Hyperacusis Caused by a High-Speed Car Collision

Hello everyone,

I’m new here. So my story started 14/1/20. I was driving to A work destination. On the M3 a van smashes into the back of me at high speed.

Long story short, I developed tinnitus (high pitched ring) in both ears, severe head pain, migraine and this unbearable ability to hear EVERYTHING!

I now have the following diagnoses:

• Chronic daily migraine
• Post traumatic migraine
• Tinnitus
• Hyperacusis
• Disabling headache syndrome
• Occipital neuralgia

So my questions are around the hyperacusis.

I saw ENT last week who I didn’t find very helpful. I wear ear protection but only in hospitals which he seemed annoyed by.

How do you guys manage with hyperacusis? Does this condition ever get better and completely go away?

I’ve not been able to work since my car crash as yet, due to severe head pain.

 

In my particular case hyperacusis changed over many years, but did not go away. My ears somehow traded less hyperacusis for some hearing loss and tinnitus. So ears just change.

Maybe you could go to a physiotherapist to check your neck, shoulder and back. Also check with a dentist and a doctor specialised in the jaw area and TMJ.

If you had whiplash due to your car accident you may want to look into that too.

 

Have you had any imaging done to check for any physical problems that could be causing it?

 

Hello,

Thank you for your replies. I’ve had a CT and MRI of my brain and neck. All okay apart from some moderate arthritis in my neck. Neurology thought it was concussion causing my light sensitivity and also my hyperacusis, but this is not the case.

I see an osteopath weekly who also does acupuncture as well. Nerve blocks help my severe occipital pain but this hearing is something else

 

I'm so sorry you were in such an accident that caused all this.

My hyperacusis improved on its own over time, but I occasionally experience setbacks, where a loud noise will retrigger it. Sort of like reinjuring a sprained ankle. It's never going to be 100%, but I am ok with that.

My ENT didnt know what to make of the hyperacusis. I just don't even bring it up anymore to my drs anymore.

Good luck with your healing!

 

Have you tried a diuretic to lower your intracranial pressure a little bit for a couple of weeks? Not necessarily a prescription. You can try herbal tea like Dandelion root tea.

Also, don't bend over, and avoid any strenuous activity. And if you can find a way to keep your head elevated (30-45 degrees) while you are in bed without hurting your neck, that might relieve some pressure, too.

 

How long did it take for you to recover/start seeing improvements? How would you describe your quality of life now?

 

It took me a year to start to cope with the severe pain in my head. It also took this long for a diagnosis and to receive the correct treatment. I’m being referred to the neurosurgeon for an occipital nerve stimulator. All my issues neck, hearing, sight are all linked. So I’m hoping if one is fixed everything else will follow.

My life is very different now, I can’t do the things I use too. But I’m still alive and breathing. I just take one day at a time now. I’ve accepted it’s okay to not be okay. None of the doctors I’ve seen really understand about my hyperacusis.