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Hyperacusis is an increased sensitivity to sound and a low tolerance for environmental noise. Definitions of hyperacusis can vary significantly; it often revolves around damage to or dysfunction of the stapes bone , stapedius muscle or tensor tympani ( eardrum ).
Misophonia (or selective sound sensitivity syndrome) is a disorder of decreased tolerance to specific sounds or their associated stimuli, or cues.These cues, known as "triggers", are experienced as unpleasant or distressing and tend to evoke strong negative emotional, physiological, and behavioral responses not seen in most other people. [8]
The ear can be exposed to short periods of sound in excess of 120 dB without permanent harm — albeit with discomfort and possibly pain — but long term exposure to sound levels over 85 dB(A) can cause permanent hearing loss. [31] There are two basic types of NIHL: NIHL caused by acoustic trauma; NIHL that gradually develops.
Annoyance effects of noise are minimally affected by demographics, but fear of the noise source and sensitivity to noise both strongly affect the 'annoyance' of a noise. [42] Sound levels as low as 40 dB(A) can generate noise complaints [43] and the lower threshold for noise producing sleep disturbance is 45 dB(A) or lower. [44]
The sufferer becomes anxious to get away from the source of the loud sound and may get headaches. [1] It may also be related to, caused by, or confused with hyperacusis, extreme sensitivity to loud sounds. [5] Phonophobia also has been proposed to refer to an extreme form of misophonia. [6]
The terms hearing impaired or hard of hearing are usually reserved for people who have relative inability to hear sound in the speech frequencies. Hearing loss occurs when sound waves enter the ears and damage the sensitive tissues [ 21 ] The severity of hearing loss is categorized according to the increase in intensity of sound above the usual ...
The test is conducted in a sound booth using either a pair of foam inserts or supraural headphones connected to an external audiometer. The result of the test is an audiogram diagram which plots a person's hearing sensitivity at the tested frequencies.
Long-term exposure to noise and some medical conditions can also play a role. In addition, new research suggests that certain genes make some people more susceptible to hearing loss as they age. [10] Other risk factors include preexisting noise-induced hearing loss and exposure to ototoxic medications. [11]