Hearing health is not limited to just being able to hear sounds. Experts state that some individuals can exhibit extreme sensitivity to sounds even if their hearing thresholds are normal. Lecturer Dr. Yeter Saçlı, drawing attention to hyperacusis, known as decreased sound tolerance, noted that this condition causes even normal level sounds to be perceived as disturbing and unbearable.
Saçlı also pointed out that there are individuals who experience intense discomfort towards certain body sounds such as chewing, slurping, or breathing, meaning they have misophonia, and said, “Their hearing thresholds are usually normal; however, the underlying causes can be genetic, psychological, or neurological.”
Dr. Yeter Saçlı from the Audiology Department of Üsküdar University's Faculty of Health Sciences explained the concept of hearing threshold.
Hearing Threshold is Determined by Hearing Tests
Dr. Yeter Saçlı stated that the hearing threshold refers to the lowest sound intensity a person can hear, saying, “The determination of these thresholds is possible with hearing tests conducted by audiologists. For this purpose, in audiology clinics, hearing tests known as pure-tone audiometry are performed in a soundproof booth, taking into account individuals' ages and mental conditions. As a result of these tests, it can be determined whether hearing thresholds are normal; if there is hearing loss, its type and degree can be identified. Although there are different classifications to determine the degrees of hearing loss, it can generally be said that thresholds up to 15 decibels are considered normal.”
Even Normal Sounds Can Be Disturbing
Dr. Saçlı drew attention to sound sensitivities and noted the following:
“Normal hearing thresholds do not guarantee that an individual will not experience problems understanding speech in noisy or challenging listening conditions, or will not show perceptual sensitivity to sounds. For example, there may be individuals who cannot tolerate sounds that most people can. Hyperacusis, also known as decreased sound tolerance, describes the physical discomfort or pain that results from sounds perceived as normal by others being felt as disturbingly and unbearably loud. Individuals with this condition may not have hearing loss; however, it is often accompanied by auditory symptoms such as tinnitus. Although noise exposure stands out as the primary cause of this condition, different factors such as trauma can also lead to hyperacusis.”
Bothered by Chewing, Slurping, or Breathing…
Lecturer Dr. Yeter Saçlı noted that another group of patients who struggle to tolerate sounds are those with misophonia, and said, “Misophonia is characterized by intense emotional reactions to specific sounds (body sounds such as chewing, slurping, breathing, etc.). Individuals with this condition also usually have normal hearing thresholds. The underlying causes of misophonia can be genetic, psychological, or neurological. If a person struggles to tolerate sounds, they should first undergo an ear, nose, and throat examination and then consult an audiologist. If no audiological problem is detected as a result of the tests performed, a referral can be made to relevant branches such as psychiatry or neurology to address the problem.”
Professional Support is Essential!
Pointing out that individuals who show extreme sensitivity to sounds should receive professional support, Dr. Yeter Saçlı concluded, “Treatment or therapy methods to be applied may vary depending on the underlying cause of the problem. Furthermore, these methods are planned individually. In addition to treatment, it is recommended that the individual identify their triggers and create a comfortable, consistent sound environment for themselves to facilitate their daily life.”
