What is Hyperacusis?

Hyperacusis is when everyday sounds seem much louder than they should. Noises most people barely notice — jingling coins, a barking dog, a car engine, someone chewing, or the vacuum cleaner — can feel overwhelming, and for some people they are genuinely painful.

It can affect one ear or both, and it may come on suddenly after exposure to a loud noise or develop gradually over months or years. Many people find it starts to shape their daily life, making work, socialising and family time harder than they should be.

A man covering his ear against everyday noise

Why Sound Feels Louder

Hyperacusis is not a sign that your hearing is unusually good. It reflects a change in how the ear and brain process the loudness of sound, so noises that are objectively quite ordinary are registered as far louder than they are.

It very often sits alongside other hearing conditions, particularly tinnitus. The good news is that it responds well to the right support — and avoiding sound, which is most people's first instinct, is rarely the answer.

Common Symptoms of Hyperacusis

Everyday Sounds Feel Too Loud

Ordinary noises such as running taps, cutlery or traffic seem far louder to you than they do to everyone else around you.

Discomfort or Pain

Certain sounds cause a sharp, aching or burning sensation in the ear rather than simply feeling loud or unpleasant.

Tinnitus

Ringing, buzzing or hissing in the ears, which very commonly occurs alongside sensitivity to sound.

Anxiety Around Noise

Worry or dread before noisy situations, and a growing urge to avoid places where loud sounds might occur.

Withdrawing from Activities

Turning down invitations, avoiding busy places, or stepping back from hobbies and work because of the noise involved.

Tiredness & Poor Concentration

Constantly bracing against sound is exhausting, and often leads to fatigue, low mood and difficulty focusing.

Important: Hyperacusis can affect one or both ears, and it can begin suddenly or develop slowly over time. If sound sensitivity has come on suddenly, or is accompanied by hearing loss or dizziness, arrange an assessment promptly.

Hyperacusis and Other Sound Sensitivities

Several different conditions are often grouped together as “noise sensitivity”, but they are not the same thing — and they respond to different kinds of support. Identifying which one you are experiencing is the first step towards managing it.

Hyperacusis

Everyday sounds seem much louder than they should, and can be physically painful.

Trigger: Loudness itself, regardless of the source
Response: Discomfort or pain in the ears
Key indicator: It is the volume that is the problem

Misophonia

Particular sounds trigger a strong emotional reaction such as anger, distress or disgust.

Trigger: Specific sounds, often chewing or breathing
Response: An intense emotional reaction
Key indicator: Quiet sounds can be just as triggering

Phonophobia

Certain sounds cause anxiety or fear, often because of what they might lead to.

Trigger: Anticipation of a particular sound
Response: Anxiety and avoidance
Key indicator: The fear can begin before the sound does

Recruitment

The ears struggle to adjust between quiet and loud sounds, so volume jumps sharply.

Trigger: Changes in sound level
Response: Quiet sounds are missed, loud ones overwhelm
Key indicator: Usually occurs with existing hearing loss

It is entirely possible to experience more than one of these at the same time, which is why a proper assessment matters. A full hearing test lets us measure how you actually respond to sound across the range, rather than working from symptoms alone.

What Causes Hyperacusis?

The cause of hyperacusis is not fully understood. For some people it follows a single episode of intense noise exposure; for others it appears gradually, with no obvious trigger at all. It is also frequently associated with a number of other conditions.

Possible Triggers

Sudden Loud Noise – An explosion, gunfire, or a very loud concert
Prolonged Noise Exposure – Noisy workplaces or regular loud music
Head Injury – Including concussion and whiplash
Ear Surgery or Infection – Changes affecting the middle or inner ear
No Identifiable Cause – In many cases none is ever found

Associated Conditions

Tinnitus – The two very often occur together
Ménière’s Disease – An inner ear disorder affecting hearing and balance
Migraines – Sound sensitivity is a common feature
Bell’s Palsy – Affecting the nerve that controls the middle ear muscle
Lyme Disease – A bacterial infection spread by ticks
Autism and Williams Syndrome – Heightened sound sensitivity is common

Please note: Because hyperacusis frequently sits alongside another condition, treating the underlying cause — migraines or Lyme disease, for example — can significantly improve the sound sensitivity as well.

