Anyone hypersensitive to noise?

deedee00 · Post by **deedee00** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 10:22 am

Hi kristen and chris daughtry. lol

I haven't seen your faces for a long time. How have you been.

purpmartin · Post by **purpmartin** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 2:15 am

Perhaps I'd better clarify things. Having loudness discomfort levels ("discomfort" being a misleading term) of 45-55 decibels is hyperacusis : a collapsed tolerance to sound. It's not "just anxiety".

Starting seven or eight years ago I noticed that, more and more, EVERYTHING seemed too loud. About three years ago, the noise sensitivity abruptly shot through the roof and has stayed that way.

Hyperacusis is a difficult condition to live with. So many things are painfully loud! There's the traffic noise I get while walking to and from work; I hear plenty of traffic noise all day at work on top of sounds such as printers and electric pencil sharpeners; I have plenty of traffic noise at home, plus railroad tracks a block away.

If it were as simple as moving if I don't like the trains, I would have moved long ago. It's not a matter of "getting used to it"; if it were, I'd be used to it by now. Besides, there's the risk that I'll move and find myself with neighbors who blast so-called "music" at all hours. So far I've been lucky with that at my present location.

Well, I've got to get to work here.

purpmartin

jugray · Post by **jugray** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 5:43 am

Purp,
Im so sorry you have to deal with all that noise. I know it can be very debilitating at times. It's good that you are dealing with it though. Sometime's I just have to literally cover my ears. Hope things get better for you.

purpmartin · Post by **purpmartin** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 8:54 am

Hello,

I had an EEG this past Feb. that was abnormal. A follow-up EEG in Aug. was also abnormal. Both showed some kind of abnormal activity in the temporal region, which is "potentially epileptic".

I did some googling, and found that the temporal lobes interpret and process auditory stimuli.
Hmm. I wonder, could THAT explain my noise sensitivity? Does anybody out there happen to know?

Noises bothered me more than usual over the weekend, probably because I have a cold

. It felt like my eardrums were vibrating all out of control, as though they were too loose.

purpmartin

purpmartin · Post by **purpmartin** » Tue Nov 04, 2008 7:24 am

Hello again,

About 3 months ago I went to an environmental medicine clinic. The doctor found that I definitely do have some chemical toxicity/sensitivity, and as a result I'm taking enzymes, minerals, etc. Interestingly, my noise sensitivity seems to be diminishing! I'm not sure whether it's the magnesium or what, but it's sure a relief!
Purpmartin

SusantheChatterbox · Post by **SusantheChatterbox** » Wed Nov 05, 2008 4:14 pm

If I am really keyed up and nervous or especially if I am fighting a panic attack I don't like any noise either. It makes me even more nervous than I was. I can definitely understand what you are saying.

God bless,
Susan

YoyoyoMo,nica · Post by **YoyoyoMo,nica** » Thu Nov 06, 2008 2:18 am

I notice whenever I dont sleep well or am super tired. (which i am alot more lately) I dont handle noises too well. I dont like noises really BUT when I am tired the sensitivity is way worse.

purpmartin · Post by **purpmartin** » Mon Nov 29, 2010 2:35 am

About 5-1/2 years ago I began to have horrible problems with noise sensitivity, and now it looks as though I might finally have an explanation.

Recently I attended the patients and families session of a medical symposium on Neurofibromatosis. During the panel discussion I asked whether the NF lesions in my thalamus (shown by MRIs) could cause hyperacusis. One of the panelists, a doctor who gave a presentation on the so-called RASopathies (of which NF is one), said it sounds like a RAS-pathway problem.

I always knew that my noise sensitivity wasn't the result of anxiety--if anything, it's the other way around! How nice it is to feel vindicated

And I guess I know now why the ENT couldn't figure me out

purpmartin