pushing them to endure noise without protection. Maybe yours just got better over time.

[@blancacasillas8226]

Updated video please 🙏

[@inspirebygarima9723]

Hi i.am from inidia.iove ur noise i want one advise i never use ear plugs i only use cotton but is it good and i am taking pink therepy and i have done one mistake today that i shoted strongly and i am feeling sone worsenning of symptoms after that do u have some advise how can i heal. It

[@bluewave8212]

do you have light sensitivity too? do you wear an eye mask alot?

[@debbykownacki1146]

I’ve been suffering with this since I was a child. I’m 61 years old now and still suffer from it. It’s horrible!

[@swapnilbhat2929]

I have hyperacusis

[@CharlizeWilder22]

Hey! I struggle with noise sensitivity and it really brings me down. I have a few questions since it's such a rare condition. Firstly, do you have it in both ears? (I only have it in one), do you think headphone use caused your hyperacusis (or was it something else?). When you hear REALLY loud noise do you hear a crackling sound? I hear a really irritating crackling sound in my right ear above a certain pitch. Do you think not using headphones would help it not worsen? I'm not sure what caused my noise sensitivity & I wonder if it was headphone use or natural. And do you think your noise sensitivity got worse over time naturally, or from headphones/constant loud noise? Mine has gotten worse and I'm not sure why. How old were you when you realized you had it? I'm only 18 & have severe noise sensitivity. It brings me a lot of comfort knowing somebody else has it & it would be great if you could answer some of my questions. Thanks.

[@symbolistartist]

Go easy on your ears. Some of us are more prone to neurological injury and pain conditions. I wouldn’t push it. Look it up on the internet.

[@DarkArcticTV]

also im sorry to break it to you that the "dont wear ear defender" stuff is a myth

[@swapnilbhat2929]

Have you done mri

[@5rd5rd5rd]

airpods pro saved my life