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Hyperacusis
· Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) · Tinnitus · Therapy · What is Hyperacusis/Tinnitus Retraining Therapy? · Digital vs. Analog Pink Noise · The Importance of Directive Counseling · Conditions Associated with Hyperacusis · Electrical Sensitivity and Hyperacusis · Links
"These individuals represent a small, very rare group of sound sensitive individuals in the world. They are not born sound sensitive, but develop a collapsed tolerance to sound from primarily noise trauma (sudden or cumulative). Other common causes include: · head injury · the unfortunate side effects of drugs · Lyme disease · air bag deployment · Bell's Palsy… · Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome (TMJ)." Hyperacusis Network: Supplement Other Suggestions: Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD)
"If ears are overprotected, that system seems to further collapse. Many times the network hears of individuals who are so anxious that they refuse to remove ear protection even in the privacy of their own home. Some even keep their ears plugged while they are sleeping, which makes the problem even worse. Eventually over a period of time (time varies for each individual) you can embark on a therapy which can improve your tolerances to sound." Hyperacusis Network: Supplement
Ear Plugs: Chronically Plugging One Ear
If both ears are exposed to sound at the same volume, plugging one ear may, at least temporarily, cause the other ear to be hypersensitive to sounds.
"If the night is hot and you have a fan on in the room - use a quiet fan. How do you find a quiet fan? Purchase a Sound Level Meter from Radio Shack (costs about $30.00). With this instrument you can turn on the meter while shopping for fans and find the quietest one for yourself."
"For many of us our ears are most sensitive in the early morning and late evening. For this reason try to make these times as quiet as possible."
"Many of us develop hyperacusis in one ear and then it crosses over to the other ear. For some it never crosses over. Some of us do not develop tinnitus for many months after our initial onset of hyperacusis. For some, tinnitus starts in one ear and remains there, and for others it can cross over just like hyperacusis. It is rare, but there are people in the network that have hyperacusis but no tinnitus. " "Most hyperacusis individuals eventually develop tinnitus (ringing sounds in the ears). Tinnitus is a very common ear disorder to the tune of nearly 50 million people." Hyperacusis Network: Supplement
"Tinnitus prevention can include obvious things such as limiting exposure to loud noises, but vitamins and exercise may help, too. Exercising regularly may help by improving blood flow to ear structures, while B-12 can help the body make the material that protects the inner ear's nerves. Good B-12 sources include dairy products, meat, and eggs. Almost everyone experiences an occasional ringing (or roaring, hissing, buzzing, or tinkling) in their ears; most tinnitus that comes and goes requires no medical treatment. But if your tinnitus is accompanied by other symptoms, becomes persistent, or starts to localize to one ear, visit a health professional." The Ringing and Buzzing of Tinnitus
"For people who also have co-existing or pre-existing anxiety or depression it can take longer to change their feelings about their tinnitus."
An increase in blood flow to the ears may be helpful for people with tinnitus. According to Dr. Fredric Schiffer, the author of 'The Revolutionary Science of Dual-Brain Psychology', when there is more activity on one side of the brain there is less blood flow to the ear on that side: "On the side [of the brain] of more activity, blood would be shunted away from the areas around the ears to the active cortex. In other words, we expected the ear temperature to drop as the hemisphere became more active. When subjects wore the glasses looking to the left, stimulating the right hemisphere, there was a relative drop in right ear temperature (Pages 74-75)." Book: Schiffer, Fredric. The Revolutionary Science of Dual-Brain Psychology. The Free Press, 1998.
For more information about Dual-Brain Psychology please see the Dual-Brain Psychology page.
