What Causes Hyperacusis?

Hyperacusis is a condition that causes extreme sensitivity to sound. Individuals with this condition may hear certain sounds like they're unbearably amplified, even if others don't appear to notice them. Things like running faucets, dishwashers, refrigerators, car engines, and loud conversations can all become unbearable. For some patients, the sounds are just a mild irritant. However, others have serious physical reactions like loss of balance and seizures. While hyperacusis only affects one in fifty thousand individuals, there are some conditions and circumstances that can increase an individual's chance of developing it. Most patients aren't born with hyperacusis. Instead, it's caused by a different health issue or disease.