Remedies for Hypersensitive Hearing?

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Do any of you have any remedies for hypersensitive hearing? The psychiatrist gave me a couple to practice, but they don't seem to be helping at all. I just wanted to put that question out there, because I really need help with this.

I have super sensitive ears too! I have earplugs under the name "quiet down" that are very comfortable (not necessarily for longterm) but one of the awesome things I found was I went to an audiologist (usually a hearing doc for people who are hard of hearing) and they made me molds for my ears because they are small and most earplugs don't fit. I'm also allergic to latex so that also limits my choices of ear plugs.

If you like movies but find them too loud, see if your local movies has a mom and tots program, it's where moms (or dads) can take their infant to see a movie, it has about half the volume of usual movies and as long as you don't mind the occasional infant crying, it's not too bad! They are recent movies and not children's movies. I explained why I was going to a few of the regulars and they totally understood! I like to be open! I don't want people to think I'm a creeper!! Especially since I don't look people in the eye, they might think I was hiding something! lol!

Good luck!

Target practice without hearing protection worked for me.

You run the risk of having a permanent ring in the ears by doing that.

AIT. I forget what it stands for... Auditory Integration Training? Something like that. It doesn't lower the threshold at which you detect sounds, and may even raise it, but it does (temporarily-- for a few years) make it not hurt. It basically involves a lot of listening to music. They tested my hearing beforehand and found a sawtooth pattern (sometimes hypersensitive, sometimes hypo); the test afterward showed no loss of the ability to detect noises at the frequencies I'd previously been hypersensitive to (my hearing was actually better in the other areas), but it stopped hurting to hear them at levels that most people can tolerate. There are some things that will make your hearing go back to the way it was before, and I've experienced all of them since. But having the chance to mature meant learning coping skills without having as many meltdowns or restrictions on my activities. It was definitely worth it to grow up with normal hearing for a while, but I don't know as I'd recommend it to an adult, knowing that if you want to keep the benefits you'll eventually need a touch-up.

But the first day I had it, I went and sat in a crowded restaurant and it was okay. So if you're desperate...

Ear plugs.

Or noise cancelling headphones + your favorite music.

At night, when you are trying to sleep and even the slightest noise sounds like a jackhammer, leave a fan running in your bedroom and use earplugs. You won't hear a thing.

Although knowing this forum, and its members just complaining and complaining but never doing anything to improve their situation, you will probably not do as I suggested, and will instead be back here in 3 months posting the same topic. SO THIS IS YOUR TASK FOR TOMORROW Sunday the 22nd: go to a store and buy earplugs. I will check on Monday to see if you got them.

[url=http://www.koss.com/koss/kossweb.nsf/p?openform&pc^eb^PLUG]http://www.koss.com/koss/kossweb.nsf/p?openform&pc^eb^PLUG[/url]

+putting my fingers in my ears when i dont have my mp3 player with me
+avoiding children
+going in new trains that have wheels that dont screech.

I also agree with getting specially-made earplugs. I have them too, although not because of hearing sensitivities [I'm a music journalist/photographer so I'm around noisy environments frequently], but I've found that they are fantastic in dampening down noises while not compromising the quality of what you're hearing. I find that normal earplugs tend to compromise all sounds and turns what you're listening to into audio mud.

Mine are also clear and not very big, so they're unobtrusive.

Only issue is their price, they're obviously more expensive than your usual earplugs but at least they're reusable

If you can't afford ear plugs, try this simple solution: lightly moisten a piece of cotton and stick it in your ear. I've been doing that to sleep better ever since I was a little kid, and it works great. The water makes the cotton kneadable and it really fits in your ear, but it does take some practice to get the size right. I use these improvised ear plugs every day.

Or try Hearos musician earplugs: http://www.hearos.com/earplugs/music

I've heard good things about them and they aren't very expensive.

I'm planning on getting myself some earplugs, to wear at night, so that I won't have to listen to the drunk, 20-something banshees walking past my apartment, at 2 in the morning.

It definitely rang for a day or so, but I cant hear it ringing now. I don't hear everyday noise that bad, but I still hear the thumper cars that drive by.

Personally I think the idea that someone would encourage another person to potentially permanently damage their hearing to combat hearing sensitivities to be fairly - I dunno, asinine? Just my opinion, though.

macks ear plugs - some are made with silicone putty which mold to the outside of your ear. much less chance of infection or complications. I use them for sleeping so i cant hear the pig, i mean my neighbours snoring upstairs.

i think you can actually senistize your hearing further if you block out too much noise - so its wise to put up with some things if your sure the decibels are well below the danger threshold.

@n4mwd LMAO, I was gonna say the same thing! I always wear earplugs with ear protectors. I also wear earplugs with a full face helmet when riding, but both those things are STILL loud to my hearing, and I've gone partially deaf. I actually kinda like it. Now I hear like other people do.

Yeah, it's called tinnitus, and it's not good. I use earplugs too, but I've been told that doesn't really fix the problem. Frankly I only have to use them infrequently, so it's not like suffering for the sake of "fixing" my hyperacusis is going to tremendously improve my life.