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Super-Sensitivity to Sounds

by Neil Bauman, Ph.D.

A lady wrote:

A few years ago I had a virus that apparently attacked my vestibular system. Besides various balance-related problems, I now have hearing issues. I was told that I had some hearing loss on the left (I don’t remember how much) but I also find that I am very sensitive to certain sounds and pitches (clapping, crowds, high pitches). Because of the hearing loss, my husband wants me to go to an ear specialist, but I feel that there is nothing they can do for me, and the sound sensitivity would be worse with any sort of hearing aid. I’m not sure whether to pursue these issues. If there is anything that can be done, and if I do peruse them, what sort or specialist I should see? Can you point me in the right direction?

You bet. I’ll tell you which specialist you should see in a moment, but first, I’d like to address some of the interesting points you bring up.

Viral attacks can indeed cause balance problems. In addition, they can cause hearing loss and distorted hearing. Sometimes the balance system is harder hit, and other times the virus mostly attacks the hearing system. In fact, viral attacks can result in massive hearing loss. Fortunately, your hearing loss isn’t as bad as that.

However, you have another problem besides just not hearing as well as formerly. You are now super-sensitive to various normal sounds that never bothered you before. This is a real pain–literally.

The fancy names for these kind of conditions are hyperacusis and recruitment. Recruitment accompanies hearing loss, whereas hyperacusis can occur whether you have a hearing loss or not.

In any case, the result is basically the same no matter which one you have–certain normal sounds now sound much too loud. If you want to learn more about recruitment see my article “Recruitment Explained.” In addition, you might want to read a short book called “Supersensitive to Sound? You May Have Hyperacusis.”

Recruitment is no fun. I know. I have severe recruitment myself. Just putting a glass on the table can blow the top of my head off (figuratively speaking of course) as it sounds so loud to me.

The hearing specialist you want to go to is an audiologist (Au.D)–not a medical doctor (M.D.) Your audiologist will do a complete audiological evaluation and can recommend (and fit) hearing aids if they are appropriate.

The surprising thing is that hearing aids (properly adjusted) can actually help your sound sensitivity–assuming you have recruitment associated with your hearing loss. Your audiologist can set your new hearing aids to “compress” the recruiting sounds so they no longer bother you.

For example, I just got new hearing aids in the last month or so, and for the first time in 50 years of wearing hearing aids I can now stand certain sounds that always were too loud before. I’m still working on “tweaking” them to cut out all recruiting sounds. So far, I’ve eliminated about 90% of the formerly troublesome sounds. You may find the same thing happens with you with the right hearing aids. The latest technology is amazing.

At the very least, you should investigate whether this will work for you too. I think its well worth a trip to an audiologist.

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Loop Systems

Loop your home or meeting room. Discover how you can hear wonderfully clear sound again when listening to the TV/radio, etc, or when listening to a speaker at a meeting.

Loop systems are one of the best-kept secrets in town. To learn more about Loop Systems and what they can do for you, click here.

Take Control of Your Tinnitus—Here’s How

If your ears ring, buzz, chirp, hiss, click or roar, you know just how annoying tinnitus can be. You do not have to put up with this racket for the rest of your life. This book teaches you many things you can do to help bring your tinnitus under your control so it no longer bothers you.

Learn More | Add to Cart—Printed | Add to Cart—eBook

Sounds Now Too Loud for You?

Hypersensitive to Sound front coverIf some (or all) normal sounds seem so loud they “blow the top of your head off”, or make you wince or jump, or cause you headaches or ear pain, or affect your balance, or result in fear or annoyance of sounds so you feel you have to avoid these sounds, this book is for you!

Learn More | Add to Cart—Printed | Add to Cart—eBook

Hearing Phantom Sounds?

When hard of hearing people begin hearing phantom voices or music, they immediately worry they are going crazy. It never crosses their minds that they are sane and are just experiencing Musical Ear syndrome.

To learn more about the strange phantom sounds of Musical Ear syndrome and what you can do about them, click here to read a comprehensive article about Musical Ear Syndrome.

Or get the book—Learn More | Add to Cart—Printed | Add to Cart—eBook

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Center for Hearing Loss Help

Neil G. Bauman, Ph.D.

1013 Ridgeway Drive, Lynden,
WA 98264-1057 USA

Email: neil@hearinglosshelp.com

Phone: 360-778-1266 (M-F 9:00 AM-5:00 PM PST)

© 2025 Center for Hearing Loss Help – Help for your hearing loss, tinnitus and other ear conditions

"The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life [which also includes perfect hearing] through Jesus Christ our Lord." [Romans 6:23]

"But know this, in the last days perilous times will come" [2 Timothy 3:1]. "For there will be famines, pestilences, and [severe] earthquakes in various places" [Matthew 24:7], "distress of nations, the sea and the waves roaring"—tsunamis, hurricanes—Luke 21:25, but this is good news if you have put your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, for "when these things begin to happen, lift up your heads [and rejoice] because your redemption draws near" [Luke 21:28].