Loud Roaring Sound on Shutting Ear Canal: A Rare Type of Autophony/Hyperacusis?

[EricZ]

I have had hyperacusis for a very long time due to overexposure to loud music. My hearing is good. I do not have a greatly reduced dynamic range; it is mostly sounds from 80 to 90 decibels upwards that sound too loud and/or distorted. However, there is also an enhanced occlusion effect that occurs when I shut the ear canal with my fingers. The low-frequency sound transmitted by the muscle fibres of the arms that is only faintly audible under normal conditions is amplified considerably in my case (becoming very loud when I clench my fist or shut my eyes tight). The Ents I have seen could not account for this abnormal occlusion effect.

I do not have (other kinds of) autophony; my voice, breathing etc sound perfectly normal. Nor do I have any of the symptoms associated with TTTS, apart from an occasionally fluttering eardrum (in reaction to sound). However, the tensor tympani muscle has sounded distinctly louder when contracting since I have had hyperacusis. I was wondering if there is anyone else familiar with this...

 

[Juan]

I have had hyperacusis for a very long time due to overexposure to loud music. My hearing is good. I do not have a greatly reduced dynamic range; it is mostly sounds from 80 to 90 decibels upwards that sound too loud and/or distorted. However, there is also an enhanced occlusion effect that occurs when I shut the ear canal with my fingers. The low-frequency sound transmitted by the muscle fibres of the arms that is only faintly audible under normal conditions is amplified considerably in my case (becoming very loud when I clench my fist or shut my eyes tight). The Ents I have seen could not account for this abnormal occlusion effect.

I do not have (other kinds of) autophony; my voice, breathing etc sound perfectly normal. Nor do I have any of the symptoms associated with TTTS, apart from an occasionally fluttering eardrum (in reaction to sound). However, the tensor tympani muscle has sounded distinctly louder when contracting since I have had hyperacusis. I was wondering if there is anyone else familiar with this...

Those are all starting symptoms of hyperacusis. It is mild hyperacusis maybe, so you can probably function normally and carry a normal life.

 

[EricZ]

Hi Juan,

Thanks for your reply.

I am not sure whether you mean you have also experienced this abnormal occlusion effect?

I am wondering what it says about the mechanism underlying my hyperacusis (and whether sound therapy or surgery might be worth considering). I tried sound therapy a long time ago but it did not work for me, although maybe I should have stuck with it longer. I may not have severe hyperacusis, but loud sounds are still extremely uncomfortable. It has definitely had a big impact on my daily life, since I tend to shun noisy places for fear of my hyperacusis worsening.

Unfortunately, I have never come across a description of this enhanced occlusion effect in any scientific article on hyperacusis. It has occurred consistently for over 20 years and has never fluctuated in the slightest.