Would just happy to not hear so much...

[Chance]

This information may or may not be helpful to those with hypersensitive hearing.

I have Hyperacusis (extremely sensitive hearing that is painful), combined with some hearing damage to the cochlea which is what makes everything sound like its vibrating, I think I stated that correctly?

I went and got tested after waiting forever because of my being stupid I suppose.
It seems they do now have programmable in the ear hearing aids for this... In my understanding they take the data from my hearing test and reverse build a hearing aid so it electronically cancels out some of the more painful stuff...

The pain I experience is from the electrical impulses of my nervous system firing off, not from what I actually hear... So this is why plugging my ears has never really worked and it becomes even worse after I unplug my ears.

From what I understand so far this is actually a sound generator, that keeps those misfiring nerves busy instead of waiting for the next sound.

They sent me a lot of stuff, its really cool and I'm kind of excited so far. I'm still digging through it.

Its fine with me if it cancels out a lot of what I hear. It hurts and I know that just may sound stupid, but its often very uncomfortable, very stressful, it is one of the few things that causes me to show anger, and that could make my quality off life a lot better.

It looks like it may make my wallet a lot thinner, because these are "specialty" hearing aids that insurance don't seem to feel the need to cover... Whatever... If they work I want them, I think!

Big plus is they are down in my ear, they won't be very noticeable at all... I just hope that dosen't drive me mad. I so hope I can stand them being in there.

SPD sucks, and foreign things touching me, or even tag on my clothes, not real good... But I have lived with headphones, or ear buds plugged in my head most all my life, sometimes just to not hear so much. So I think this might be a good thing, if its what they claim.

I like things that make me happy... Its not often, but I like it.

 

[OlLiE]

I AGREE, i also have sensitive hearing, although no way as bad what you have described

i would love to hear your feedback on how effective they are!

also have lived with headphones most of my adult life (they weren't around when i was a kid)

i cannot comment on the internal nerve induced stimulation, but for external blocking:
-1- noise cancelling headphones, expensive but you can use them even without playing music, i had silicone (i think) earplugs made to measure, expensive (150 euro) but have had them for years without any kind of breakage >> the first line of defence mitigates the incoming sound and the earplugs block the rest out - disadvantage high cost, having to charge the headphones
-2- cheaper and also good, workmen's industrial earmuffs, you can further pad the inside for extra blockage, you can combine this with standard or made to measure earplugs, if you wear in ear headphones under them no one realises that they are just earmuffs
-3- you can also use in ear noise cancelling headphones (with or without music) with the industrial muffs

regrettably you can't block out the noise vibrations that resonate through your bones and that you supposedly cannot help but hear, also i've been told the more you block, the more sensitive you ears become, so i mix between in ear headphones with music, and blockage

i've also turned my discomfort into my main hobby and love listening to music, and love reading about audio dacs, headphones, connector cables, it distracts from the noise and blocks it out at the same time

if only i could afford a sensory depravation tank

 

[Streetwise]

how much do they cost? how far down your ear do they go !
thanks

This information may or may not be helpful to those with hypersensitive hearing.

I have Hyperacusis (extremely sensitive hearing that is painful), combined with some hearing damage to the cochlea which is what makes everything sound like its vibrating, I think I stated that correctly?

I went and got tested after waiting forever because of my being stupid I suppose.
It seems they do now have programmable in the ear hearing aids for this... In my understanding they take the data from my hearing test and reverse build a hearing aid so it electronically cancels out some of the more painful stuff...

The pain I experience is from the electrical impulses of my nervous system firing off, not from what I actually hear... So this is why plugging my ears has never really worked and it becomes even worse after I unplug my ears.

From what I understand so far this is actually a sound generator, that keeps those misfiring nerves busy instead of waiting for the next sound.

They sent me a lot of stuff, its really cool and I'm kind of excited so far. I'm still digging through it.

Its fine with me if it cancels out a lot of what I hear. It hurts and I know that just may sound stupid, but its often very uncomfortable, very stressful, it is one of the few things that causes me to show anger, and that could make my quality off life a lot better.

It looks like it may make my wallet a lot thinner, because these are "specialty" hearing aids that insurance don't seem to feel the need to cover... Whatever... If they work I want them, I think!

Big plus is they are down in my ear, they won't be very noticeable at all... I just hope that dosen't drive me mad. I so hope I can stand them being in there.

SPD sucks, and foreign things touching me, or even tag on my clothes, not real good... But I have lived with headphones, or ear buds plugged in my head most all my life, sometimes just to not hear so much. So I think this might be a good thing, if its what they claim.

I like things that make me happy... Its not often, but I like it.

