hyperacusis and tinnitus question

Post Reply New Topic

I know they can be traits of aspergers (expecially hyperacusis) but mine has gotten WAY worse just recently. is it possible that hyperacusis and tinnitus can be because of aspergers even though I haven't had them until now?? also I went to the ENT doctor and they thought it was allergies, but after medication it hasn't gone away.

I've had both my entire life - tinnitus has stayed around the same severity, but my hyperacusis got much worse around 4 years ago. I figure it's all connected somehow.

they were hardly noticeable at all until a couple months ago. its driving me crazy

Ive wondered myself whether it is a thing that occurs in aspergers more than NT, statistically. The audiologist said that it was caused by anxiety though, and that it tended to strike people with anxiety disorders, as anxiety can create sensory hypervigilance.

I too have hyperacusis now suddenly during the past few months and I was not like this before. I spend hours or even days sometimes wearing earplugs. I think anxiety triggered it, but it has become a vicious cycle -- my hyperacusis now triggers the anxiety. When I wear ear-plugs I am pretty functional; I decided to leave all anti-anxiety medication, because the relationship issues which caused the anxiety in the first place are gradually being resolved; but I am now stuck with this annoying sensory thing. It feels like someone messed with the factory settings on my ears and broke off the button which controls the treble balance. It's turned up really high most of the time.

My psychiatrist suggested a sensory integration specialist (there's a famous person locally); it has also been suggested by a friend who knows a great deal about autism that I see an audiologist first; and I will be meeting with a HANDLE practitioner shortly anyway because she's involved in a film project about autism in which I have been asked to participate as an interviewee.

But I would really like to hear some aspie personal experiences on this before I spend my money on one thing or the other.

One of my aspie friends also suffers from auditory anxiety issues. He has started sharing them here: http://twitter.com/senseflux

How old are all of you? It seems to be relevant. I have heard of others getting like this later in life. I am 44.

Tinnitus is usually from hearing damage; prolonged exposure to loud noises or a single loud event that breaks the threshold of pain (140 db.). I got mine from the latter, as I never had it before the single event. However, anxiety can cause it, as can a myriad of things (ear infections, impacts to the head and whatnot).

I suppose I have hyperacusis, as certain voices hurt my head (pitches; usually kids and females), and they make me cover my ears with my hands, which is a typical autistic sign.

Here's this
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tinnitus

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperacusis

I was recently exposed to noise damage, which caused deafness followed a few days (during which i took a bucketload of antioxidants and Mg) after hyperacusis.

From the research i was doing, i got the impression that when recovering from noise-induced hyperacusis, you should avoid high noise exposure, but equally avoid near-silence. Over dependance on ear-plugs/mufflers were specifically warned against. Recovery is best when you can find a happy medium, it was suggested that use of low-level white noise etc could be used to provide some gentle stimulus.

So it might be beneficial to use the ear-plugs sparingly, only when noise is really intense.

Stupid alert:

What are Hyperacusis & Tinnitus?

Peko wrote:


In case you did not notice topic

Oh, man. I don't even need to go to a doctor to know I've got both of them.

That is an interesting and useful insight, and I must say, I experienced something of what you said about not making it TOO quiet, when I did a rather odd thing recently.

Here's the backgound...

I didn't want to look odd whilst lecturing (I have been formally training people in Project Management during the past few weeks) so I didn't wear ear-plugs in the classroom, but as soon as I got out of there I would put in ear-plugs, and I also wore ear-plugs when I got back to South Africa and to my office, and when I went out to social events or shopping -- and even at home. I no longer listened to the radio, and as a result I missed several world events of cataclysmic proportions. I also reached the point where I had started to develop melophobia -- a fear of music -- and was frightened to put on my own CDs.

Then one evening I decided: I hate what is happening to me, and I am going to punish my ears for this. So I put on a rock music CD really loud in the dark (I couldn't bear to have BOTH senses, eyes AND ears, occupied). At one point I actually sank to the ground and almost began to cry, and then I relaxed and allowed the nose to envelop me. After that I went out to a night club and danced for about 2 hours. The next day I put on loud rock music in the car on my way to work. No meltdown ensued; I seemed to be pretty OK. I just submitted myself to the music and let it flow over me.

After a day or so, I found a great "happy medium": I put on the music loudly, turned down the treble and turned up the bass, and put in ear-plugs. I subsequently read that autistic people often listen with their bodies rather than with their ears, and that for those who have learning disabilities, this is frequently one of the causes. Anyway, I was really listening with my body this time, and it was extremely pleasant, because I could feel the bass vibrating in my stomach as I leaned forward against the kitchen counter whilst washing dishes. I have always liked slow heavy rock music and the deep vibration that a church organ makes, because you can feel that sound and it feels so good. This was the most sensual experience I have had of that so far, and it cured me of melophobia... but unfortunately not of of hyperacusis!

I developed Tinnitus at the beginning of this year and it's still with me. It is only in the left ear though. I don't know what caused it. I think I have mild Hyperacusis too, but it seems highly variable. I don't really know much about Hyperacusis, so I've not got much to say on the topic. I do my best to block out the tinnitus with other noise during the day, so it only really affects me when i'm trying to sleep.

I discovered I had it about 3 months ago, though I had shown signs before, such as being unable to tolerate headphones, and needing to wear earplugs in nightclubs and concerts, and finding it hard to sleep in an environment with noises... anyway it all sort of collapsed.

I totally recommend this website about it. It was set up by an american NT man who had hyperacusis severely for years... look in my signature. There great advice there and you can buy a sound therapy cd for a pretty low cost.. $15 (US).

Also there are sound machines available which can provide a stimulus:

http://www.marpac.com/1288.asp

What is invaluable is finding an audiologist who specialises in hyperacusis and tinnitus. Most audiologists arent trained to deal with hyperacusis as part of their education, so someone who specialises is a really good idea. I ended up going to the university to find my specialist.

Thank-you very much for this advice. You may just have saved me a lot of money!