Treatment and Management

Self-Help Measures

Practise relaxation techniques and breathing exercises
Reintroduce everyday sound gradually rather than avoiding it
Use low-level background sound to soften sudden noises
Reserve hearing protection for genuinely loud environments
Plan ahead for noisy events so they feel more manageable
Prioritise sleep, as tiredness makes sensitivity worse

Professional Treatment

Full Hearing Assessment – To measure your response to sound
Sound Therapy – Using white noise to rebuild tolerance
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy – To address the anxiety cycle
Tinnitus Support – Where the two conditions occur together
Treating the Underlying Cause – Such as migraines or infection
Ongoing Review – Adjusting your plan as tolerance improves

Why Avoiding Sound Makes It Worse

It is a natural instinct to wear earplugs constantly or retreat into silence — but both tend to increase sensitivity over time and shrink the range of situations you feel able to cope with. Sound therapy works in the opposite direction, reintroducing sound in a controlled, gradual way so your tolerance steadily rebuilds. Earplugs still have their place in genuinely loud environments; the aim is simply that they are not worn all day, every day.

Living with Hyperacusis

Do

Try relaxation and breathing exercises when sound feels overwhelming
Keep gentle background sound around you during the day
Build your tolerance back up slowly and steadily
Wear proper hearing protection at concerts or noisy work
Tell family, friends and colleagues what you are experiencing
Seek support early rather than waiting for it to settle

Don't

Wear earplugs constantly – this can increase your sensitivity
Try to avoid all noise, which tends to make the problem worse
Withdraw from activities and people you enjoy
Assume nothing can be done about it
Push through painfully loud situations without protection
Ignore new hearing loss, dizziness or ear pain

When Everyday Life Gets Harder

Hyperacusis rarely stays confined to the ears. Constantly bracing against sound is tiring, and many people find themselves turning down invitations, stepping back from hobbies or struggling at work long before they think to mention it to anyone.

If noise sensitivity is starting to shape the decisions you make, that is reason enough to have it looked at properly. It is a recognised condition with recognised treatments, and you do not need to wait until it becomes unbearable.

When to Seek Advice

Speak to a GP If:

Everyday noises feel too loud or painful
Sound sensitivity has come on suddenly
You also have hearing loss, dizziness or ear pain
It followed a head injury or ear infection
It is affecting your work, sleep or relationships
You are becoming low or anxious because of it

Your GP can rule out an underlying medical cause and refer you on where needed.

Book a Hearing Test If:

You are struggling with noise sensitivity of any kind
You have tinnitus alongside sensitivity to sound
You want to understand exactly what you are experiencing
You are starting to avoid places because of noise
You would like advice on suitable hearing protection
You have been told nothing can be done and want a second opinion

Further NHS guidance is available at nhs.uk/conditions/hyperacusis.

How Sussex Audiology Centre Can Help

Comprehensive Hearing Assessment

A full diagnostic test that measures how you respond to sound across the range, giving us a clear picture of what is actually happening.

Sound Therapy

A structured programme using gentle background sound to rebuild your tolerance gradually, without overwhelming you along the way.

Tinnitus Support

Hyperacusis and tinnitus frequently occur together, and we can manage both side by side as part of a single plan.

Custom Hearing Protection

Properly fitted protection for genuinely loud environments, so you stay comfortable without relying on earplugs all day.

If you are struggling with noise sensitivity or hyperacusis, the best first step is a hearing test. It tells us what you are dealing with and lets us build a plan from there — book an appointment and we will take it from the top.

Book Your Appointment Today

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Hyperacusis

What is Hyperacusis?

Why Sound Feels Louder

Common Symptoms of Hyperacusis

Everyday Sounds Feel Too Loud

Discomfort or Pain

Tinnitus

Anxiety Around Noise

Withdrawing from Activities

Tiredness & Poor Concentration

Hyperacusis and Other Sound Sensitivities

Hyperacusis

Misophonia

Phonophobia

Recruitment

What Causes Hyperacusis?

Possible Triggers

Associated Conditions

Treatment and Management

Self-Help Measures

Professional Treatment

Why Avoiding Sound Makes It Worse

Living with Hyperacusis

Do

Don't

When Everyday Life Gets Harder

When to Seek Advice

Speak to a GP If:

Book a Hearing Test If:

How Sussex Audiology Centre Can Help

Comprehensive Hearing Assessment

Sound Therapy

Tinnitus Support

Custom Hearing Protection

Book Your Appointment Today

Related Services

Hearing Assessments

Tinnitus

Misophonia

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