Hyperacusis
@nanette64 (20364)
Fairfield, Texas
February 1, 2021 12:26pm CST
For years people and myself thought I had lost my marbles because I was able to hear certain sounds that they couldn't. Nothin' like being told you're delusional. But surprise, surprise....I'm not.
Friday night on the History Channel they had an episode that dealt with certain wave-length sounds that some people could hear. It is called 'Hyperacusis'. (hyper-a-que-sis). "Noise sensitivity to frequencies and volume ranges of sound." (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperacusis)
Only 1 in 50,000 people have this crappy ability. And trust me...it's enough to make you pull out your hair. When I was younger and helped my Mom at her second job cleaning a bank; every time I would come in range of the cameras that were inside the bank, it sounded like someone dragging their fingernails across a chalk board. Some ranges of sound are absolutely excruciating and some extremely low frequencies actually increase my heart rate.
When TV's had tubes inside of them, I could always tell when one was about to malfunction because it would change pitch. Oye Vay!!! Just be glad you're one of the other 49,999 people.
30 people like this
28 responses
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
1 Feb 21
Very true on the senses @CarolDM . I guess that's why we've got 5 of them to work with.
4 people like this
@CarolDM (203451)
• Nashville, Tennessee
1 Feb 21
@nanette64 I agree. Amazing how that works.
3 people like this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
1 Feb 21
@CarolDM Go figure how the Lord had all this figured out ahead of time. LOL
5 people like this
@DocAndersen (54407)
• United States
1 Feb 21
it is a truly interesting consition. I've heard about it your the first person I've met with it.
4 people like this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
1 Feb 21
There are times that I wish I was deaf as a stick @DocAndersen . You can only imagine what it's like for me to have a sister who refuses to wear her hearing aids and our weekly conversation lasts 4 HOURS!!!!!
4 people like this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
1 Feb 21
@DocAndersen Go figure, right? You can only imagine listening to her yell for that time-frame. Talk about needing some Tylenol!!!!!
3 people like this
@DocAndersen (54407)
• United States
1 Feb 21
@nanette64 i can imagine it is very frustrating. one sister that hears everything, one sister without hearing aids!
4 people like this
@LadyDuck (458711)
• Switzerland
2 Feb 21
I know the problem even too well Nanette, my husband has this problem and this "sensitivity" also is cause of migraines. There is nothing we can do, we moved every tech gadget out from the bedroom and even changed our bed that was a metal frame, metal increases the level of sensitivity.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (458711)
• Switzerland
2 Feb 21
@nanette64 It took almost two years before the doctors understood what was my husband problem.
2 people like this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
2 Feb 21
Oh yeah, my temples start screaming with an episode @LadyDuck . Sound therapy is the only thing I know about.
2 people like this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
2 Feb 21
@LadyDuck Well considering this is rare, I'm not surprised. Sometimes it sucks to be special. 
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137142)
• United States
1 Feb 21
Uhm...
just because you actually can hear sounds others can't doesn't mean you aren't crazy.
Just thought I should let you know that. 
just because you actually can hear sounds others can't doesn't mean you aren't crazy.
Just thought I should let you know that. 2 people like this
@Hannihar (129508)
• Israel
2 Feb 21
@nanette64
I believe everyone has something and it is very frustrating when you are not believed.
2 people like this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
2 Feb 21
Yeah, cause it's one thing to be really crazy and another to be sort of crazy @Hannihar . 
2 people like this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
2 Feb 21
@Hannihar Not even a little? Well dang!
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129508)
• Israel
2 Feb 21
@nanette64
I do not believe you are crazy at all.
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (85441)
• Bangalore, India
2 Feb 21
I would believe you. I was not aware of the term. My husband is very irritated when we have mosquito repellent machine in our room. While my elder one complains of its smell giving her headache ( she is hypersensitive to smells and has a strong sense of smell), my husband says that it has an irritating sound. None of us ever heard it. He feels the same way for few other things too.
2 people like this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
2 Feb 21
At least you know it's real @arunima25 . Sound therapy is the only thing I know of to help treat this.
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
3 Feb 21
@arunima25 I'll be 70 years old in April so I've learned to live with it.
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (85441)
• Bangalore, India
3 Feb 21
@nanette64 Are you going for any therapy? I am not sure if we have any therapist here.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157645)
• United States
2 Feb 21
I believe you on this. It must be awful.
2 people like this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
2 Feb 21
I'm just glad my computer has a soft hum @GardenGerty .
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
2 Feb 21
Oh hell yeah @rebelann it's almost a screetching sound.
2 people like this
@hereandthere (45651)
• Philippines
2 Feb 21
i guess that's better than those magnetic people i read about who attract metals (if it's true).
was there ever a time this condition/ability served you well?
2 people like this
@Fleura (29194)
• United Kingdom
1 Feb 21
Oh and I should have said - I can hear those so-called inaudible cat deterrents (maddening!) and those sounds that are supposed to deter loitering teenagers because adults can't hear them (er, no) and until relatively recently I could also hear bats, something only young children are supposed to be able to hear. In fact I was disappointed to find that neither of my daughters can hear them.
