This book describes Hyperacusis (Hypersensitivity to Sound), Diagnosis and Treatment and Related Diseases

Hyperacusis is a hearing disorder that makes it difficult to manage everyday sounds.

The patient might also called it sound or noise hypersensitivity.

If the patient has it, certain sounds may appear unbearably loud even though people around the patient do not appear to notice them.

Hyperacusis is a disorder of loudness perception, where sounds that are ordinarily considered normal become intolerable.

Patients may feel this sensation as painful, frightening, unpleasant, or excessively loud.

Hyperacusis is rare.

It affects 1 in 50,000 people.

People who have it also have another disorder called tinnitus which is buzzing or ringing in the ear.

Hyperacusis often co-exists with tinnitus and can cause considerable distress, with patients regularly reporting reduction in their social, occupational, and recreational activities.

Avoiding sound sources in Hyperacusis and seeking medical attention are frequent behaviors.

The terms phonophobia (fear of sound) and misophonia (hatred of sound) can be linked with intolerance to specific sounds and may have an emotional component with the former mostly linked with migraine.

While a definitive cure is yet to be identified, research in this field is increasing, and there has been a 10-fold increase in the number of peer-reviewed studies on the disorder in the past 4 decades.

People are not typically born with hyperacusis.

It normally results from certain diseases or health disorders.

The most frequent causes are:

1. An injury to the head (one caused by a knock on the head)
2. Damage to one or both ears because of medications or toxins
3. A viral infection that affects the inner ear or facial nerve (Bell's palsy)
4. Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder
5. Lyme disease
6. Tay-Sachs disease
7. Migraine headaches
8. Using Valium regularly
9. Certain kinds of epilepsy
10. Chronic fatigue syndrome
11. Meniere's disease
12. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
13. Depression
14. Autism
15. Surgery on the jaw or face
16. Williams syndrome

The most frequent cause of hyperacusis is high noise exposure without hearing protection.

Exposure to a loud noise also can produce hyperacusis.

Some sound such as a single loud gunshot can trigger the disorder.

But it also can result from being near loud noises over a long period.

Phonophobia and misophonia are disorders linked with the limbic system in the brain and there is no abnormality in the peripheral or central auditory system.

Phonophobia is a psychiatric disorder where there is a fear of a definite sound.

Misophonia is a psychological disorder in which a specific sound activates emotional and physical reactions.

Hyperacusis is the sound sensitivity developing from within the auditory system and can be activated by any generic, low-intensity sound.

The diagnosis of hyperacusis involves determining LDL using pure-tone audiometry and questionnaires to determine disease severity.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most effective parts of hyperacusis therapy together with counseling and education.

Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) involves educating the patient about their disorder alongside gradual sound enrichment.

Prolonged low-level noise exposure has been proven to have a reversing effect on the enhanced neural gain, which is believed to be the underlying mechanism of hyperacusis.

TABLE OF CONTENT
Introduction
Chapter 1 Hyperacusis
Chapter 2 Causes
Chapter 3 Symptoms
Chapter 4 Diagnosis
Chapter 5 Treatment
Chapter 6 Prognosis
Chapter 7 Misophonia
Chapter 8 Presbyacusis
Epi...

Dr. Kenneth Kee is a well-known medical doctor from Singapore who has been practicing medicine since 1972.
He graduated from the University of Singapore and furthered his studies with a Master of Science in Health Management in 1991, followed by a Ph.D. in Healthcare Administration in 1993.
Dr. Kee established Kee Clinic in 1974, located in the Holland Drive area of Singapore. The clinic has been a prominent feature of the community, offering general medical services for 5 decades.
Dr Kee also served his country Singapore as a national service police Inspector at night from 1975 to 1985 while working at his clinic during the day.
He had served as a police guard to the Woodland Petroleum Tanks at night during the Indonesian Confrontation period, took part in police rounds at night in the Beach Road area and taught First aid and emergency resuscitation to Police recruits.
He received the Singapore Police Bicentennial 2020 Medallion on 1st March 2024 as recognition for his work in the Singapore Police.
Even as he grew older, Dr. Kee continued to work actively in his clinic, although he eventually reduced his consultation hours.
Beyond his medical career, Dr. Kee is also an author.
He started writing about medical conditions in 2007, using blogs and other online platforms to share his knowledge with a broader audience.
Over time, he published various books, many of which provide simple and accessible guides to different health conditions.
His works include "A Family Doctor's Tale," "My Personal Singapore History," and numerous medical guides, available through platforms like Amazon.
His books often combine his personal experiences as a family doctor with insights into Singapore's healthcare system and history.
Dr. Kee has written extensively on health topics, contributing to both medical literature and general knowledge resources.

Dr. Kenneth Kee has written numerous books, primarily focused on health education and personal experiences as a family doctor. Some of his notable titles include:
"A Family Doctor's Tale"
This book is a blend of Dr. Kee's personal experiences and his reflections on being a family doctor in Singapore. It's a great choice if you're looking for a narrative that combines both medical knowledge and human stories.
"Specialized Medical Conditions"
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