Hyperacusis
Medical condition / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Hyperacusis is an increased sensitivity to sound and a low tolerance for environmental noise. Definitions of hyperacusis can vary significantly, but it is often categorized into four subtypes: loudness, pain, annoyance, and fear.[1][2] It can be a highly debilitating hearing disorder.[3]
Hyperacusis | |
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Other names | Hyperacousis |
Specialty | Otolaryngology, neurology, psychiatry |
Differential diagnosis | Sensory processing disorder, Autism |
There are a variety of causes and risk factors, with the most common being exposure to loud noise.[1] It is often coincident with tinnitus.[1] Proposed mechanisms in the literature involve dysfunction in the brain, inner ear, or middle ear.[4][5][6][7][8][9]
Little is known about the prevalence of hyperacusis, in part due to the degree of variation in the term's definition.[1][10] Reported prevalence estimates in the literature vary widely, and further research is needed to obtain strong epidemiological data.[11] While there are no exact numbers, several people have died by suicide due to the severe consequences of the disease.[12]