Possible treatments for severe sound sensitivity?
 

I am wondering what others have done to treat severe sound sensitivity. I've had this symptom for almost two years and while other symptoms have improved, this one has not improved at all.

Has anyone found a form of treatment that helped them with sound sensitivity? Has anyone here found that their sound sensitivity gradually decreased with time? Are there any particular coping mechanisms that you have found effective?

Thank you for your feedback.

I do sympathise, I used to have noise sensitivity, hyperacusis, and tinnitus. In my case the hearing related issues were the first symptoms to go and they have completely gone away. If I experienced too much noise or auditory stimulation I needed to lie down, it affected me so much.

My strategy was to use earplugs as much as possible and avoid too much auditory stimulation. However being prescribed an SNRI reduced the stress of the whole situation and this in turn helped to reduce symptoms also.

I rely on my yellow foam ear plugs. Yesterday, I had tickets to Antique Road Show. Noise and voices everywhere. My ear plugs worked great. They do not limit my ability to communicate.

My sound sensitivity has lessened slowly over the years. I believe it is a package issue. Sound can not be separated from other stimulations. If I moderate other sensory stimulation, I have more tolerance for sound. Studies show that the brain can quickly allocate sensory processing resources so the sense needing more processing bandwidth is allocated that bandwidth. The 'untrained' brain can make these allocation changes in 12 hours. Over time, this allocation can become very flexible. I can stop, close my eyes and greatly improve my auditory processing and tolerance.

I'm only on my 11 months of pcs, and I did invest in the $250 musician earplugs to combat my hyperacusis and tinnitus. If it is too loud, it can trigger migraines and nausea for me with my vestibular issues.

I tried foam and the silicone ones, but they made everything hard to hear. I can still hear and interact with the musician ear plugs.

My audiologist and ENT said that the brain _usually_ compensates over time. But after a year or two...it's hard to know what that means. There is some new research at UCSF looking into noise therapy-exposure to help hyperacusis, but it is still in the research phase.

I'm hoping that limited exposure over time to increasing noise and visual complexity will help my brain regenerate. Best of luck!

Severe sound sensitivity- medications?
 

Hi, I've been reading all of these posts. I was in a car accident in Nov 2012. My MRI and ENT exam were good...but I can't tolerate sounds and I get easily overstimulated. I have to wear sunglasses or close my eyes when talking with others. I was just prescribed Resperidone .5mg.

Any thoughts? I'm so angry.

Hello xanadu00,

I still have noise sensitivity 3plus years but it has gotten a lot better. Interestingly enough I had major improvements this year. I can handle more and higher pitched noises. I just can't handle concerts or anything abnormally loud.

It correlates directly with my migraines and amount of pain I'm in. I used to have to always bring my Bose headphones with me wherever I went. Now, I carry a pair of back up foam earplugs in my purse. I rarely use them.
I wouldn't give up on this symptom getting better.

TZ and me,

Do you have a specific question about your light and sound sensitivity? Are you looking for coping strategies, or did you want feedback about your meds?

Hang in there and be patient with yourself.

I am 29 years post TBI (Feb 1985), and yes, sounds are an ongoing problem for me as well.

Some sounds, especially repetitive beats such as in some music, or in very busy environments where there is TV, radio, cell phone chatter, conversations (like doctor waiting rooms) are the worse.

I carry earplugs everywhere which helps some. Secondary to TBI, I also have neurocognitive hearing issues left ear.

The more fatigued I am, the worse the sound sensitivity. I am also on keppra-xr for mild partial complex seizure disorder. That helps some on the sound issue.

I also have migraines, well controlled for the most part. Also c-spine issues which lately has affect greater occipital nerve and have occipital neuralgia.

Pain level, I have noticed, certainly increases the sound sensitivity.

So, I work around that with these key foundations when I know I am going to be in those environments. Well rested, earplugs handy, manage the pain (if greater than 5, I take pain med rx), and don't stress.

