Are People That Used to Have Super Hearing More Likely to Get Tinnitus?

The nerves that conduct the neurotransmissions in the ears are more likely to get damaged through noise than the hair cells themselves. That's why people have normal hearing audiograms but then they have tinnitus. The nerves become overexcited through loud noise waves causing them to flood with neurotransmitters that then break connection from its hair cell location thus causing tinnitus and also can cause hyperacusis.

 

That's a really good question!

I don't know if I had "super hearing," but I've always been extremely sensitive to sound (especially discordant noise), and kept the volume of everything as low as possible. I'm sensitive to light, as well. I also have a need for larger personal space than most people. In other words, standing in a grocery line can be quite uncomfortable if the person behind me stands too close, that sort of thing. Seems like I read somewhere that about 10% of the population are "over sensitive," and that normal environmental stimuli is too much for them. We are the hermits

 

My hearing has always been kind up bad. Not terrible but I tend to misunderstand words in loud environments.

 

I have always been able to hear high pitched sounds that none of my friends or family could hear. I could hear the old style TV from upstairs and can hear the systems they put in shops over here to keep teenagers from hanging around. My tinnitus started as a similar high pitched electrical sound but now I have 6 different sounds between 2 ears. I've realised now that I have also always had hyperacusis, even when talking on the phone, but nowhere near as bad as it is now.

 

Do you get enjoyment doing things alone most of the time?

 

Me too. sigh

 

Could you give an explain of what you mean? I thought you guys have tinnitus?

 

Yes, I do. I've always been this way, seeking solitude in nature and avoiding crowds, except in my twenties I did enjoy boot scootin' on Saturday nights. These days it's fun to be with my friends, and their company is great for short periods of time, but for the most part I truly enjoy being by myself. Maybe it's because I'm easily amused.

 

Boot scootin?

 

I lived in Texas in my mid to late twenties. Got to go country dancing when you live in Houston and Fort Worth!

 

Have had tinnitus for 35 years and managed it quite well i think. However after some infections (including ear) and loads of antibiotics the T has come to the fore. Hissing, buzzing and oh so loud. Then suddenly a few days ago it started to clear and suddenly I could only hear it in the far background. What Bliss! Then last night I fell asleep in the chair and on waking the T had returned full blast. Didn't get any sleep and it's with me now. I find that I cannot stand under a fan without the T getting louder. Also if I drive too fast the sound of the wind makes the T unbearable. Anybody else had this problem. So depressed today.

 

I had acute hearing and still do to some degree. Just not to the same level before my noise trauma.

 

I would say yes, since i got my Tinnitus from an Acoustic Reflex Test, which is a routine test, it fucked me up badly, and the only explanation i got was that my ears are maybe more sensitive than others.

 

Trying to look on the bright side, I was starting to see my newly acquired hyperacusis as my new superpower. But I'm not planning on putting on any Daredevil outfits and going out to fight crime any time soon! I feel daring enough just trying to dodge all those slamming doors and public convenience hand driers...

 

I am still like this. I can hear several noises in the enviroment that others can't hear.

 

I was like that before hyperacusis and tinnitus. Sound did not usually bother me, even though I heard so much! I would be able to hear people who were talking 3 rooms away, with several closed doors in between.

 

My personal theory is that synapses somehow reconnect to drive sound to our brains and interpret it as best as posible. I dont really think haircells can repair themselves; they can maybe survive even if they are damaged but at some point some haircells are just lost, and our brains have to adjust to no longer hearing (usually) the high-pitched frequencies. Further damage creates new ways to adapt until there is so much hearing loss that is evident already, and one hears quite bad in noisy environments or with background noise, but is ok understanding speech in silent romos.

Also, you can test hearing changes by listening to music that is on the high frequencies, Mozart, or the voices of somes singers. With hearing loss, even minor, the perception changes a lot.