Does Anyone Else Out There Suffer From Extreamly Sensitive Hearing?
@danishcanadian (28954)
Canada
August 30, 2009 2:33am CST
I am legally blind, and as a result of this, I have extremely super-sensitive hearing. It drives me nuts!!! Not only can I literally hear a pin drop on carpet, but I'm sensitive to even the tiniest noise. Regular sounds of the everyday world drive me nuts!!! A motor cycle went by the outdoor cafe where i was sitting today, and I almost dropped my coffee cup!! I also have perfect pitch (can identify musical notes and sounds just by hearing them), and coupled with my super sensitive hearing, this is torture. I cope by going places with my portable CD player and a pair of headphones, and listening to really calm music, that I can turn up without hurting my head. It's not always volume that gets to me, but sound. Volume does get to me if it's too loud, but there are certain sounds that bug me, regardless of their volume, and when those particular sounds are on high volume it's even worse!!
The best I can do to explain my hearing is that it's the audio equivilent of trying to see the road ahead, when the driver behind you has their high-beams on, or trying to see, when driving into a bright light.
Also, I have a hard time with sound transitions. When my husband watches the sci-fi channel, and there are a barrage of different noises and different sound levels, it's akin to trying to read in a dim room with someone flashing lights of different colours, different brightnesses and of different lengths behind me. Ever tried to read under a strobe light? Well sensitive hearing is the audio equivilent of that, and it's how my ENTIRE FREKAING LIFE SOUNDS!!
Anyone else have this problem? How do you cope with it?
Rather than a disability, this is an excessive-ability.
1 person likes this
10 responses
@simonelee (2715)
• China
31 Aug 09
welli do have a sensitive ears also. I was diagnosed lately with hyper accusi. I was so depressed to accept the fact that i have a hearing provlem. I just can't tolerate some noise that are normal to others. My ears vibrate when a person raised or even clap their hands. I often cry alone because i feel pain in my ears. And They don't understand me if i complain. I can't stand certain sounds. When i enter in a quiet room i can hear "shhhh..." sounds and make me depress. So, what I usually do if im alone, turn on the fan. Gee1 good to know im not alone and theirs someone who can understand me.
@danishcanadian (28954)
• Canada
31 Aug 09
I think I'm as glad to read about your experiences as you are to read about mine. Yeahm I know the feeling of the head vibrating. Did you see the discussion I started last night about idiots and car stereos? Sometimes I just want to throw something at them for making my head vibrate like that!!
@simonelee (2715)
• China
31 Aug 09
I was enlighten to read your experinece and some other mylotter's stories. Not, yet. I just only saw your discussion on "today's top discussion" and your tittle catches my attention. I Already think of having that discussion too but afraid to know no one gonna understand me. Okay, i'll check it later and maybe comment something.
Glad to have friend like you. Ciao! Thank you.
Glad to have friend like you. Ciao! Thank you.
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
31 Aug 09
I have senstive hearing and perfect pitch but I love it. I get such a rush from hearing a Harley roll by. And I love thunderstorms. What I can't stand is when someone is straighten out sheets and when someone either sings or plays off key.
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
31 Aug 09
I hate that too. Alot of noises and light messes with my equilibrium. It makes me disoriented and I cannot think straight. It makes me dizzy at times too. I cannot stand bright or flashing lights or sounds while I am trying to focus on something either. My husband always has the tv going or some kind of noise and so does my daughter. It is very distracting and annoying at times.
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
31 Aug 09
Thanks to a tumore taken out of my head... yes.. I have extremely sensitive hearing. The doc's don't know why as the tumor wasn't anywhere near my hearing area, and can't give a reason... I say it is cause now there is so much empty space in there (from where the tumor used to be) that sound is just echoing in there! Granted, that is just something I say to make myself feel better with such an annoying issue, but I mentioned it to one of the doctors and he didn't sluff it off as a stupid possibilitiy!!
I hear things I wish I didn't have to hear. People are having conversations across the room and I can hear them!! Sometimes it is cool, other times it is "oh,,, didn't know that" and other times I find out things that I was not supposed to know or hear! No one will watch tv with me as I need it lower than most and the commercials are so loud and fast anyway... I can't stand them so I mute them, but my husband hates that and gets mad. I tell him, its a stupid commercial.. you don't even want to watch it, why not mute it? But he refuses. Guess it is a "I am MAN" thing... whatever. I have one in my room so I go in there! It is annoying, but it could be worse, is my theory!
@mobhomeir (7558)
• Philippines
31 Aug 09
First time to know that. Yes you have really a unique and extremely sensitive hearing ability. It's amazing at same time for me it would be so disturbing and annoying. I can't share something on this issue I am sorry because I don't have like this unique senses of yours.... have a nice day ahead and advance Happy weeding anniversary, good luck and hoping on more more years of your wedding anniversaries to come....
@neelianoscet (9615)
• Philippines
31 Aug 09
I have a broken eardrums when I accidentally clean my ears and the cotton buds hit my eardrums. i am totally in pain and i was admitted to the outpatient clinic. The doctor examine my ears and it say that i damage my eardrums. She gives me medicines to relieve the pain and for infection. Now it is already heal but it really affected my hearing. I get to speak louder then, my companion says i speak too loud, Then when a person ask me or tell me a story i get to tell them to repeat again as i do not hear them quite well. It really feel annoying whenever they tease me when I keep them telling to repeat whatever they says to me and sometimes i hear words which sounds like but definitely have different meaning..Luckily, my other ears still works fine..
@horsesrule (1957)
• United States
30 Aug 09
I am sorry, that sounds very difficult to deal with in our loud world! My hearing is not that sensitive. Now I do have problems with being overwhelmed by lots of loud noises so I have had to start wearing ear plugs quite often. It's especially bad with my three grandsons and their constant fighting and bickering and the little one's loud piercing autistic sounds he makes. I love them all but there are times, due to their noise, I would gladly run screaming into the street in front of oncoming traffic!! Yes, it does get that bad. But I thank God for my foam ear plugs!
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
30 Aug 09
I have a reverse slope hearing loss. I can't hear the TV or my husband talk but a bird singing at 5 AM sounds like a canon and the dripping of water is equivalent to water torture.
It is amazing how sick mother nature's sense of humor can be.
@prashanthalva (2272)
• India
30 Aug 09
oh .. Now I Know The Real You .. LoL .. Jokes Apart I Suddenly Feel Concerned .. I Have Come Across Many Blind People Having One Extra Sense .. It Always Goes this Way 'You Are Equally Compensated for Your Loss' .. Thank You For Reading Through ..
@moonchild1au (6237)
• Australia
30 Aug 09
I wish I had good hearing!! Maybe not exactly like you but similar...I suffer from tinnitus & as a result of a swimming injury when I was 10 (21 years ago), I have been legally deaf in my left ear :(