Another thing I have noticed is fragrances in the particular environment on top of the sounds issues makes the sound sensitivity worse. I also have MCS (multi-chemical sensitivity)

Mostly all I can do with the MCS is avoidance. Fragrances and such do trigger migraines and it needs no saying that migraines are going to affect sound sensitivity.

I also have been known to request accommodation when I am in a store with the sat music so loud I can't block it out. Some stores I have found are very willing to accommodate by turning down the volume while I shop. Others - not, and those I don't shop at any longer.

Another strategy I use is structure my ventures out to less busy times, and usually in the morning. As the day progresses, I am more tired and then of course more sound sensitive. I can handle sounds better in the morning, as I am more rested to begin with.

I have also learned over the years not to be reluctance to request an accommodation. Even in some doc offices, if the noise is too much, I ask for a quieter place to wait and of one isn't available, I advise them I will sit out in the hall and please have the nurse call me in from out there. Some will accommodate, others won't.

Yes, I really have done that!!

The worse anyone can do is say no. But sometimes they say yes.

The sort of funniest one is when I go to my vascular doc office. The din gets really bad in there and it's usually a long wait. Last time, I had enough.

So I lay on the floor, put my lower legs on the chair, knees and hips at 90 degree angles and it was sure much quieter down there on the floor.

Receptionist runs over thinking I was ill or something. I said nope. I said "I asked if you could turn down the TV, and you said no. I asked if there was a quieter place I could wait, and you said no. Even with earplugs in, with all the other conversations going on, cell phone chatter, lady over there tapping on her computer with her fingernails, TV blasting, kid over there playing his noisy game, etc. I made my own QUIETER place to wait."

Next I know, two minutes later I was called back to exam room.:)

Part of the dilemma with "invisible" disabilities/challenges is that other people don't see them, let alone experience these things themselves.

Part of managing these sound issues and other challenges is at times being willing to ask for a little accommodation. Doesn't cost a thing to ask. Sometimes the answer is even yes.

My son has sensory processing disorder and is very sensitive to loud noises (he doesn't like to see films in a theater because it is too loud; he covers his ears when flushing public toilets because it is too loud).

He went through occupational therapy and did a series of therapeutic listening CDs for several months. This seemed to decrease his sound sensitivity.

I know it is not the same as PCS, but I wonder if therapeutic listening might also help for this condition? It might be worth investigating, at least.

I'm gradually working through a therapeutic listening program (iLs) on my own (recommended by my sister, who is an OT). I've had to do it on and off because I'm still trying to find a good pace that doesn't cause me to flare up. Following the recommended program is far too stimulating for me; I can tolerate 5-15 minutes a day, whereas they recommend 30 minutes twice a day. I'm hoping that I can find a good pace that will help me to gradually desensitize; I just haven't found it yet.

Tzandme:
You definitely need to see a neuro opthamologist if you haven't done so. Closing your eyes may indicate that your visual processing is damaged and is taking up way too much brain energy....so if you need to listen to someone you close your eyes to free up processing space.
I still close my eyes when talking about tough things or when on the phone.

X-ray Hearing, a super-power
 

My friend calls it X-ray hearing and considers it a super power - to make me laugh at myself and find a silver lining. My sound sensitivity was recently diagnosed as hyperacusis.

1 - The audiologist prescribed musician ear filters, but I can't afford them yet. An alternative that works for me is using my sound canceling ear buds. Not all ear buds are created equal...in fit or filtering ability, so if one doesn't work...keep looking.

2 - 6 yrs post injury my sensitivity has not decreased, but do find my reaction (emotional lability) has improved with exposure to white noise.

3 - Coping: Limit exposure to known sound issues like busy restaurants, stores, concerts, etc. Use ear filters, ear plugs or ear buds in noisy situations. I hear everything which causes my senses to be overwhelmed so when I can't avoid noise I plug my earbuds into my phone/iPod and listen to music to cancel the other noises - I find this a big help.