Tips to cope when hearing hurts
Hyperacusis can cause ear pain and other physical reactions to everyday sound.
- Reviewed by Anthony L. Komaroff, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Health Letter; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
Many people become hard of hearing as they get older. But another common condition is less well recognized, and is almost the opposite problem: hypersensitivity to sounds such as someone’s voice or the shrill clang of a fork accidentally dropped on a plate. Sounds not only can seem louder than normal, they also can cause pain and upset you. The condition is called hyperacusis (pronounced “hyper-a-COO-sis”). “It occurs in up to 15% of the population, and it’s more common after age 50 in people with or without hearing loss,” says Meaghan Reed, director of clinical audiology at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts Eye and Ear.
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About the Author
Heidi Godman, Executive Editor, Harvard Health Letter
About the Reviewer
Anthony L. Komaroff, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Health Letter; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
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