r/hyperacusis

After a gruelling 10-month battle with sound sensitivity following an unfortunate acoustic trauma, I've decided to try medication. Tried CBT and sound therapy before. It only helped a little.

Finally decided to try medication. On my 4th week of amitriptyline now. Increasing dose by 10mg each week as per neurologist's recommendation. So currently on 40mg.

I started seeing effects last week at about 30mg. Sounds that used to bother me didn't bother me anymore e.g. cars driving past while I'm walking, sound of cutlery, people talking next to me.

I've also been able to tolerate silence a lot better. Before, I would need pink noise playing in the background constantly whenever I'm in a quiet room.

Looking forward to keeping up with titration. I'm starting to become confident that I can make a full recovery within the next year.

On July 1, a new law in Virginia for open captions (on-screen subtitles) went into effect. This law requires all theaters in Virginia with five or more locations (i.e., AMC, Regal, Cinemark, and Alamo Drafthouse) to offer limited regular open caption screenings. Theaters with less than five locations in Virginia have to offer an open caption screening within eight days of receiving a request. Since many people with noise sensitivity benefit from open captions this means that Virginia residents who are noise sensitive who need or want captions now have two legally protected options for seeing movies in a theater: the open captions, or using closed captioning devices.

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Hi, I have temporary hyperacusis. Still planning to double up for the holiday, but my concern is afterwards: do I get to go to bed or do I need to stay awake to recalibrate my ear to sound? How would I do that? Good luck to all.

I've recently developed what seems to be mild dysacusis in my right ear. Currently only overtones, no distortions, but it reacts to quite a lot. Hours go by where it doesn't trigger at all, then the next it triggers non stop. I've been protecting that ear since this happened and avoiding sound seems to be the best way to keep it down and I'm hoping, praying eventually it'll go away/not be noticable. Does anyone have any advice?

I’ve had noxacusis for 13 months now. My symptoms have only gotten worse. I try to protect as much as I can but I have to work in order to pay bills and keep a livelihood. I’ve tried many tmj treatments because my jaw does feel off and makes a crunching sound with movement, and if something is chewy enough it does cause pain in my ear. I’ve tried physical therapy, Botox injections, and a night guard, all of which have not provided even the slightest bit of relief. I feel lost and hopeless dealing with this and not working is not an option for me. I’m not sure how much longer I can continue living like this. The pain is so bad I find myself in tears most days at work and when I come home I immediately go into silence. I’m also taking pregabalin which I’ve been on for about 3 weeks now that hasn’t provided relief in the slightest so I’m going to slowly stop taking it as it is pointless to continue. I’m scared and idk what to do. My life feels over and there’s no end to this pain I’m in.

I have had misophonia in a result of trauma according to a team of doctors when I was admitted in the psych ward for manic and disassociative episodes.

Just for the context I'm 19 a Pakistani guy with many other health issues currently doing through with hyperthyroidism liver issues and gallbladder infection so living alone or on my own is kind of impossible. I don't have friends s etc due to the biggest turning point of my life so that's a factor too. Anyways

