Gold Coast's Leading Sound Sensitivity Specialists
Providing Sound Sensitivity Assessments & Treatment for Adults and Children
Sound Sensitivity is also commonly known as Decreased Sound Tolerance, which is a condition characterised by an abnormally low tolerance to everyday sounds. These sounds that are typically considered normal or harmless cause discomfort, stress or pain. This umbrella term includes different sound-related conditions including Hyperacusis and Misophonia.
Hyperacusis
Hyperacusis is defined as and abnormal intolerance, heightened sense of volume and physical discomfort towards sounds, which other people can tolerate well. Sounds that are typically difficult to tolerate, particularly if they are unexpected or in close proximity. Most often, hyperacusis develops from a subconscious sense of threat towards trigger sounds, often due to anxiety that they may cause discomfort or damage to the auditory system.
Misophonia
People with Misophonia are sensitive to specific sounds or sounds in specific environments or situations causing unfavourable behavioural responses such as irritation, frustration and anger. It can cause both a physical and emotional response causing significant discomfort.
How Are Sound Sensitivities Assessed?
Decrease sound tolerance or sound sensitivity requires time to take a detailed history and understanding of your ear health and sound tolerances. Sara has completed specialised courses with world renown researchers to help people with sound sensitivities to improve their ability to tolerate sound. Sara also has worked with children for many years, giving these appointments ease and comfort for all ages.
The initial appointment is completed over 1.5 hours where conversations on the types of sound sensitivities you are having and their impact on your life.
Specialised Hearing Assessment
A complete hearing evaluation is performed to ensure peripheral hearing is normal. This includes pure-tone audiometry including checking your hearing levels up to 20 kHz to check for hidden hearing loss. Speech testing is completed in quiet and noise. Objective testing including tympanometry (middle ear test) and otoacoustic emissions are completed to learn more about your auditory pathway. Furthermore, a check on your level of tolerance for sound is checked. We also perform extended high frequency audiometry to check for hidden hearing loss and whether sound sensitivities may be contributing to your auditory processing difficulties.
Results Interpretation & Diagnosis
After the hearing assessment your audiologist will go through how the ear and auditory system works and provide you information on why your brain perceives sounds the way they do. You will leave the appointment understanding the mechanism and meaning behind your sound intolerances and ways to improve these difficulties.
Management Plan
You'll receive a detailed written report with findings, diagnosis, and personalised recommendations. The audiologist will organise a phone call to create an individualised management plan addressing specific sound sensitivity and how they can be addressed.
How Do We Treat Sound Sensitivity
Once we understand the mechanism and reasons behind your sound sensitivities you may feel calmer and more empowered that it is not bothersome. For individuals with significant difficulties, Coastal Audiology offers an individualised tailored approach through Sound Therapy. Depending on the diagnosis, severity and difficulties you are having Sara will use a combination of devices, sound enrichment and strategies to manage your sound sensitivity.
Assisted Listening Devices
Sound Generators – ear level devices that have specific tailored sound to help calm the auditory pathway and improve sound tolerances.
Worn like hearing aids, these tools are used for 6-18 months to reduce sound intolerance, often in conjunction with professional therapy.
Sound Sensitivity Therapy
Desensitisation exercises help shift the negative emotional responses from the intolerable sounds toward a more neutral or positive responses. This is done by pairing bothersome sounds with something enjoyable to neutralise the conditioned reflex.
Compensatory Strategies
Coastal Audiology provides tailored strategies for school and home environments that are specific to the individual’s needs.