2 people like this
@Fleura (29194)
• United Kingdom
1 Feb 21
I have a touch of that. Nothing like as bad as you describe, but I can certainly hear when someone has accidentally left the computer on, for instance, and I absolutely can't stand some alarms. One place I worked had an alarm on the door of a clean room if it was opened for more than about 2 seconds. So basically every time anyone went through it the alarm would go off. Some people would just stand there chatting in the open door while I was almost ready to kill them after a few seconds! About the only time I actually swore at people I worked with.
2 people like this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
2 Feb 21
The alarm thing reminded me of back when I was in school and they did the fire alarm thing for testing purposes. I thought my brain was gonna fall out and everybody else is just chatting. So boy do I feel ya on that one @Fleura .
2 people like this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
1 Feb 21
Both unfortunately @DianneN . Although I can hear if someone is talking about me from halfway across the grocery store. Just kidding on that one.
Just kidding on that one.3 people like this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
1 Feb 21
I thought so too @paigea . I told my daughter though that when I croak to have me cremated so I don't have to hear anything 6' under. 
3 people like this
@Namelesss (3368)
• United States
1 Feb 21
So there IS a name for it, I knew there just had to be. Sorry you got it real bad it seems.
2 people like this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
2 Feb 21
Yeah, I was beginning to think I was just a ding-dong @Namelesss .
2 people like this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
2 Feb 21
@Namelesss Oh well dang, and here I thought I had a good excuse. And you are very welcome for the info.
And you are very welcome for the info.2 people like this
@Namelesss (3368)
• United States
2 Feb 21
@nanette64 Well you're still a dong dong But we do love our ding dongs.
You know I'm teasing you and I am really happy you found a name and some factual information.
But we do love our ding dongs.
You know I'm teasing you and I am really happy you found a name and some factual information.2 people like this
@rsa101 (37968)
• Philippines
3 Feb 21
Looks like a very difficult thing to do when you are sensitive to something many do not have. Although there may be some advantages like the one you told about the tv conking out but it just is difficult to be sensitive about something most do not experience. I just hope there is something that can be done in cases like yours.
1 person likes this
@rsa101 (37968)
• Philippines
5 Feb 21
@nanette64 So there is a therapeutic approach to your problem. But l guess since you’ve grown with it it’s just hard to fix it anymore. At least you have known about your condition that it’s not something psychological but a different medical condition that you have.
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
5 Feb 21
@rsa101 Exactly. I'm just falling apart apparently.
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
3 Feb 21
Sound therapy @rsa101 but at age 70 and putting up with it for all these years; who cares.
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (58444)
• Philippines
2 Feb 21
Very interesting read. Thanks for sharing this. Have you adjusted with your condition?
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (58444)
• Philippines
3 Feb 21
@nanette64 hopefully, you get to do it as soon as possible.
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
3 Feb 21
@allen0187 I'm too old at this point (70).
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
2 Feb 21
Sound therapy is the only thing I know of to help treat it and I can't afford to have it done and my insurance doesn't cover it @allen0187 .
2 people like this
@LeaPea2417 (36481)
• Toccoa, Georgia
1 Feb 21
I have never heard of Hyperacusis.
2 people like this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
1 Feb 21
I hadn't either. Imagine my surprise when I was finally able to put 2 and 2 together @LeaPea2417 .
2 people like this
@rakski (112925)
• Philippines
3 Feb 21
@nanette64 I also did not know this kind of condition. Have you seen a doctor for it?
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
3 Feb 21
@rakski I do have a fractured Cochlea in the right ear which would mean surgery but at age 70, I really don't care anymore.
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
2 Feb 21
I figured it was just me being weird @rakski but now that I know it is a real condition the only thing I know medically is sound therapy which takes a year to complete.
2 people like this
@MALUSE (69413)
• Germany
6 Feb 21
Long time no read! I'm glad to see that you're still with us albeit not with an uplifting post.
Have you talked to an ear doctor about your condition? What you need is a thingy you can put into your ear which doesn't enhance sound as is necessary for people who lose the ability to hear well but something that dampens or lowers the intensity of sound. Why shouldn't this already exist even though the market would be small for it what with 1 person in 50.000?
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
7 Feb 21
Hi Gorgeous. The doctor blamed it on a Fractured Cochlea even though that only happened in 2002. I told him I've had the problem since my youth. Doctors!!!!! They never listen to ya. I think a lot of doctors misdiagnose the problem since the number 'is' small @MALUSE .
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
3 Feb 21
@JudyEv Boy ain't that the truth.
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
2 Feb 21
Can you imagine being in a room with a 1000 people all talking at once at different volumes? Oye Vay!! Even ringing bells set me off @JudyEv .
2 people like this
@JudyEv (326101)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 Feb 21
@nanette64 Maybe getting deaf isn't so bad after all. 
2 people like this
