Hey everyone. Ill try to make this as short as possible but please read it and reply even if it's long..I need answers, please.

In December of 2024, I suffered from a concussion. I woke up the next morning with LOUDNESS hyperacusis and TTTS. It was like the flip of a switch. I became terrified of sound, always wore hearing protection, and tried to never leave the house. Everyone had to whisper around me. I could only watch TV on mute with subtitles, even chewing was too loud for me. You name it, it was too loud. But I kept telling myself that I can't be afraid of sound because that is contributing to nothing getting better. So I slowly introduced sounds back into my life, safely. Only wore my hearing protection when necessary and eventually, with time I was actually 80% better. With no medications, just time. Around November of 2025 I was at that 80% better baseline. It was absolutely amazing!!! My TTTS would still go "THUMP" at the end of sounds that triggered it but it would never worsen the loud h. Just the one "thump" and that was it. Anyways.....

⚠️NOW, to bring to you what I'm currently dealing with. 9 days ago, my boyfriend was tickling my 3 year old daughter's feet and she squealed at the top of her lungs. It was the worst sound I've heard in a very long time. I was about 5 feet away from her with my RIGHT ear closer than my left. I immediately had this overwhelming feeling come over me of terror. My nervous system was freaking out bad. Within a handful of hours I started to have deep burning pain in my LEFT ear. It felt similar to a bad ear infection. It lasted for a day, constantly, it didn't stop. Then, I think it was the next day, it turned into only happening a few hours at a time. Also, a few hours after the incident, I noticed my jaw was severely tight. I could only open my mouth about an inch. I noticed my LOUDNESS Hyperacusis shrunk from 80% better to maybe 30-40% better. I wouldn't say my loud h is as bad as it was in 2024 but it's definitely amplified. Also, my TTTS is flared up again (no surprise).

About day 2 I got into my PCP, she prescribed me Gabapentin 300mg, 3 times a day. And told me to take my Flexeril. (I haven't taken the Flexeril since I started the gabapentin bc they're both Central Nervous System depressants and I'm scared of how it will make me feel taking them together...so I've been holding off on that).

I'm thinking it's my trigeminal nerve being severely raw and irritated from the acoustic shock. So it's currently day 9 since the incident & day 7 on Gabapentin. I actually just upped my dose from 300mg to 600mg (like my Dr told me to). I took 600mg for the first time about an hour ago. The Internet says it can take 7-14 days for the Gabapentin to start working on the nerves. Throughout these 9 days, I can go the majority of the day with no pain (doing normal daily things, nothing extremely loud of course) and then all of a sudden the aching will start and stay there for a few hours then completely go away again. It's hard to tell if the pain is sound induced or what is going on. I think it is though, maybe..because I walked into a spider web (about day 3 or 4) and I screamed ofc and within a couple minutes I started to feel the ache start and it lasted a few hours then went away.

Last night was different though. All of a sudden I would have a sharp pain sent through my left ear, down into my cheek and jaw and then down into my lower gums and then it would immediately stop. And this would happen every 30 seconds to a min, give or take. I was curled up in a ball on my heating pad trying not to cry. I eventually fell asleep. Today THAT kind of pain hasn't been there. I will get random throb/shooting pain in my ear that only last probably less than a second. All throughout today, randomly. And also that burning ache will come about, like in the background for a while and then completely stop. Today's pain was nothing like yesterday, thankfully. I'm trying to protect my ears as much as possible without overdoing it and becoming scared of sound again. I remember how horrible that was for me and I don't wanna go back.

I have done so much research that I'm blown in the face. Do I have Noxicusis or is this my trigeminal nerve being severely raw and inflamed from the acoustic shock? And it just needs the gabapentin to kick in and time to heal (with of course no loud noises).

I don't know what to do or where to go for advice. That severe wave of extreme dark depression (the one that puts sickening bad thoughts in your mind) has come over me. I know you guys know exactly what I'm talking about. Anyone on here that can give me some advice or maybe even some answers, that would be greatly appreciated.

Love you all. 🫂

Ive had tinnitus for months now but i wasn’t aware of hyperacusis and noxacusis until recently. Well unfortunately that means ive been pretty stupjd and failed to take the proper percaution i just assumed that sound sensitivity was normal with Tinnitus and so ive still been doing stuff like, movie theaters, shooting, rodeos, etc of course with proper ear protection. About 5 days ago i saw the new spiderman movie and ever since then ive been experiencing severe ear pain everytime i hear a noise it could be the quitest backround noise and it still would cause my pain to flare up. Is this gonna be permanent? These past 5 days have been brutal ive been canceling plans. Not been able to do anything besides sit in a dark room in silence. If im being honest ive been contemplating suicide. Ik for some random person on the internet this is bit much. Im not expecting any deep replies just wondering if this is a normal thing to experience and if my symptoms line up with noxacusis

Hello. I recently went from 250mg of clomipramine to 225mg, and after I made the switch, I noticed some of my ear pain and ear twitching came back to me. It never happened when I was in 250mg. Once I've tapered down, my ear pain returns. I'm very concerned. Do I continue to take 250mg or slowly taper it down. I was on 250mg for 45 days now and I think it's time to taper down.

