February 16, 2010 on 9:11 pm | In Miscellaneous | No Comments
There is a tendency for some with painful hearing to wear ear protectors. This has been strongly advised against by Dr. Berard, since it exacerbates the problem . The relief is short-term but the negative effects lasting. We equate this to wearing sunglasses while inside frequently and for long periods of time. The sunglasses lose their effect while in bright sunlight.
When a person has to expose themselves to sounds that cause them great distress, it might be a cautious and very brief help to allow the wearing of protectors, noting that doing so must be for very brief periods only, and is likely worsening the situation.
February 1, 2010 on 9:59 am | In Miscellaneous | Comments Off
Hyperacusis is a condition that arises from a problem in the way the brain’s central auditory processing center perceives noise. It can often lead to pain and discomfort. Individuals with hyperacusis have difficulty tolerating sounds which do not seem loud to others, such as the noise from running faucet water, riding in a car, walking on leaves, dishwasher, fan on the refrigerator, shuffling papers. Although all sounds may be perceived as too loud, high frequency sounds may be particularly troublesome. As one might suspect, the quality of life for individuals with hyperacusis can be greatly compromised. For those with a severe intolerance to sound, it is difficult and sometimes impossible to function in an every day environment with all its ambient noise. Hyperacusis can contribute to social isolation, phonophobia (fear of normal sounds), and depression.