 

[Mary Terry]

Beware - permanent hearing loss can be caused by excessively loud volume on ear buds and other such devices. I'm in my mid-60s but my hearing is superior to my 30-something year old doctor who blasted his eardrums with ear buds during his formative years. Me, I just partied at loud rock concerts during those early years, positioned as far away from the massive speakers as possible and sometimes with wads of tissues stuffed in my ears to protect my hearing. If your teeth are vibrating, then turn down the volume!

 

[Judge]

I don't think these other posters are interested in high volume sound so much as the lack thereof. Noise suppression and noise cancellation are functions of higher-end headphones that work remarkably well. Unfortunately you have to pay dearly for such technology, usually above $300 these days. There are lower priced devices that offer such features, but if you see how they are rated, it's one case where you get what you pay for IMO.

QC35 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones | Bose

Noise

Headphones

We actually have quite a few threads in this forum dedicated to headphones and noise suppression.

 

[Streetwise]

yes i know my mam had a client who operated hydraulic drills repairing roads and she advised to the point of pleading to wear ear defenders but she knew they DONT actually defend they are more cosmetic
in northern England so many people had hearing loss from heavy industry:-[ it was a very industrial area

Beware - permanent hearing loss can be caused by excessively loud volume on ear buds and other such devices. I'm in my mid-60s but my hearing is superior to my 30-something year old doctor who blasted his eardrums with ear buds during his formative years. Me, I just partied at loud rock concerts during those early years, positioned as far away from the massive speakers as possible and sometimes with wads of tissues stuffed in my ears to protect my hearing. If your teeth are vibrating, then turn down the volume!

know

 

[OlLiE]

Beware - permanent hearing loss can be caused by excessively loud volume on ear buds and other such devices. I'm in my mid-60s but my hearing is superior to my 30-something year old doctor who blasted his eardrums with ear buds during his formative years. Me, I just partied at loud rock concerts during those early years, positioned as far away from the massive speakers as possible and sometimes with wads of tissues stuffed in my ears to protect my hearing. If your teeth are vibrating, then turn down the volume!

i agree wholeheartedly, if you enjoy music there is no benefit to abusing your ears, in europe electronic devices have had their volumes limited to avoid hearing damage, when the volume goes considerably beyond the headphone's sweet spot the sound gets unpleasantly distorted anyway, good headphones should give an accurate well defined sound even at low levels,
the silicone tips and the mass of the in ears block out a lot too, the newest generation tips are made of a composite of silicone structure with some kind of foam, these are more comfortable and block out even more noise, enabling you to lower volume even more
and yes i am a headphone nut

 

[Chance]

how much do they cost? how far down your ear do they go !
thanks

Hi street,
I haven't gotten into the exact cost. Now that they seem to think that would help I will have to go for another hearing test that records my out of range frequencies (If I understood correctly) It I guess creates the program, or what they will build the program from. Then they make a mold of the inside of my ears and stuff, I hope all at the same time, but my guess is probably not.

He says 5000-7000ish give or take. Ugg, but hey to hear mostly normally I will do that. I just hope they will work. I'm going to see... if they don't work I can get my part of my money back, or try too, but I bet not.

This isn't an overnight thing. It looks like if I am in TX, I will have to go to Dallas for the next test. or I can go get it in SD, Cal this fall when I go back. I have to call for the next part, set appointments and take a chunk of money with me. Insurance is still deciding on if they might pay for some, but I already know that equals not.

This all started from us joking around at Sam's Club of all things. I just asked the guy if there at their hearing aid booth, if there was anything they can do for hypersensitive hearing and he said possibly.
He gave me a free hearing test and he referred me to a audiologist, and they sent me a packet in the mail... so I just got this started basically, but I happy to even think of the possibility that my hearing might not make me nearly go insane sometimes...

I will keep you posted : )

 

[Chance]

I AGREE, i also have sensitive hearing, although no way as bad what you have described

i would love to hear your feedback on how effective they are!

also have lived with headphones most of my adult life (they weren't around when i was a kid)

i cannot comment on the internal nerve induced stimulation, but for external blocking:
-1- noise cancelling headphones, expensive but you can use them even without playing music, i had silicone (i think) earplugs made to measure, expensive (150 euro) but have had them for years without any kind of breakage >> the first line of defence mitigates the incoming sound and the earplugs block the rest out - disadvantage high cost, having to charge the headphones
-2- cheaper and also good, workmen's industrial earmuffs, you can further pad the inside for extra blockage, you can combine this with standard or made to measure earplugs, if you wear in ear headphones under them no one realises that they are just earmuffs
-3- you can also use in ear noise cancelling headphones (with or without music) with the industrial muffs

regrettably you can't block out the noise vibrations that resonate through your bones and that you supposedly cannot help but hear, also i've been told the more you block, the more sensitive you ears become, so i mix between in ear headphones with music, and blockage

i've also turned my discomfort into my main hobby and love listening to music, and love reading about audio dacs, headphones, connector cables, it distracts from the noise and blocks it out at the same time

if only i could afford a sensory depravation tank

Hi Ollie,

The earbuds and headphones help when I am on equipment, but not when I'm around people and I need to truly hear what they are saying. This is why I started seeking this. I'm hoping they will filter out AC fans, (they roar to me), other background noise, stuff like that, so I can hear people not things so much, or ONE person and not every person in the room at the same time.

