Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
701252 tn?1234375689

Sensory disturbance: Sounds

I have noticed lately (last few months) that I have been getting more and more sanative to sounds; especially sharp, sudden noises.  My finance feels this is a part of MS, but I haven’t read anything of that sort.  Is this unheard of?
15 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
I have noticed that sudden or loud noises give me a electrical shock sensation that vibrates through my whole body
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
When I had all of my testing done by the neuropsych, I asked about this very thing.  He suggested that I "detox" before entering a highly stimulating situation.  For example, if you need to attend a party that you know will be too much . . . he suggested that before you go, that you take a nap in a quite, dark room.  Supposedly this brings your "agitation level" down, so that you will enter the party at a "calmer" level.  This will give you more time before your body/brain reaches its threshhold.  He also recommended that you occasionally remove yourself from the noise (go outside, go to the restroom, etc.).  

I have the same issues with most external sensations.  Driving in the rain, especially at night, will do me in.  Tail lights, windshield wipers, and the sound of the rain are too much.  In fact, I recently noticed that I never turn on the radio when I drive anymore.  Just one more MS thing.  

Sherry
Helpful - 0
195469 tn?1388322888
I wish that I could explain this correctly since I recently had an appt. with my Neuro and was describing this.

She told me that there was a "buffer" in the ear that sends messages to the brain.  Now buffer is not the medical term.  It's like a nerve.  (having a little trouble today expressing myself..this IS the MS, sorry)  This "buffer" is suppose to filter noises and keep the background noise down, so too much verbal (audio) stimuli doesn't get into the brain all at once.

This "buffer" is damaged by the MS and is also seen in people with hearing problems in general.  It isn't working properly, so all this audio stimuli comes flooding in our brains and we cannot process it all.  It all comes in together and doesn't separate itself.  It overhypes up the sounds and then causes us to try to steer clear of all these noises at once.  

I actually will go into the bedroom and seek a quiet place, until I can "get a grip" on myself.  It bothers me that much.  I am overwhelmed by it, even having to leave a grocery store while shopping because the intercom and all the people and noises about drove me crazy.  I left my cart where it was and went to sit in the car where it was quiet.

There are times that this "noise" bothers me alot and there are other times I just cannot stand it.  It grates on my last nerve.  If I can find out from my Neuro how to explain this correctly, I will certainly pass it along.  But hope you get an idea of what I am trying to say.  And I have tried to say it quietly.....LOL

Heather
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I'm so glad I'm not the only one dealing w/sound sensitivity.  I noticed a couple of months ago that I jumped whenever there was a loud noise.  It's like I'm supersensitive to things that have never bothered me before.  In class a few months ago I had to ask my classmates to be quiet (I was sitting in the middle of two of them and they were talking very loudly).  I couldn't take it!!!  And usually I'm not like that, I've never had sound sensitivity before all these symptoms came to me.

I'm going to be checked by an ENT...very interested to see how the hearing test goes.  I also have very loud ringing in my ears, accompanied by partial and temporary hearing loss.  Everything will all of a sudden go silent.  Very scary, but my hearing always comes back w/in a few minutes.  
Helpful - 0
335728 tn?1331414412
Oops...I meant to say Hyperacussis in my right ear not in my left!!!  Must have been using my Sunday brain!  he he  Hope you get some answers green and I am glad to be of any help I can.

Lots of Hugs,
Rena
p.s. let us know what your results are if you get some testing done will you please?
Helpful - 0
701252 tn?1234375689
Thank you so much Rena!  I should probably get a test done since this is a pretty recent symptom for me.
Helpful - 0
230948 tn?1235844329
uk2
Hi i get this though i am not dx only with fibro but seeing a neuro tomorrow and thining of mentioning this.

I cant stand sharp noises like my kids screaming or shouting, it happens in stages although its kind of there all the time of recent.

i had a hearing test and failed on low pitch noises i could not pick them up but i could hear hear pitch sounds they ruled out inner ear and said its central.

Its quiet hard to live with i get ringing in my ears too i sleep with cotton wool in my ears and with a white noise like a fan to stop it i cant stand the ringing in the silance.

do you get ringing? our you dx with MS?

sam
Helpful - 0
335728 tn?1331414412
Hi there...I don't think we have spoken before so welcome to the forum...I have been here for quite a while now but lately just lurking.  This is how I came across your question and felt that I might be able to shed some light on your painful problem.

