If you have a sound sensitivity condition, certain sounds in your environment can seem unbearably loud and/or trigger an extreme reaction. This hypersensitivity can be annoying, painful and even debilitating. The two most prominent types of sound sensitivity conditions are hyperacusis and misophonia, although both are quite rare.
What Is Hyperacusis?
People with hyperacusis tend to describe it as “living with the volume turned up too high.” Regardless of the volume of the noise around them, people with hyperacusis perceive it as incredibly loud. This includes normal, everyday sounds, such as people chatting, a car engine running, the whirring of a fan or heater, water running in the faucet and many other soft sounds. With hyperacusis, these sounds reach distressingly high volumes, and this high volume can lead to anxiety, physical pain in the ear and tinnitus.
Causes of Hyperacusis
There is still much research that needs to be done to determine what can cause hyperacusis, but there are various theories. Damage to the auditory nerve or auditory complex of the brain could cause the brain to receive damaged sound information from the ears, leading to hyperacusis. Another theory is that it could be associated with the stapedius muscle, a muscle that regulates sound intensity in your ear.
Treating Hyperacusis
Because we’re still researching hyperacusis, there is no single, standard treatment for the condition. Some treatments that have been shown to help patients include:
- Sound therapy
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Tinnitus retraining therapy
- Hearing aids or other hearing devices
- Surgery
What Is Misophonia?
Where hyperacusis is triggered by noise in general, misophonia is triggered by specific sounds. The trigger sound varies from person to person, but some examples include heavy breathing, water dripping, paper rustling, chewing or a clock ticking. Misophonia is much more than being bothered by the sound of chewing; responses to trigger sounds can result in an extreme emotional response, such as rage, fear, disgust or anxiety. It may even prompt a stress response, causing an increased heartbeat, sweating, chest pressure or other “fight-or-flight” reactions.
Causes of Misophonia
Like hyperacusis, more research is needed into what causes misophonia. It has been observed that misophonia is more likely to occur alongside other mental health or neurodivergent conditions, such as bipolar disorder, OCD, ADHD or autism spectrum disorder. There is also some evidence that misophonia has a genetic component and can run in the family.
Treating Misophonia
Everyone with misophonia experiences it differently, but everyone has a trigger sound (or sounds). Treating misophonia may start with identifying what your trigger sound is and taking steps to avoid it. Psychotherapy can also be beneficial in helping you develop coping strategies to reduce the immediate emotional reaction.
If misophonia is occurring with another mental health or neurodivergent condition, seeking help for that condition may help with misophonia, as well.
Speak to a Specialist
Hyperacusis and misophonia have many similarities, but they are two distinct conditions. If you’re interested in learning more, contact SH Audiology. If you suspect you have a sound sensitivity condition or want to assess your hearing health, schedule a hearing test.