Its one of my worst things, and always has been, and of course no one gets it. They think it would be cool to have hypersensitive hearing, but its not like some super hero stuff... its just noise on top of noise, and I have to concentrate to pick out what I need to hear... Yet, low volume music with good headphones (mine are Bose) it is just fine, but I cant hear anyone. Its like my ears are now busy and they don't hear anything else. I actually like that a lot!!!
However it makes commutating very aggravating for everyone else cause they are screaming at me, or punching me to get my attention...

If I had a choice to be deaf or have what I have... I think I would rather be deaf, not kidding. It's like the most opposite of deaf and its deafening most the time.

I will keep you posted on it, but it may be a while yet.

 

[Manuheleku]

I used to have the static thing in my right ear when I was younger, but it went away as my hearing got worse from working in an industrial environment. Now I have a bit of what I think is tinnitus because when it's quiet I hear something. Not unpleasant, just never totally quiet. I also don't like loud noises even though my hearing isn't what it used to be, I wear ear plugs or IEMs most of the time.

 

[Judge]

I used to have the static thing in my right ear when I was younger, but it went away as my hearing got worse from working in an industrial environment. Now I have a bit of what I think is tinnitus because when it's quiet I hear something. Not unpleasant, just never totally quiet. I also don't like loud noises even though my hearing isn't what it used to be, I wear ear plugs or IEMs most of the time.

Tinnitus has lowered the quality of my life. It (ringing) never really goes away in my right ear.

 

[Alaska]

This information may or may not be helpful to those with hypersensitive hearing.

I have Hyperacusis (extremely sensitive hearing that is painful), combined with some hearing damage to the cochlea which is what makes everything sound like its vibrating, I think I stated that correctly?

I went and got tested after waiting forever because of my being stupid I suppose.
It seems they do now have programmable in the ear hearing aids for this... In my understanding they take the data from my hearing test and reverse build a hearing aid so it electronically cancels out some of the more painful stuff...

The pain I experience is from the electrical impulses of my nervous system firing off, not from what I actually hear... So this is why plugging my ears has never really worked and it becomes even worse after I unplug my ears.

From what I understand so far this is actually a sound generator, that keeps those misfiring nerves busy instead of waiting for the next sound.

They sent me a lot of stuff, its really cool and I'm kind of excited so far. I'm still digging through it.

Its fine with me if it cancels out a lot of what I hear. It hurts and I know that just may sound stupid, but its often very uncomfortable, very stressful, it is one of the few things that causes me to show anger, and that could make my quality off life a lot better.

It looks like it may make my wallet a lot thinner, because these are "specialty" hearing aids that insurance don't seem to feel the need to cover... Whatever... If they work I want them, I think!

Big plus is they are down in my ear, they won't be very noticeable at all... I just hope that dosen't drive me mad. I so hope I can stand them being in there.

SPD sucks, and foreign things touching me, or even tag on my clothes, not real good... But I have lived with headphones, or ear buds plugged in my head most all my life, sometimes just to not hear so much. So I think this might be a good thing, if its what they claim.

I like things that make me happy... Its not often, but I like it.

Sorry you have been through so much annoyance and pain for so long. Instructables has how to use ear buds with music that you want to hear underneath ear muffs made for shooting. You can do the same with earplugs underneath or imbedded into ear muffs for shooting. One of the instructables posts mentioned that Wal Mart shooting earmuffs work.

 

[Chance]

Sorry you have been through so much annoyance and pain for so long. Instructables has how to use ear buds with music that you want to hear underneath ear muffs made for shooting. You can do the same with earplugs underneath or imbedded into ear muffs for shooting. One of the instructables posts mentioned that Wal Mart shooting earmuffs work.

I kind of have all the stuff you mentioned covered and its all good... Its when I cant use that stuff (out in real life) and thats when this is at its worst. I need to hear people, and phones, but I hear everything and its so freaking loud and it kind of drives me a little over the edge sometimes.

For instance right now I am here alone and the water cooler compressor down the hall is on, the AC blowers are on, the printers are humming, the ceiling fans is humming, and this is stuff no one even notices and it is loud and drives me nuts. Even my office phones are on silent because I can hear the others too well anyway.