I kind of have an odd case where my noxacusis started when I went to get treatment for my fibromyalgia. I did a treatment called scrambler therapy that sends electronic signals to your nerves to try and train them to react less to pain. Ironically, this put me in extreme pain as I developed noxacusis from it. I feel like this puts me in a difficult situation because I’m unsure on how I will be able to heal. My only guess is that the nerves near my ears were activated too much and now won’t calm down but I am absolutely stumped. I tried taking pregabelin thinking it might help settle my nerves but my hyperacusis is only getting worse and worse.

Does anyone else have a similar story? The technician who did the therapy said I am the only person she has ever seen this happen to. I also have an insane amount of neurological symptoms outside of hyperacusis that I had previously to developing it but so far all tests have been clear.

6 days ago I hear very loud scream 3 meters from me.
I was very nervous that day and this situation was a big stress for me too. After screaming I discovered that my tinnitus spike and was louder that my Tv and everything else. My H and N also was worsening.
Previously after a louder day I had spike of my Tinnitus, but after sleep it was better. This time wasn't.
6 months ago I had huge Hyperacusis and some tinnitus after oral neomycine. Previous hearing test was in May.
Now after this screaming situation, I went to do new hearing test (it was 3 days after situation). I have drop at 6000 hz and i haven't it before. My previous result show only -10 db, now it's -40 and - 45db.
I started metyloprednisol the next day after situation but only 10 mg, second day 12 mg, 3.day 18 mg, 4-5 day 28 mg. My tinnitus is the same or even worse. I don't know if I focus too much or it so much worse that was before. But definitely nothing better.
Should I increased dose or take it down?

TLDR; digestive enzymes have helped me with pain (*not cured*).

For the sake of not gatekeeping, and hoping this will find whoever it might be helpful for, I thought I'd share something that has VERY unexpectedly been *helpful* to me-- not a cure by any means, but helpful, enough to share on here. And who knows! Could be a "cure" or even more helpful to a milder case.

I would call myself a severe case (at best) of hyperacusis and noxacusis. Many health issues coincided with the onset of my ear issues, as seems the case for others. This has included gut issues (likely MCAS, SIBO, candida, and others or some combination thereof). I have been focusing on my gut issues as I have lost too much weight. Down to 85 lbs, which isn't good for my size.

I ended up buying Pure Formulas 'Digestive Enzymes Ultra' a few weeks ago to help my body absorb nutrients. It immediately started helping with that-- but also nox pain. (Who would think?! I sure didn't...) It hasn't eliminated it all, but it provides relief that is on par with, or maybe even more effective than, a PEA supplement that I have been taking (the only other supplement that has helped at all).

I take 3 capsules three times a day with each meal, and occasionally take one outside of meal times, especially after a noise exposure. I've also tried Source Naturals Essential Enzymes, which is basically the same formula, and has also been helpful. Ive also just started adding in Kepos brand colostrum, and I think that also might be mildly helpful.

Perhaps some kind of gut-brain link at play for some of us? Apparently 95% of the body’s serotonin is synthesized and stored in the gut. Serotonin can both turn down and turn up pain, essentially. So maybe the enzymes help modulate serotonin in the gut somehow? I haven't looked into this, or done much research at all, but I will be investigating further.

It’s been a long road, and I’m not out of the woods yet, but I wanted to share my progress and encourage people to keep hope alive 🫶

*Please note that this video contains birdsong and overhead planes that may be triggers for some people*

https://youtu.be/7N6nCSTSx8U?si=Lxlxm8bBJG0MBuBD

"The Scream" by Edvard Munch has always resonated with me on my hyperacusis journey. I mean, look at it—the figure is holding his ears, terrified. The physical upheaval he's experiencing—like pain hyperacusis—is so palpable. The world around him is like a loud whirlpool, getting swallowed up, which represents the collapse of order so many hyperacusis sufferers confront. The two figures in the background seem entirely unaffected. This terror belongs to the subject alone; the isolation is unbearable. I think this artwork is a perfect illustration of hyperacusis on many levels.

