The Catch-All Book

Hypersensitivity Part 5

What Is Hyperacusis?

Hyperacusis is a hearing disorder that makes it hard to deal with everyday sounds. You might also hear it called sound or noise sensitivity. If you have it, certain sounds may seem unbearably loud even though people around you don't seem to notice them.

Hyperacusis is rare. It affects 1 in 50,000 people. Most people who have it also have another condition called tinnitus, which is a buzzing or ringing in your ear.

Hyperacusis is a hearing disorder. But a lot of people who have it also have normal hearing.

Some people are only mildly bothered by these sounds. Others have severe symptoms such as a loss of balance or Seizures.

Hyperacusis Causes and Risk Factors

Your ears detect sounds as vibrations. If you have hyperacusis, confuses or exaggerates certain vibrations. So even if you get the same signals as someone else, your brain reacts differently to them. That's what causes the discomfort.

People aren't typically born with hyperacusis. It usually results from certain diseases or health issues. The most common ones are:

An injury to your head (for instance, one caused by an airbag)Damage to one or both because of or toxinsA that affects your inner ear or facial nerve ()Temporomandibular joint () disorderTay-Sachs diseaseUsing regularlyCertain kinds of Meniere's disease (PTSD)Surgery on your jaw or faceWilliams syndrome

Being around a loud noise also can cause hyperacusis. Something like a single loud gunshot can trigger the condition. But it also can come from being near loud noises over a long period.

Hyperacusis Diagnosis

If you think you have hyperacusis, you'll see an ear, nose, and throat doctor (ENT, or otolaryngologist). They'll ask about your medical history, look closely at your ears, and give you a hearing test to confirm it.

Hyperosmia

Hyperosmia is a heightened and hypersensitive sense of smell that has been associated with a number of medical conditions. is more common than hyperosmia. Outside of conditions that are known to cause this disorder, chronic hyperosmia can sometimes occur without any clear cause.

People with hyperosmia can experience strong discomfort and even illness from certain smells. Exposure to chemical odors like synthetic fragrances, perfumes, and cleaning products can trigger mild to severe discomfort. Even the scent of certain shampoos can be too much.

Exposure to odors and toxic vapors that aggravate your hyperosmia may lead to anxiety and depression. Individual triggers and irritants vary from one person to the next.

Hyperosmia is sometimes caused by migraines. One study found that between 25 to 50 percent of the 50 patients in their study experienced some version of hyperosmia during their migraine attacks. 11 of the patients experienced hyperosmia before the actual migraine.

Severe cases of hyperosmia can disrupt your life by causing anxiety and depression, especially if you're unsure what smells might trigger the discomfort. This can be isolating because it may be difficult for you to attend certain events or go to certain places.

Hyperosmia is associated with multiple conditions and can trigger a variety of symptoms. Some conditions associated with hyperosmia can cause the change in smell, and vice versa. Because of this, it may be difficult for you to determine whether your hyperosmia is a symptom of a larger disorder or the cause of it.

Pregnancy

One of the most common causes of hyperosmia is pregnancy. An early symptom of pregnancy is a heightened sense of smell. This can trigger headaches, nausea, and vomiting during first-trimester morning sickness. It's also associated with Hyperemesis Gravidarum, a severe form of morning sickness that can lead to hospitalization. Symptoms often fade as the pregnancy goes on, and typically go away after birth.

Migraines

Migraine Headaches can cause and be caused by hyperosmia. Heightened sensitivity to smells can happen between migraine episodes. Odor sensitivity can also trigger a migraine or make you more susceptible to having them.

Lyme disease

  Lyme Disease is another illness that is associated with hyperosmia. In one study 50/% of Lyme disease patients experienced a heightened sense of smell. If you think you might have been exposed to Lyme disease, talk to your doctor about being tested.

Autoimmune diseases

Recently, researchers have begun studying links between like i.e., Addison's Disease or Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. Hyperosmia is also a symptom of untreated adrenal insufficiency, which is a precursor to Addison's disease.

Neurological conditions

Some neurologic conditions have also been linked to hyperosmia, including Multiple Sclerosis MS, Alhezmer's, and Epilepsy. Multiple sclerosis is known to affect senses like taste and smell. Loss of smell is most common in these conditions. With the exception of MS, people with these conditions may experience hyperosmia instead.

In rare cases, neoplastic growths like polyps or tumors can occur intranasally or intracranially. These may affect the olfactory nerve.