Understanding
hyperacusis: when everyday sounds feel too loud
Hyperacusis means ordinary, everyday sounds feel much louder than they should, and they can sometimes be genuinely painful. It can affect one or both ears, and it may come on suddenly or build up over time (NHS, 2023).
A tap running, a door closing, cutlery on a plate, the clatter of a café: for someone with hyperacusis these can feel sharp, overwhelming or physically uncomfortable, even at a volume others barely register. It is real, it is recognised, and there is help.
The basics
what is hyperacusis?
Hyperacusis is a reduced tolerance to the loudness of ordinary sound. The sounds themselves are at a normal, safe level, but they are experienced as too loud, intrusive or painful (NHS, 2023). It often sits alongside tinnitus (a ringing or buzzing in the ears), and it can affect anyone, at any age.
It is different from simply disliking noise. The discomfort is a physical response to volume, and for some people it includes a feeling of pressure or pain in the ears.
Why it happens
what causes hyperacusis?
For many people the cause is not known. When there is a clear cause, hyperacusis can be linked to other conditions, including migraines, head injury, ear conditions, anxiety, or illnesses such as Lyme disease, and treating the underlying condition can sometimes ease it (NHS, 2023).
Because anxiety and a nervous system on high alert can play a part, hyperacusis often improves when the body has support to settle, which is why calming approaches sit alongside medical care rather than replacing it.
Not the same thing
hyperacusis, misophonia and noise sensitivity
These terms overlap but are not identical. Hyperacusis is about loudness: everyday sounds feel too loud. Misophonia is about specific triggers, often quiet, repetitive sounds like chewing, that provoke a strong emotional reaction. Noise sensitivity is the broad, everyday umbrella that can include either or both. You can experience more than one at once, and naming which fits you can make it easier to find the right help.
What can help
treatment and gentle self-care
The NHS describes several approaches, usually guided by a hearing specialist. Alongside them, small daily adjustments make the everyday more bearable.
Sound therapy
Gradually getting used to everyday sound again, often with quiet, steady background sound, is a common professional approach (NHS, 2023).
CBT and relaxation
Cognitive behavioural therapy and relaxation exercises can reduce the anxiety and distress that build up around sound (NHS, 2023).
See a specialist
A GP can refer you to a hearing specialist for tests and treatment, especially if it came on suddenly or is painful.
Go easy on earplugs
Constant ear-blocking in quiet places can make sensitivity worse over time, so they are best kept for genuinely loud settings.
Settle your body
Slow breathing in the reset zone can calm the alarm response when sound feels overwhelming.
Soften the moment
A low, steady layer of calming sound can make a sharp environment feel less jagged.
This is general information, not medical advice. If sounds cause you pain, or your hyperacusis came on suddenly, please see a GP or audiologist. If a sound ever feels painful during sound therapy, stop and seek advice (NHS, 2023).
You are welcome here
a calmer place to start
hushri is an online home for anyone who finds the world too loud. No diagnosis required, no explaining yourself. If you would like a place to begin, the reset zone and our calming sounds are free, private, and always here. And when you suspect a place is genuinely loud, the gentle noise check can give you the number.
questions, answered
What is hyperacusis?
Hyperacusis is when everyday sounds seem much louder than they should, and can sometimes be painful. It can affect one or both ears and may come on suddenly or develop over time.
What causes hyperacusis?
The cause is often unknown. It can be linked to other conditions such as migraines, head injury, ear conditions, anxiety or Lyme disease, and treating the underlying condition can sometimes help.
How is hyperacusis different from misophonia?
Hyperacusis is about loudness: ordinary sounds feel too loud or painful. Misophonia is about specific trigger sounds, often quiet and repetitive like chewing, that provoke a strong emotional reaction. The two can overlap.
What helps with hyperacusis?
The NHS describes sound therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, relaxation exercises and referral to a hearing specialist. Avoiding overuse of earplugs in quiet settings is usually advised, and a GP can refer you for assessment.
References
- NHS (2023) Hyperacusis. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hyperacusis/ (Accessed: 27 June 2026).