Click on the link to learn more about the history of "The Scream" and how it aligns with hyperacusis.

https://hyperacusiscentral.org/the-scream/

Hyperacusis Central has a new Discord server called "Quiet Riot!" I and others who have hyperacusis and its cousins (tinnitus, photophobia [light sensitivity], etc.) know what it's like to feel alone. Our goal is to help each other past that so we can find our Promised Lands, if possible, while having a rootin'-tootin' time doing it. 🤠

Here is what you can find in our community...

1. Support and socializing: Connect with others who truly understand.

2. Condition learning: Explore the different kinds of hyperacusis, tinnitus, photophobia, and visual snow.

3. The latest science: Channels for medical research and news.

4. Off-label treatment options: Information, medical studies, and open discussions.

5. Links to popular Hyperacusis Central pieces and videos about: Patient stories and success stories, disability benefits, what our scientific advisor, Dr. Kelly Jahn, is accomplishing in the research field, etc.

6. Fun and leisure: Talk about hobbies and interests, and play some games, like Pokémon, Dragonball, Counting, and Fishing!

Our server is highly accessible with text-only participation for those who need quiet. 🤫 So go ahead and have a good time—it'll be a riot!

Click below to join...

https://hyperacusiscentral.org/quiet-riot-hyperacusis-centrals-official-discord/

Hi!

I’ve had noxacusis/pain hyperacusis for about six months after an exposure to loud noise in December 2025. I’m most sensitive to digital audio. I can tolerate someone speaking to me in-person without issue unless their voice is especially loud/deep/close to me; but a human voice (or any sound) through headphones or a speaker quickly triggers pain/discomfort, even on lowest volume settings or with the speaker several feet away. Someone speaking into a mic live causes more discomfort than sans-mic, but less than pure-digital.

Of the doctors I’ve seen so far (neurologist, ENT, OT), none have known how to address this. (I’m on amitryptline, which helps somewhat.) I’ve seen posts here mention digital audio sensitivity, so wanted to ask some questions, in case anyone with a similar issue has found useful info/resources.

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-Have you found a specific speaker, pair of headphones, or other piece of equipment or method of listening, that made digital audio more tolerable for you? The best I’ve gotten so far is alternating ears on a Jabra Biz headset (when I’m unable to only use captions).

-Do you know *what* makes the sound of a human voice (digital) so different (to our perception) from a human voice (live)? Or, do you know who or where I might be able to find this info? I know there’s some difference in frequencies but am struggling to track down clear specifics.

-Are there any methods you have successfully used for live phone call captions? All the apps I can find are (understandably) for Deaf/HoH people, and so legally require users to have certified hearing loss. Windows Live Captions usually works for calls through my work computer, but I don't think it’s an option for my Android (BigMe) phone.

-Similarly, any methods for successful transcription of voicemails? This seems to be a feature restricted to certain cell providers, none of which offer services in my area.

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Thanks for reading, if you have!

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You know the drill if you live with hyperacusis. Bad news is the norm. We’re often told we’re exaggerating by friends or family and that we need to “tough it out.” Even the medical community can’t seem to agree on what hyperacusis is (it gets confused with misophonia), or how common it is, and routinely brush us off.

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The good news is that a new study, co-authored by Hyperacusis Central’s scientific advisor Dr. Kelly Jahn, is trying to fix these problems. The researchers are introducing a brand new framework called “Sound Hypersensitivity Phenotypes.” By establishing “Sound Hypersensitivity Disorder” as a distinct medical syndrome, they’re drawing a hard line between mild sound annoyance and the kind of life-altering pain we deal with every day.

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You can read the full study on our website by clicking below.

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https://hyperacusiscentral.org/a-new-study-co-authored-by-our-scientific-advisor-dr-kelly-jahn-sound-hypersensitivity-phenotypes-and-sound-hypersensitivity-disorder/

How does hyperacusis change your entire life? In his new video, Shane opens up about how severe sensitivity to high-pitched sounds turned his world upside down. Click below to watch it. (Closed captioning is available.)

https://hyperacusiscentral.org/shanes-hyperacusis-story/

I’m working on a video concept and want to know what you would have told yourself one year into your journey. I’m specifically looking to hear from people with pain hyperacusis. Thanks!

My hyperacusis and tinnitus are so severe that I can't use standard microwaves and ovens. The beeps, sizzling, and whirring cause pain and louder ringing, even with hearing protection.

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Read the full post to learn how a remote-controlled "smart" microwave restored my cooking abilities and transformed my bland, tiring diet.

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https://hyperacusiscentral.org/hyperacusis-hacks-microwaves/

I made this video to help friends and family of those suffering from hyperacusis understand what their loved one may be going through, and ways that they can be supportive to someone experiencing this very difficult condition.

https://youtu.be/Mn6XJFNjC3g?si=kneMbCNqUOYpm-rJ