I used to make some sounds as a kid like eating with my mouth open so chewing sound slurping while drinking tea and other drinks etc and was slapped and other kind of physical and emotional abuse in the name of teaching basic manners. Mind you I was no older than 5 or 6 years old at the time I don't feel safe and gets into fight or flight and it's bad specially as the abuser my dad specially now make that noise on purpose knowing I have misophonia very well and then judges me based on my reactions and saying pretty mean stuff like I hate him and I'll be happy when he dies and I hate how he looks and I'm a freak a cow who's never been healthy his whole life and will spend my life being sick too stuff like that. which are not in my control even right now while writing this I'm hearing these sounds and the only this helping me rn is write this. I have to wear earbuds constantly and play something and I'm sick of sounds now. It's like I don't even feel safe as soon as he enters in the same room as me even when I'm sleeping if he comes I suddenly wakes up. It's like my body is constantly watching for him or can feel his presence. Yesterday had an appointment with my psychiatrist and psychologist and they said if things continue like this I'm looking at serious personality disorders etc my medication of SSRIs and other meds have increased to maximum of their dosage I'm no longer suicidal tho as I was stuck in a situation I can't get out of I mean still am not bit suicidal altho I have some good days some bad days. Due to meds and everything I'm unable to study can't think or do or understand it which has taken a toal on me gained a lot of weight which according to doctors is due to meds but being alive is better than looking fat so that's that can't fall asleep without meds and I'm in constant state of like it's like I'm drunk and fully intoxicated but knows what am I doing like a bad hungover I guess idk but feels that way the doctors says after these high dose they can't do anything but put in back in psych until I get totally healthy then I go live in some place else and work and feel like this is a plan but my insurance that I own won't cover many things if I get admitted and I would have to pay for some stuff out of pocket and the money I saved up from doing the freelance performance marketing and ai automations is running out now he also won't help out financially can't let me buy new clothes or shoes etc even tho I need new stuff because of weight gain his excuse in don't go out why need new clothes. Mom stays silent mostly she says me to control my a ger it's ok time will pass or I should try to be good etc while kills me more as she knows and yet supports him I asked and she said me and him is making her choose one side and it's hard and I get it and understand so don't tell her to do stuff too. My doctors says my dad need intense therapy for his narcissistic behavior etc he refuses amd says he's totally fine and normal have a job and community I'm the lonely freak and should be the one getting treatment and I am he made me guilty to the level that even asking for basic necessities makes me guilty and feel like burden like I feel shutty asking him for money for meds most of the time I pay it myself and meds are expensive asf. I have my own room with no privacy constantly coming in walking around my room making sounds leaving the door open mumbling about close doors etc idk how long can I live like this. He's in intelligence so I Wana go abroad but it's super expensive I'm gonna try apply for scholarships after my a levels and try my best to get out of this country and them. But for not this seems impossible. Also if you say atleast he pays for tuition or education no I was the one paying tuition but since stopped working was unable to and now homeschooling teaching myself using chatgpt and notebooklm.

I kinda feel a little better now saying that all out and I didn't cried this time

I've been noticing from a past few days mom has been acting aggressively towards me too like she knows about my health and rn she said she's tired and told em to cook something for breakfast for her I told her that I can't even move due to the sever bodyaches and now getiti fthr silent treatment.

I don’t wanna be dependent on bipolar drugs from the rest of my life. I was on seroquel for like two months and it helped the nox but I just feel like a bitch on bipolar meds and adhd meds

i wear earplugs and earmuffs and my ears still hurt when i leave the theater. the next morning the ringing feels even louder

Hi everyone,

I’ve had severely clogged ears for 3+ weeks due to sinus issues and I’m too scared to take anything to drain out the fluid. I haven’t been able to breathe properly for around a month, and my ears are so clogged that I can see some sort of gunk just by looking inside them. I don’t know exactly what it is. I see yellow/orange wax, but there is also a huge blob of white-ish matter in there as well.

I have extremely severe ocd/anxiety and I don’t leave my house. Should I force myself to leave and see if a dr can clean out my ears before the 4th of July fireworks start? My Peltors don’t block much sound, partially because I’ve worn them too much and my head is literally pushed in around my ears and they don’t fit tightly anymore.

I don’t know how to handle the anxiety from all of this. The fact that this all happened because I used a fan that I probably didn’t need and stupidly pointed it directly at my face is so absurd. I will never forgive myself. Now I have to see if riding in a car with just muffs and trying to talk to a dr without plugs is going to be worth it.

I’ve done micro suction and water irrigation on two different occasions and I don’t think I’d feel comfortable doing those again. I don’t even know if the primary care drs I would go to offer manual cleaning, and if the gunk is a slime like texture then it might be difficult to scrape out.

