Other Hyperacusis (unusual sensitivity to sound)

[Neverthesame]

Gah, that's dry.
Almost sounds like Drumheller.

I have a few good squeaky spots on my floor as well. I'm not as bothered by it, but one of these days, I'll replace the floor in the porch, then. Ahh, not more creaking. Will be nice.

 

[Ivan the Elder]

What gets me so much about the squeaky floors is that when it squeaks I can't tell if it is above, below or to one side of me. That doesn't sit well since I don't like knowing somebody is nearby but I have no idea where. Also, the sound is just enough that some of the squeaks slightly activate what is left of my hyperacusis. That is more than irritating and is very hard to explain. It goes well beyond irritating. It is like getting little electric shocks inside my head sometimes. Earplugs don't work at all and can make it worse according to info about it. About the only thing that helps is to put on some music that helps give other sound I like. It kind of drowns it out a bit as long as the music isn't loud. It also somehow seems to prepare my mind for a sudden sound.

Some of the worst sounds for hyperacusis are things like the rattle of forks etc on dishes. They are super sharp noises and they are the worst. It doesn't need to be loud at all. AFAIK, there is no real effective treatment.

 

[Neverthesame]

I can understand why that would be an issue. It isn't cool not knowing where the possible threat is, puts the anxiety from a 2 to a 7 instantly. (Even if the threat is just in your head.)

High pitch squealing sounds are a trigger for me anytime, but yeah. I remember how horrid it was when I was pulling a skid out of a trailer, a loose nail got stuck between the bottom of the skid and the metal trailer floor. Jesus christ. Standing in a big echo chamber with that noise. Aaahhh!

Made my hair stand on end just thinking about it.

You are right. Music does seem to help, weirdly enough. I spent a couple of dollars, picked up a good player app for my phone. Let's me play with the EQ. I can turn the treble down and balance it better. The tinnitus has settled down a bit as well. (thank God, the ringing is infuriating)

Also means I can keep it quieter and still enjoy it properly.

 

[Wanting a life]

Yes, I also have difficulty identifying where sounds are coming from!

 

[Ivan the Elder]

One major issue I have here now that I am actually living in this town instead of well outside where I used to live before my ex split us is that this town has been at the top of the crime rating list of all towns over 10,000 population in all of Canada. That is plenty enough to make you hyper vigilant and for a very legitimate reason. Kind of difficult to work on the hyper vigilance problem when you actually need it. I try to lower it some but at some point I need to keep it going.

I'm not at all afraid of personal attack, I was trained very well how to kill people lots of ways even without them being able to make a sound and did martial arts for years. Still have my Gi too. I just don't want my stuff ripped off or my vehicles broken into. Where I used to live it was zero problem. I still had security cameras though. I still have one but I suspect that if I put it up on my balcony some people might object.

 

[RavenGirl]

Do any of you guys have the problem where you roll both the windows down in your car? The wub, wub, wub, wub sound of the air in your ears makes you want to scream and you can't roll up a window fast Enough!?

 

[Ivan the Elder]

Not me, at all. When I was almost hit by a grenade it blew my left eardrum. That tympanum is permanently semi detached and kind of sticks itself back in place. I always keep the side window open while driving so I can hear other vehicles around me. I can hear ok with the left ear but I just feel better when the window is open, even when it is -30 outside. Then it is open just a little, but open.

If you get that sound while driving then try changing the airflow a little by opening one other widow just a bit, just a couple of centimetres is enough in most vehicles.

 

[RavenGirl]

@Evan sorry about the grenade. My car only has two windows. I do adjust them, sometimes it helps sometimes no. But when it's warm enough I just put the top down. It's a hard top convertible! Then no wub wub. :roflmao:

 

[EveHarrington]

Do any of you guys have the problem where you roll both the windows down in your car? The wub, wub, wu...

Yes! I know this is an old thread but I hope you reply! I have hyperacusis issues AND I'm sensitive to noise waves. Yes, it is painful! I feel like a freak saying that sound waves (that nobody else can hear) drive me batty. It's good to know that I'm not alone! Thank you!

 

[Fadeaway]

Funny, I just spent the last 20 minutes trying to explain this to my husband. I am NOT upset at you! I am auditorily overwhelmed. I think I just made that word up.LOL. Its not that I don't want to listen to you, it is just physically difficult for me to do so. :banghead:

I just called him over to my computer to read this. See, I am not alone. BTW I can hear the air escaping from your soda lid, please loosen or tighten it.

Now, he is asking me how I can hear that, and insisting that it is physically impossible. I wish!

 

[EveHarrington]

Funny, I just spent the last 20 minutes trying to explain this to my husband. I am NOT upset at you! I...

Most definitely not impossible to hear these things!

I wish I wasn't so sensitive to sound, but I am. It causes so many problems. It's not just about the hearing of sound waves, as hearing them creates a dizzying sensation. I have to take time to steady myself do to speak.

I'm also sensitive to light as well and oftentimes need to wear sunglasses inside. I think the frequency of fluorescent lights is what bothers me.

It seems to be an overall system sensitivity issue-----smells can also be bothersome (I had to wash my hair today as my hair product was making me physically ill), and my clothing has to fit EXACTLY right or I have to change. (Daytime clothes must fit differently than sleep clothes.)

 

[RavenGirl]

I can hear fluorescent lights humming and the light gives me headaches, I hear power lines, I also hear the air escape from pop cans and bottles when they're opened! I hear EVERYTHING!!! My husband tells people that I could hear a mouse fart from a mile away... :D:laugh::roflmao::hilarious: smell the fart too from a mile away! Sadly all My senses are hyper aware.:bored: Hairs in my shirt :confused: until I find them, tags, wool, etc. Yes sadly I have a lot of sensory issues. :rolleyes: