Hyperacusis and Tinnitus
Hyperacusis and tinnitus are conditions that are often related. That is, people that have one often have the other. Like any disorder that involves the senses, there is psychological component. That’s why hypnosis can be an effective treatment for hyperacusis or tinnitus.
People with hyperacusis are overly sensitive to certain frequencies and the volume levels of sound. In its severest form, a person with hyperacusis has a difficult time tolerating everyday sounds. Sounds that others consider normal can be unpleasant or painfully loud to a person with hyperacusis.
Hyperacusis can be caused because of injury or damage to the inner ear. In cases not involving aural trauma to the inner ear, hyperacusis can also be acquired because of damage to the brain or the neurological system.
Although rare, hyperacusis may also be the result of a vestibular system disorder. This type of hyperacusis, called vestibular hyperacusis, is caused by the brain perceiving certain sounds as motion input as well as auditory input.
A milder form of hyperacusis affects musicians, making it difficult for them to play in the very loud environment of a rock band or orchestra which previously wasn’t a problem. It also makes going to live events such as concerts difficult to enjoy.
About 40% of tinnitus (sound or ringing in the ear) patients complain of mild hyperacusis. So hyperacusis and tinnitus are often linked.
Hypnosis has been found to be an effective treatment for most hyperacusis. More information about hyperacusis and a special hypnosis session is available on the Hypnosis Downloads page .
Tinnitus
Tinnitus is a condition where a person perceives sounds that are not there. While it is commonly described as a ‘ringing’ in the ears, the ringing sound is only one of many types of sounds that people report.
Tinnitus is a condition – not a disease. Tinnitus can occur as a result of a wide range of underlying causes. A common cause of tinnitus is noise-induced hearing loss. Other causes are neurological damage, ear infections, emotional stress, foreign objects in the ear, nasal allergies wax build-up, and exposure to loud sounds. There are also numerous reports of tinnitus occurring with the withdrawal of benzodiazepines . Tinnitus may be an accompaniment of sensorineural hearing loss or congenital hearing loss, or it may be observed as a side effect of certain medications..
For the most part, tinnitus is a subjective phenomenon. That is, it cannot be measured with instruments to gage its severity. So tinnitus is often rated clinically on a simple scale from “slight” to “catastrophic” according to the difficulties it imposes, such as interference with sleep, quiet activities, and normal daily activities.
Currently there are no known medications for the treatment of tinnitus, however hypnosis therapy has proven to be very helpful. A special hypnosis program for the Treatment Of Tinnitus is available.
Disclosure: This article is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide professional advice. The administrator of this website may receive a commission for products or services purchased as a result of being reviewed or recommended here.