I’m at a loss and any help is greatly appreciated. If I could put plugs in, I wouldn’t be as worried. Thanks again.

Anyone have issues with muscle spasms/muscle rigidity? My noxacusis was brought on by LSD which caused waves of painful muscle spasms in my whole body until my ears started hurting and have had it since though somewhat less severe but still very limited.

I have non length dependent small fiber neuropathy, EDS, myopathy and big issues with my muscles. My muscles gets very rigid after very little exertion. There is def a link to my pain hyperacusis/noxacusis and muscle spasms/rigidity. I also got muscle spasms from microdosing it.

Anyone else? Thoughts?

After my car accident a few months ago I got a concussion, and ever since I've been really sensitive to sound. So I wear earplugs basically everywhere I go now, but mostly at social events and parties. They help but the one thing I can't get past is how they look. I feel self-conscious about them sticking out of my ears, like I'm visibly "the person with the earplugs." Do people ever skip wearing them because of how they look?

Last problem i have, ttts gone, hyperacusis gone. Only thing i have is reactive. Yet i cant find anything on what to do about it. Been having it for 1.5 year. It did go down a little, its super random. Some days it reacts to everything sometimes it reacts a lot less. Same sound can be reactive one day other not. I do also suffer from floaters which i also see often but not all the times also fluctuates a lot and light sensitivity sometimes....

Also when its super reactive it also reacts to movements etc a lot... It feels like Sensory overload issues too?

After a longer shower my ears get loud buzzing and red hot and i feel them for like 20 min. Also the tinnitus fluctuates so much in loudness from 3/10 to 7/10 in hours.. any tips? Im going to a neurotologist

I’m 22 years old. I’ve had severe hyperacusis for about 2 years now with LDLs in the 50s or high 40s. I have reactive/unstable tinnitus, dysacusis, and sometimes mild noxacusis.

I am not officially diagnosed and I am afraid it might now be impossible to get a diagnosis.

About a month prior I had visited an ENT who wanted to order a suction cleaning of my ears, followed by an eventual audio test, and then an fMRI. I can barely use a q-tip as is, so literally any of these things will destroy me. I have been fucked up by far less for months on end.

The problem now is that I obviously can’t work a job and I depend on food stamps, which will be taken away soon if I don’t do something, but I don’t know what to do. I can only hope that I can get a very understanding audiologist/ENT that would skip straight to the audio test and just give me what I want, but I know the chances of that are basically 0.

I had an acoustic trauma 18 months ago that resulted in mild to moderate hearing loss, H, TTTS, T, hearing distortions and Diplacusis (different tones between the ears)

Every second of every day has been a living hell. I’ve seen ENT on many occasions with little help (except hearing aids that just amplify the distortions) my hearing experience is a lot worse then my audiograms suggests due to the distortions, I’ve lost hope my hearing experience will ever improve and I know my time is running out. I can’t listen to music, watch TV etc because the sound is so distorted and can cause pain.

I’ve explained all this to my wife but she doesn’t get it, I suppose nobody can unless you experience these terrible hearing conditions. I’m in a really dark place and have been for the last year. The first few months I held on to the hope that it was still early and things could change, but as the months have rolled on with no improvement the pressure, panic and depression has kept escalating. Im a shell of my former self, and its not fair on those around me

People don’t get it, I wouldn’t of 2 years ago, they think other people live with much worse than us, and carry on but they don’t understand the incredible mental toll these hearing issues have on you. The “professionals” offer little to no advice (which is soul destroying in itself) and you are left to endure every second in fear, alone.

I desperately want to continue, I have a great wife and 2 amazing kids, my parents, sister etc, even the thought destroys me, but I don’t know I can live this life long term

I wouldn’t want to be remembered as someone that gave up easily because people don’t understand what hearing issues can do to the brain, isolation, fear, anxiety, depression l. I wouldn’t want to be remembered as someone that gave up on his family easily

I’m sorry if this post is dark, but this is weighing incredibly heavy, it’s completely consumed me

I’d appreciate any opinions, advice, or just someone that can relate

Thanks for reading

i feel like i am in depression because of a bad breakup and some life issues, and since last few weeks my ears have gotten really sensitive and it hurts when someone opens door, watches reel around me, the tiny sound of kitchen and sound of people. my ear and head starts hurting. i feel like i am hearing things really loudly. even the clock on my wall is ticking so loudly it hurts. what to do..

