Sound Sensitivity

Living with sound sensitivity

There are various ways of defining sound sensitivity. Some people may simply have an unusual level of irritation caused by certain loud noises. "Hyperacusis" means that something is wrong with the functioning of the ear or auditory reception pathways in the brain so that sounds are experienced as being very loud, even painful. "Phonophobia" refers to a state where the person develops an emotional reactivity or fear of sound and is reacting to psychological as opposed to physical causes. In some cases both conditions may be combined. A more extreme form of sound sensitivity is "recruitment" where a sound becomes magnified by the ear so it echoes or reverberates inside the head and becomes much louder than the original sound.

Only those who experience or live with someone who experiences sound sensitivity can realize what a devastating effect it can have on life. It may become a painful or frightening experience going out into traffic, travelling, being near household or kitchen appliances, loud music, cinemas, theatres and a great many social activities. A person with one of these conditions may become isolated, may have to live in a remote area and avoid normal activities such as work, entertainment, travelling and social events. Milder cases are still a major inconvenience as there is little understanding in our society of this type of disability. No matter where you go, the world is a noisy place.

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Testimonials on sound sensitivity

Patricia Joudry, Saskatchewan, Canada

It happened that the next day I couldn't do my listening at home, for it was shopping day, the occasion of the week that always filled me with dread. Though a mixture of voices could now be tolerated, I remained atmosphere sensitive and couldn't stand the din of traffic or the psychically crushing environment of supermarkets and shopping malls . My daughter did the driving, which helped; and she lugged everything around and made decisions after my mind was blown.

Well, if I couldn't listen to my new therapy cassettes at home, at least I could take them with me. I played the music throughout the forty minute drive to Saskatoon, and the half hour finding a place to park, with the volume set low so that we could talk. Then I kept it on, the Walkman ä tucked in my shoulder bag, as we went around the stores.

Soon an amazing thing became apparent. It was as though I walked on a battlefield with a shield held before me and my head protected by armour. The noise was still there; my mind registered the fact like information of no particular significance. If there were cross-currents of psychic agitation, they found in my immediate atmosphere a wall of harmony that could not be breached.

After an hour or two, when I would normally have been a wreck, I was discovering that shopping could be fun. I wanted to investigate the sales. But we didn't have time, because it was turning into "one of those days." As chance would have it - or was it fateful design? - our ancient Volvo broke down three (3) times in traffic, making us the focus of all eyes as we waited for the mechanic. I drew some particularly strange looks, sitting there under a mantle of tranquillity with my headphones on, and being somewhat beyond the age of the average music addict. The spectators would have been even more surprised if they could have heard what I was hearing.

K. Joseph Biggs, Burleigh Heads, Queensland, Australia:

"Looking back over past years, I have come to the conclusion that somewhere in my childhood, I closed off my hearing level to a point where the darkness of retreating eventually overcame my ability to want to hear.

...by the time I was 35, I had passed through some of the most disastrous years of my young life. About that time I contracted an industrial disorder where industrial noises repeat in the hearing long after the noise is out of range. Within the next four years, I made an appointment (out of sheer frustration) with a specialist who performed a stapedectomy.

I say categorically, no person should be subjected to this dangerous treatment before being alerted to the alternative treatment which sound therapy provides.

I was always mentally drained, the numbness was still there and there seemed something pressing on the ears which affected my ability to hear. My doctor shrugged his shoulders and said the audio test was the same as that taken about four years ago.

I commenced sound therapy in January 1991. After about 200 hours of listening everyday.I noticed some changes, headaches diminished, tiredness fading, less restless sleep. Shoulder and back pain reduced, posture improved, better sense of direction of sound, improved sense of balance. Hearing improved, fuzzy noises in ears not so apparent.

Previously, trying to talk to a group of people in a room was nearly impossible, and a one on one conversation always brought signs of rejection, when everyone else thought that they were not part of the conversation.

I have now clocked up 444 continuous days for a total of 2043 hours, and now average about 3.5 hours per day. You don't have to be sick to gain benefit. One very noticeable benefit is the correlation between resonance in the voice and the ear. If you can hear better, you can speak better.

Noises in the ear, (by the way aggravated by an operation) at times now reduce to zero. I am not embarrassed by noisy locations, or entering into casual conversation. Sometimes there is pain in the ears, but this soon passes. The reduced need for sleep, about six hours per night, is sufficient and does not interfere with what may have been necessary previously.

Being able to express thought better, do not tire easily - more energy, posture improved, mental alertness, self confidence, better concentration, more relaxed - but alert, some dizziness - soon passes.

There is no doubt in my mind, the findings of Dr. Tomatis are widespread, with outside noise levels discharging our energy and childhood problems being carried into adult life..a great deal of credit must go to Patricia Joudry for her effort in making the treatment available."

Julia Angel Gulenc, Moorabbin Victoria, Australia:

About eight years ago, I read an article in a Women's magazine about the damaging effects of loud noise on our hearing. Sound Therapy was mentioned.

Since I was suffering of frequent ringing in my ears, was very sensitive to noise, with frequent headaches etc., I rang the phone number given on the article.

I read the book in one sitting. I was so impressed, that immediately after reading it, I purchased the tapes. I have said many times since, that the few hundred dollars I spent buying the tapes was the best investment I ever made for my health. From the very first moment I started listening , I knew they were going to do me good.

I couldn't get enough. I listened for 6 hours straight. That same night I slept with my headphones on. I was amazed and very pleased.

A few months later, the ringing in my ears, my regular dizzy spells, and my headaches, were largely gone . I felt so energized that I went from needing 8-9 hours sleep a night, to only 7. Many times since, I have woken up feeling fully rested after only 5 or 6 hours of sleep.

Sound Therapy has certainly made a great difference to the enjoyment of my life. My ears and I are very grateful.

William A. Whiteside, Toowomba, Queensland, Australia:

"My hearing was progressively deteriorating and my social life disintegrating as I could not possibly concentrate on a conversation in an environment with a cross current of various conversations. When trying to sing in church I could not hear my own voice, and so gave up trying. Whereas I used to enjoy music, now it just existed and gave me very little lift. I had to try so hard to distinguish any words a soloist was singing.

Road noise drove me frantic. The noises I did not want to hear became a maddening roar, and those I wanted to hear I could not.

After listening to the Sound Therapy tapes, all this is changing. It brings tears of gratitude to my eyes, this recharging of life, made possible by this wonderful therapy. I can now hear the timbre in my own voice as I sing equally with that of others, and I can even hear the birds singing as I walk in the park. I am using my hearing aids less and less.

It is more that just improved hearing though. I find myself able and willing to communicate with people, it is easier to smile and reciprocate love.

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How does Sound Therapy help sound sensitivity

The ear should naturally have the resilience to adapt to sounds as quiet as hearing a pin drop or as loud as an opera singer. When this ability is lost it is because certain parts of the ear have lost their functionality. For example, the muscles in the middle ear may have become stiff or unresponsive so they do not quickly adapt the ear to the volume of incoming sound. Pressure chambers in the ear may be blocked, or auditory pathways in the brain may be functioning inefficiently. Although Sound Therapy often improves hearing for those who have lost some of their hearing, if you have over sensitive hearing it may well reduce this by restoring the adaptability of the ear.

Most people find their irritation with sound decreases and their tolerance increases after a certain period of using Sound Therapy. The program gently activates all parts of the ear with the aim of restoring the ear's natural ability to protect itself from noise that is too loud, as well as improving the perception of all frequencies of sound.

Research on Sound Therapy

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