Lets now add in 5 people coming into the office... 1 talking to me and 4 in the front entry talking to each other... I hear all these people at the same time... I have to look at the person talking to me (and I hate doing that) to figure out what they are saying... But I still cant stop ALL those other noises so its basically like being deaf, but also the very opposite.

Sometimes I close my door, but I find that it makes people uneasier, and me uneasier, and it doesn't really block that much noise anyway. It makes me look even more unsocial than I already am... : ) so I feel bad and leave it open most the time, or just get the hell out of there and get back outside.

These hearing aids are to hopefully, truly help my quality of life. They are hearing aids but designed (programmed) to defuse a lot of the excess noise by what I understand... using a noise generator that settles the nerves in my ears and makes them not so active. I think that might explain what I got from this.
And if it works... I will be a very happy guy. Believe me, I will be jumping up and down if they work, and people will have to tell me to shut the hell up about the damn hearing aids.

This is probably my most limiting thing, and its about the only thing that causes me to get really angry because its just like having to lick a cheese grater the whole time your awake... Its painfully insane and it makes me feel insane at times. Imagine having a migraine in deep inside each ear at the end of nearly every day... thats me.

I'm not to fond of having to have hearing aids... but they promise that people will have to really look to ever notice them in my ears, so I'm good with that, I hope.

 

[Judge]

Instructables has how to use ear buds with music that you want to hear underneath ear muffs made for shooting. You can do the same with earplugs underneath or imbedded into ear muffs for shooting. One of the instructables posts mentioned that Wal Mart shooting earmuffs work.

Does sound like a potentially low cost, possible solution. I suppose it really depends on just how intrusive outside, unwanted sounds can be. Especially from neighbors.

Intra-aural ear buds surrounded by supra-aural ear protectors. Though not likely close to what the technology of optimal noise cancellation is capable of. But then that technology at the top end remains cost-prohibitive. Incredible (I've tested them) but more than I'm willing to pay at the present.

Though I continue to be plagued by drive-by cars and their absurdly-powerful audio systems making very low frequency sounds at high octaves that drive me nuts at times.

 

[Alaska]

I kind of have all the stuff you mentioned covered and its all good... Its when I cant use that stuff (out in real life) and thats when this is at its worst. I need to hear people, and phones, but I hear everything and its so freaking loud and it kind of drives me a little over the edge sometimes.

For instance right now I am here alone and the water cooler compressor down the hall is on, the AC blowers are on, the printers are humming, the ceiling fans is humming, and this is stuff no one even notices and it is loud and drives me nuts. Even my office phones are on silent because I can hear the others too well anyway.

Lets now add in 5 people coming into the office... 1 talking to me and 4 in the front entry talking to each other... I hear all these people at the same time... I have to look at the person talking to me (and I hate doing that) to figure out what they are saying... But I still cant stop ALL those other noises so its basically like being deaf, but also the very opposite.

Sometimes I close my door, but I find that it makes people uneasier, and me uneasier, and it doesn't really block that much noise anyway. It makes me look even more unsocial than I already am... : ) so I feel bad and leave it open most the time, or just get the hell out of there and get back outside.

These hearing aids are to hopefully, truly help my quality of life. They are hearing aids but designed (programmed) to defuse a lot of the excess noise by what I understand... using a noise generator that settles the nerves in my ears and makes them not so active. I think that might explain what I got from this.
And if it works... I will be a very happy guy. Believe me, I will be jumping up and down if they work, and people will have to tell me to shut the hell up about the damn hearing aids.

This is probably my most limiting thing, and its about the only thing that causes me to get really angry because its just like having to lick a cheese grater the whole time your awake... Its painfully insane and it makes me feel insane at times. Imagine having a migraine in deep inside each ear at the end of nearly every day... thats me.

I'm not to fond of having to have hearing aids... but they promise that people will have to really look to ever notice them in my ears, so I'm good with that, I hope.

I do not know how you can stand what you are going through. I sure hope your hearing aids work for you.

I wear the ear muff style headphones much of the time to deaden sounds even when I have them on mute. I just figured out that this is probably contributing to ear aches from the headphones, so it is one of those, "between the Devil and the deep blue sea" kinds of choices. I guess I will alternate discomforts.

 

[Judge]

I have to admit, this is one instance where I loathe my own sensitivities, particularly regarding low-frequency sounds. The kind that I physically feel as much as I hear. It's one trait I wish I didn't have at all. Where my ability to tolerate it so damn low.

 

[Streetwise]

same here:-[ sick of physically smarting from sounds and nausea for everything else. i think it causes a meltdown? i've never given any outward sign of this for 20 years, so I'm not sure, only did it twice before that.

I have to admit, this is one instance where I loathe my own sensitivities, particularly regarding low-frequency sounds. The kind that I physically feel as much as I hear. It's one trait I wish I didn't have at all. Where my ability to tolerate it so damn low.