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Hyperacusis is a particular condition, in which the tolerance for various audible frequencies is collapsed. Hyperacusis is not a congenital condition; it develops in the later stages of life. Hyperacusis has to be clearly distinguished from other hearing impairments, to practice adequate treatment strategies. Patients do not have any considerable hearing loss, but only uncomfortable to common sounds. The normal bearable sound range is 100 decibels and the characteristic problem of hyperacusis is the false perception of common sounds, even in lower decibels as loud sounds and inability to adjust the sensitivity according to loudness. The disease, hyperacusis has significant relevance in modern life, as the day to day environment is flooded with a variety of large and moderate sounds.
The risks associated with it mainly include the difficulty of the patient to pursue his life. They feel the normal sounds such as speaking, walking and even combing, as very loud disturbing voices, depending on the seriousness of disorder. This will lead to them to many psychological disorders such as phonophobia, the fear of sound, anxiety, depression, and loss of sleep. The chance for the occurrence for other complicated disorders, as a result of the manifestation of underlying cause of hyperacusis, is also a major risk factor. The complications of the diseases such as Lyme disease, Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome, Bell's palsy, Tay-Sach’s disease, and post trauma effects of head injury can affect the patient since these diseases can be actual reasons for sudden outbreak of hyperacusis. The collapsed sound conditions and associated manifestations will ultimately lead the patient to total deprivation from social living.
The incompatibility of the patient with normal life depends on the level of hyperacusis and its impact on life. Hyperacusis is generally categorized into five levels, according to the sound tolerance level. The category zero patients do not experience any difficulty in normal living, even though they experience sounds above 85 decibels as very loud. The category one patient may have mild impact since they require ear protectors to bear sounds in the range of 80 to 85 decibels. Category 2 patients are moderately affected by hyperacusis as 65+ decibels sounds such as of normal conversation, seems to them very disturbing. They consider mainstream living as a challenge and prefer isolation. The category three patient suffers even from whispering sound in range of 50+ decibels. The patients have the chances to develop associated diseases such as anxiety, depression, phonophobia, and insomnia. Hyperacusis patients in category four are very critical. These patients cannot proceed a main stream living and resorts to complete isolation. The condition becomes impossible as they cannot even tolerate own voice. They are also at the risk of all associated diseases.
The improvements in the medicine have formulated efficient diagnostic tools, and effective medication to cure hyperacusis. The combined use of psychotherapy and medicine will definitely help the patient to overcome the condition.
Jason Rickard is the owner of Your Favourite Shop - Offering White Noise and Relaxation CDs - Visit Hapa Health for more articles. |
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