I have had to deal with Hyperacussis (extra sensitivity to noise) for a while now and it is not pleasant to say the least.  I had an audiology test done and apparently I have significant hearing loss in my left ear and hyperacussis in my left ear and it can be very painful.  I have the most trouble when I am unloading the dishwasher and the dishes clanging together can be incredibly painful!  While there really isn't much they can do about this it might be a good idea to have an audiology test so that they have a baseline to go by should you have a relapse and the problem gets worse.

I have been diagnosed with MS and the audiologist said that it could very well be caused by the MS but there really is no way of knowing for sure but that now they have my info on file for future use if necessary.

I hope this has been some help to you but about the only thing I can suggest when you are having this pain is to avoid the things that seem to cause it until it subsides.  It's a good excuse to get the hubby to empty the dishwasher occasionally if nothing else! he he

Lots of Hugs,
Rena
Helpful - 0
751951 tn?1406632863
The crowd noise issue was explained to me many years ago (20 or more, I'm guessing) by an ENT as "central auditory disturbance," meaning that my ears worked fine, but that my brain was having trouble distinguishing and prioritizing the sounds, in order to hear what I wanted or needed to hear and ignore what I didn't.  See?  Even back then doctors were trying to tell me my problems were all in my head!

My extraordinarily expensive personalized programmable digital hearing aids have helped somewhat, but now I'm wondering if this was a symptom of whatever it is that's now disturbing the rest of my cerebral functions.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Gee, this is so strange to read that you all have issues that I thought it was just me because I'm hyper-sensitive about alot of things.. Do you ever find yourself trying to concentrate hard on the person who is talking to you and just really reading their lips because the surrounding noises are so distracting??? I do this often. Not DX with anything yet... Neuro appt only in July.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Wow, finally! I see others with this too. I thought I was just nuts.

As "lgk54" states, "Crowd noises are particularly disorienting to me.  Conversations with people in a noisy restaurant are difficult to concentrate on and follow."

Absolutely true for me big time.

Finally, can't believe it!
Thank you, thank you thank you!
Helpful - 0
572651 tn?1530999357
We've discussed this hypersensitivity to noise a while back - and I believe we decided it definitely is a byproduct of our MS.  Crowd noises are particularly disorienting to me.  Conversations with people in a noisy restaurant are difficult to concentrate on and follow.  Forget the family gatherings where all the little kids are doing what children do best- having fun and being loud - I look like I am anti-social by needing to excuse myself early.

Sorry I can't give you a medical name or explanation for it, but what you are feeling is very real.

Lulu
Helpful - 0
338416 tn?1420045702
Loud sounds, like the trash can lid closing, can really hurt my ears.  Sometimes it's the smallest things, like the pepper grinder grating away.  Packing tape is a frequent offender.

This is only a problem in my left ear.  It's hypersensitive to sounds.  The right ear sometimes cuts out on me, but I only notice it with white noise.  
Helpful - 0
701252 tn?1234375689

Hey Doni,

For me, its more sharp sounds. I listen to classical (and just about everything else) and sometimes a crescendo, sudden key change, symbols, etc can shock me.  

Sirens, sudden loud music, someone suddenly shouting, dog, etc does it.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi G&C,

I don't know for sure but I know that others that are dx with MS have talked about this before.  I don't know the reasons, but I know that other MSers also have this happen.

As you know I'm undx, but I have had this problem for over a year.  I also have a problem with music sometime. I love music of all types, but somedays I just can't listen to any of it.  It's really frustrating because music was a great stress reliever for me.

Hope this improves for you soon.

Take care,
doni
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Multiple Sclerosis Community

Top Neurology Answerers
987762 tn?1671273328
Australia
5265383 tn?1669040108
ON
1756321 tn?1547095325
Queensland, Australia
1780921 tn?1499301793
Queen Creek, AZ
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Find out how beta-blocker eye drops show promising results for acute migraine relief.
In this special Missouri Medicine report, doctors examine advances in diagnosis and treatment of this devastating and costly neurodegenerative disease.
Here are 12 simple – and fun! – ways to boost your brainpower.
Discover some of the causes of dizziness and how to treat it.
Discover the common causes of headaches and how to treat headache pain.
Two of the largest studies on Alzheimer’s have yielded new clues about the disease