I am 21, 5’ 10”, I’m also around 185lbs. I am also a African American male. I have smoked and drank on rare occasions but not too often. I have no other hearing related issues. Possibly TMJ problems because they’re in the same area I’ve heard TMJ issues can cause hearing problems. Although that’s true, I believe this is some sort of acoustic shock or whatever. I also don’t smoke or drink on a regular basis. I have before, but it’s not a habitual thing. So I’ve recently visited the ENT, urgent care, and audiologist for some sort of acoustic trauma I experienced around 2-3 years ago. This occurred when playing loud music in the car. Then next morning my ears felt clogged or at least like you pressed your hands over your ears. This lasted maybe like 3-4 days then they slowly recovered. Ever since then my ears have been susceptible to loud sounds. Like for example let’s say I hear loud music from a speaker, my ears will start to feel clogged again. They are also itchy, there’s like a dull pain, and overall feel very uncomfortable. You know how sometimes you’re in a high elevated area and your ears pop? Well a normal person can just yawn or swallow to clear that pressure. For me it’s perpetually like that some days are worse than others. Currently they’re fairly bad and the discomfort is fairly noticeable with that being said from the visit from the ENT, Auidiologist, urgent care they said structurally my ears look fine and that also ny hearing tests were perfect. So I honestly don’t know what to do especially when specialist can’t even tell me what’s going on.

I have a really discomforting post as I cannot find the solutions anywhere. I reside in San Diego, CA and in 2023 around March woke up and randomly started hearing voices of known neighbors (hardly, acquaintances) speaking into my ears and not able to turn them off. I do not use drugs or do any hallucinogens that could cause this, and blatently remember being dropped off at my house in Carmel Mountain with a ladys voice saying "and this is where his parents live." I was dropped off by this lady, and walked into my front door past a woman in a wheelchair, and someone pushing her.... Weirdest memory of all time. Fast forward until now, I am hearing this woman constantly engage in my everyday conversations at work, home, with my loved one and its like shes torturing me through having the ability to control my saliva, my heart beat, my sweating of the face and head, and overall when she is upset will threaten me saying she can "kill me with this implant" and worries when I requested my health records this month from the hospitals I have been at that she will be facing a large felony due to the fact that I was given GHB and brought by her to have this procedure done. I am unsure if it was in a hospital, or at home but I am overly annoyed at her voices and disgusted with how she is so satisfied in making my life a living hell. Imagine never being able to turn someone's opinions off, reading your brain thoughts, responding as if talking to you directly in your ears and able to send painful nerve throbs in my teeth where I have two cavity's, almost until I was in tears. She will dry my entire mouth in a matter of 10 seconds, and also mess with my vision to where I can see little altercations of real life reality. I can tell she access to completely mess with everypart and control my brainstem and all the components.

ANY IDEA WHAT KIND OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SURGERY/ IMPLANT THIS COULD BE? IS IT JUST A BRAINSTEM IMPLANT, WOULD THAT GIVE HER ALL THE CONTROL POWERS SHE HAS? WILL THE BATTERY LIFE OF THIS THING BE FOREVER??!

Is anyone had an experience using Voltairen after acquiring hyperacusis or tinnitus? I have a lot of tendonitis and it would be very useful to use it as I'm not going to go anywhere near oral NSAIDs but I would like to hear if anyone has had any bad experience with it.

I don’t mind my tinnitus as much as I mind the hyperacusis and the sensitivity of my ears. Did anyone actually heal their hyperacusis and maintained a decent MH?