General Suggestions · Other Suggestions: Sleep on Your Back · Other Suggestions: Vitamins and Minerals
Fatigue · Research Topics: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Hyperacusis Caused by TMJ Other Suggestions: Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD)
Hyperacusis/Tinnitus Retraining Therapy What is Hyperacusis/Tinnitus Retraining Therapy? "So far, the most promising therapy for hyperacusis involves listening to pink noise at barely audible levels for a disciplinedperiod of time each day. This protocol is called Tinnitus Retraining Therapy and was developed by Dr. Pawel Jastreboff and Dr. Jonathan Hazell through the University of Maryland in Baltimore.To ease the demand for this treatment, the University of Maryland has been certifying hearing professionals throughout the world to help administer this treatment. People with hyperacusis have a terribly difficult time traveling due to the sounds of car or air travel. Current treatments recommended by experts in the field suggest the opposite approach as AIT (see hyperacute hearing). It is suggested that instead of filtering out sensitive frequencies (as is done in AIT), that we retrain our ears by listening to all frequencies through the use of white noise (as is done in TRT). White noise is the FM static you hear on a radio frequency that contains no radio station (detained FM station). This FM white noise contains all the frequencies the human ear can hear - including the ones we are sensitive to. The theory suggests that we can desensitize our ears to all frequencies (white noise) thereby allowing our ears to return to more normal sound tolerances.This is accomplished by using a masking device (similar in appearance to a hearing aid) called the viennetone AM/ti, or listening to white noise tapes (or a compact disc - CD). Although this therapy is not a cure, it can help significantly in reestablishing tolerances to sound. More information on this therapy will be discussed later in this supplement." Hyperacusis Network: Supplement
"The University of Maryland, under the direction of Dr. Pawel Jastreboff and Dr. Jonathan Hazell, has developed a therapy for individuals with hyperacusis that is very promising. By being fitted with a special ear appliance called the viennetone AM/ti (sound generator) the patient is told to listen to a specific sound called white noise for a disciplined period of time each day. Those in the network who have been through this therapy have realized improvement of 10% - 80%. Although this is not a cure, it can be a wonderful help. No one has gotten worse from this therapy, but there are many in the network that have had no desire to undergo the therapy." Hyperacusis Network: Supplement
· Hyperacusis Network: Bulletin Board: Digital vs. Analog Pink Noise
"When we talk about retraining, this is not simply an abstract learning exercise. In the subconscious part of the brain concerned with hearing, beyond the inner ear, but before the act of conscious perception of sound takes place, subconscious filters, networks of nerve cells (neuronal networks) are programmed to pick up signals on a 'need to hear' basis."
Retraining the Subconscious · TRT is intended to retrain the subconscious auditory system,… · and the subconscious mind may be the left hemisphere of the brain for some people or the right side for most people,... · and left ear is connected to the right brain; the right ear is connected to the left brain,… it seems that retraining (with white or pink noise) the ear that is attached to the subconscious brain would be advantageous. Although, listening to white or pink noise, through one ear, at a volume that is greater than the noises in your surrounding environment may cause problems with ear dominance. More information about dominance is included in the section: Laterality: Correcting Ear Dominance: White or Pink Noise
It is presumed that TRT therapy retrains the subconscious auditory system. But if I am left brain dominant, and my 'conscious' mind is the left brain, and my right ear has been damaged, and the right ear is connected to the left brain, wouldn't TRT therapy be retraining the conscious auditory system? Would TRT therapy be more effective if the damaged ear is directed towards the pink noise?
"Why, then, might TRT fail in some cases to cure, fail in some cases to adequately treat (if not cure), or for that matter fail to even modestly treat hyperacusis? · (1) For reasons currently being studied, but not yet well-understood, hyperacusis in individuals with Lyme Disease (and potentially those with various other infectious disorders affecting the central nervous system) do not seem to respond as well to retraining methodology. · (2) People with severe underlying psychiatric disorders tend to respond suboptimally. People with reactive depression, however, a condition not infrequently seen in tinnitus and hyperacusis, seem to respond as well as anyone else - especially when the depression is addressed by a therapist willing to work with the TRT clinician. · (3) People with pending medical-legal action do less well with TRT. This phenomenon, which is observed more with tinnitus than with hyperacusis, is felt to be unrelated to possible malingering or potential secondary gain. Rather it has to do with the seemingly endless flow of paperwork and monthly justification required by the