{"id":2893,"date":"2024-06-01T12:49:00","date_gmt":"2024-06-01T12:49:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/veritashearing.com\/uk\/blog\/2024\/06\/01\/what-is-hyperacusis\/"},"modified":"2024-06-08T11:56:45","modified_gmt":"2024-06-08T11:56:45","slug":"what-is-hyperacusis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/veritashearing.com\/uk\/what-is-hyperacusis\/","title":{"rendered":"What is hyperacusis?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hyperacusis is a condition where the individual experiences an increased sensitivity to certain sounds. It can make ordinary sounds excessively loud or even painful which is obviously very irritating for the sufferer. The underlying cause of hyperacusis is still not fully understood but it is thought to involve changes in the way the brain processes sound. Unfortunately, there is no cure but there are ways that the effects can be lessened.<\/p>\n

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The role of Tinnitus<\/h4>\n

It is important to note that hyperacusis is not the same as\u00a0tinnitus<\/a>. Tinnitus is the perception of sound when there isn\u2019t actually any sound. Tinnitus can become a symptom of hyperacusis but it is not the cause.<\/p>\n

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How does the brain process sound?<\/h4>\n

The brain processes sound<\/a>\u00a0in a number of ways and distinguishes between different pitches and volumes, identifies the location the sound is coming from, and deciphers the meaning of words. The brain uses it\u2019s knowledge of the world to process the context of the sound; this means when you hear a dog bark, your brain understands that a dog is making the noise and not a cat even when you cannot see the animal.<\/p>\n

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The causes of Hyperacusis<\/h4>\n

Whilst the underlying cause of hyperacusis isn\u2019t fully understood, there are a few possible causes that have been established:<\/p>\n