5 things you should know about hyperacusis

Most people feel uncomfortable around extremely loud sounds. It’s a totally normal and natural response. But when everyday noises like running water, conversation, or a ringing phone feel overwhelming or even painful, something else may be going on. This heightened sensitivity to sound is known as hyperacusis, and it can significantly affect daily life. 

Hyperacusis is more than just disliking noise. It involves a reduced tolerance to sounds that most people find manageable, and it often leads individuals to avoid situations that trigger discomfort. Below are five important things to know about hyperacusis, including how it shows up, what can make it worse, and how support can help. 

1. Everyday sounds can feel overwhelming
2. Avoiding sound can make symptoms worse
3. Hyperacusis doesn’t mean your hearing is “better”
4. Hyperacusis is often linked with tinnitus
5. Support starts with understanding

Note: Our Hearing Care Providers (HCPs) are here to support your hearing health and provide personalized guidance. However, if you're concerned about medical issues affecting your hearing, always consult your healthcare provider first. 

1. Everyday sounds can feel overwhelming 

With hyperacusis, it doesn’t take an unusually loud sound to cause discomfort. Common noises such as vacuum cleaners, running water, barking dogs, children’s voices, clinking dishes, or even laughter can feel intrusive or painful. Sounds that are part of normal daily life may suddenly seem unbearable. 

It’s important not to confuse hyperacusis with misophonia. While hyperacusis involves reduced tolerance to the volume of sound, misophonia is a condition in which specific sounds—often repetitive ones like chewing or tapping—trigger strong emotional or physiological reactions. Although the two can coexist, they are different conditions with different underlying mechanisms. 

2. Avoiding sound can make symptoms worse 

When sound becomes uncomfortable, many people instinctively try to block it out. Wearing earplugs constantly, withdrawing from social situations, or keeping environments unnaturally quiet can feel like relief in the short term. Unfortunately, this approach can actually increase sound sensitivity over time. 

The auditory system adapts to what it experiences. When the brain becomes used to silence, everyday sounds may begin to feel even louder and more threatening. This cycle can reinforce hyperacusis rather than improve it. Common avoidance behaviours include: 

• Wearing earplugs in normal, non-hazardous environments
• Isolating oneself to avoid unpredictable sounds
• Keeping homes excessively quiet at all times

Learning when hearing protection is appropriate—and when it isn’t—is an important part of managing hyperacusis. 

3. Hyperacusis doesn’t mean your hearing is “better” 

A common misconception is that people with hyperacusis have “super hearing.” In reality, many people with hyperacusis have normal hearing thresholds when measured on a standard hearing test. What differs is their tolerance to sound, not their ability to detect it. 

For example, a typical person may tolerate sounds up to around 90 decibels without discomfort. Someone with hyperacusis might find everyday sounds—such as conversation at about 60 decibels—uncomfortable or distressing. The issue lies in how the brain processes and reacts to sound intensity, not in enhanced hearing ability. 

This distinction helps explain why hyperacusis can exist even when hearing thresholds appear normal. 

4. Treatment focuses on retraining sound tolerance 

Hyperacusis frequently occurs alongside tinnitus, a condition in which a person perceives ringing, buzzing, hissing, or other sounds without an external source. While not everyone with tinnitus experiences hyperacusis, many people with hyperacusis report some form of tinnitus as well. 

The two conditions are thought to be connected through how the auditory system processes sound and regulates sensitivity. When tolerance to sound is reduced, internal noises may feel more noticeable or distressing. Hyperacusis and tinnitus often share contributing factors such as: 

• Prolonged exposure to loud noise
• Ear injury or infection
• Changes in hearing sensitivity
• Stress or heightened nervous system response

When these conditions occur together, a hearing test can help clarify if hearing loss is contributing to the symptoms. 

5. Support starts with understanding  

Hyperacusis looks different from person to person, and there is no single experience or cause. For some, it appears suddenly; for others, it develops gradually alongside hearing changes or tinnitus. Because symptoms can overlap with other hearing-related conditions, understanding what’s happening is the most important first step. 

A hearing assessment can help rule out hearing loss, identify related issues such as tinnitus, and determine whether referral to another healthcare professional is appropriate. While not all sound sensitivity concerns require ongoing treatment, having a clear explanation of your hearing health can be reassuring and empowering. 

Support begins with listening—to your symptoms, your experiences, and your concerns—and taking informed next steps from there. 

Understanding hyperacusis and next steps 

Living with hyperacusis can be challenging, particularly when everyday environments feel unpredictable or overwhelming. The condition is real, and its impact on daily functioning should not be dismissed. The good news is that hyperacusis is manageable, and many people experience improvement with the right guidance and support. 

Key takeaways 

• Hyperacusis is a reduced tolerance to everyday sounds, not just loud ones.
• Avoiding sound entirely can worsen sensitivity over time.
• Normal hearing does not rule out hyperacusis.
• Treatment focuses on gradual sound desensitization.
• Hyperacusis and tinnitus often occur together.

If sound sensitivity is affecting your comfort, communication, or quality of life, a hearing assessment can help clarify what’s going on and guide appropriate next steps. You can book a free hearing test or find a clinic near you to speak with a Hearing Care Provider (HCP) about support options.