legal/insurance industry in such cases, paperwork (not to mention interviews) which by its nature causes something we wish to be less of an issue (tinnitus/hyperacusis) ... to be all that more of an issue. · (4) People with severe hyperacusis who for whatever reason are unable at some point in their treatment to make that all-important leap to embrace the concept that their condition does not represent a lowered threshold for damage, but rather a lowered threshold for discomfort can in many ways be their own worst enemies when it comes to TRT. · (5) Various psychopharmacological agents at least theoretically have the potential to inhibit neuronal plasticity and thereby delay (or remotely prevent) TRT success. · (6) The most common cause for treatment failure lies in the crucial element of 'directive counseling' - see below. · (7) There are in all probability additional factors in treatment failure, which have not yet been identified." Hyperacusis, Retraining, Cocoons, and Vegetables
The Importance of Directive Counseling "Directive counseling for people affected by hyperacusis, whether or not there is also a component of tinnitus, is typically very intensive - especially if the hyperacusis is severe. The counseling involves a detailed individualized explanation of the central nervous system mechanisms involved with hyperacusis and the role these mechanisms play in the auditory pathway. This detailed explanation often must be re-introduced at intervals - as greater understanding is achieved. The counseling involves tailoring the use of background neutral sound to the specific circumstances of each hyperacusis sufferer. It involves guidelines about gradual exposure to those environmental sounds which heretofore might have caused discomfort, but which represent no danger. And it involves frequent (often weekly at first - in person or by telephone) "tweaking" of the program as thresholds begin to change and as the inevitable challenges arise. These challenges - frustration, fear, impatience, temporary setbacks, miscommunication - are the factors which most frequently result in totally unnecessary abandonment of treatment before it has had a chance to be successful. Counseling must come from a knowledgeable yet compassionate source. It must be conducted according to the guidelines of TRT as described by Dr. Jastreboff and Mr. Hazell, and the individual doing the counseling must be thoroughly versed in the principles of TRT. He or she must also be willing to be reasonably accessible between scheduled appointments, and the patient must be willing to avail himself or herself of that accessibility, to follow through on recommendations, and not to prematurely discontinue the program." Hyperacusis, Retraining, Cocoons, and Vegetables
· PC Noise
High Frequency Noise "High frequency noise is much more difficult to cancel out and is currently best achieved, at low cost, with foam earplugs or earmuffs. Earmuffs are cups that actually cover the entire ear whereas foam earplugs are inserted in the ear canal. These are not electronic devices. One of the best values in a comfortable earmuff, which provides twenty-nine decibel worth of protection, is called the Thunder 29. Cost is approximately $25.00 and is available by calling Lab Safety at 1-800-525-7233. Flents and Aearo both make foam earplugs that come in three colors: bright yellow, flesh, and ivory. Although Flents are readily available throughout the country, most of us prefer the Aearo E-A-R "Noise Filter" flesh colored foam earplugs."
Conditions Associated with Hyperacusis "It may occur independently of any other identifiable disorder. However, hyperacusis is a recognised symptom of several conditions. Aside from tinnitus and Ménière's Disease, hyperacusis is sometimes also associated with: · post-traumatic stress disorder · migraine · some types of depression · vitamin B6 deficiency · Tay-sach's Disease… · post viral fatigue syndrome (or ME). · It is particularly prevalent in people suffering from a genetic disorder known as Williams Syndrome or Infantile Hypercalcaemia. Other symptoms of this condition are failure to thrive in early life, developmental delay, cardiac problems, small stature and distinctive facial characteristics." Defeating Deafness: What is Hyperacusis?
Electrical Sensitivity and Hyperacusis "As well, I think it is interesting to note that our sensitivities are similar. As I am sure you are aware, the vibrations perceived by the human ear, otherwise known as sound, are just one slice of the electromagnetic spectrum. So we are both hypersensitive to EMF. Welcome to the club, friend!" Derek Bishop's Spiritual Autobiography: Website Correspondence: October 31, 2003
· The Brain: Frontal Lobes: Hyperacusis
Reinforcement by clenching teeth or by hooking flexed fingers of both hands and pulling apart (the Jendrassik maneuver) can improve reflexes. · Is it possible to improve the stapedius reflex with reinforcement? · Do people with TMJ subconsciously clench their teeth in an attempt to improve their stapedius reflex?
· The Brain: Frontal Lobes: Hyperacusis · Indoor Air Pollution: Electromagnetic Waves
· Hyperacusis Network: What is Hyperacusis · Hyperacusis Network: What Causes This · Hyperacusis Network: What Can Be Done · Hyperacusis Network: Where to Find Help · Hyperacusis Network: Supplement
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