Hyperacusis: If the birds don't get you, the lawnmowers will

Photographer: Wendy Spickerman "Spring in Bloom"

When you think springtime, everyone thinks green grass, flowers in bloom, the trees coming back to life, parks, picnic, and walks. There's nothing even remotely painful about the thought. However, for those with hyperacusis, it's a different story.

The very sound of birds chirping can cause one pain as well as lawnmowers, windchimes, honking horns, to the sound of rain. Depending upon the nature of one's hyperacusis and severity, these sounds can cause someone with hyperacusis great pain.

Having lived with severe hyperacusis with vertigo, meaning my vertigo is a side effect from my sensitivity to everyday sounds, I've experienced many of these sounds and more to be a great discomfort, and some quite painful to my ears.

Today's walk was one of those walks where the sound of the spring birds not only turned my mind into a jumbled mess but a painful experience in the nicest term of the word one could use to speak of spring. I used to love listening to the birds.

Since being diagnosed with hyperacusis, however, the sound of birds chirping is a sound that one can only take so much of. You see, not only is sound amplified to me from my hyperacusis but I also have directional hearing issues, which in simple terms, makes my brain work that much harder than the average person.

My brain feels like the sound is bombarding it from all directions and it can't keep up with determining where are the sounds are coming from, at what distance; the processing of sounds is a mixed up mess. One walk can exhaust me depending on just how many sounds I'm exposed to, all at ones.

Spring is also the time everyone gets out their leaf blowers, lawnmowers out, and start working on the landscape around their homes. Whenever using such devices remember to use ear protection. Having said that, if it's a recommendation a user of these lawn care devices wears protection, just imagine what these devices can do to a person with hyperacusis.

Hyperacusis is a condition one battles with every day. Not every patient has the same issues or the same severity. Nor is hyperacusis a constant diagnosis, meaning, once someone is diagnosed that's all it will ever be. No, hyperacusis is a condition in constant flux for most.

Patients have good days and bad days. Sound sensitivities that might be manageable one day may not be the next. Doctor's and researchers are still learning about what hyperacusis is. Funding for research of the condition is next to none. Hyperacusis can affect those of all ages. In fact, more and more children are being diagnosed.

If you think a sound is too loud for YOU just imagine how it might sound to a person with hyperacusis.There is something you can do. If the overhead music seems too loud for you in your local stores, take five minutes to request a comment card and let your local stores know you believe it needs to be turned down.

Purchase products you know are quieter than other products. By doing this, products at a safer level for ALL ears will be in high demand and those other products, the noisier products,will go out of demand. You can help a person with hyperacusis just by being more conscious of what you buy and I for one would be so grateful for your help and support.

Sometimes the smallest actions can make the greatest of differences.