hyperacusia
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: * Hyperacusia: A medical condition characterized by an abnormally heightened sensitivity to sound. People with hyperacusia perceive ordinary, everyday sounds as uncomfortably loud, painful, or frightening. It results from increased irritability within the auditory (hearing) neural pathways.
Usage
Hyperacusia is a clinical term used primarily in medical, audiological, and psychological contexts to describe a specific hearing disorder. It is not used in general conversation. * The patient's hyperacusia made it difficult for them to tolerate the noise of a busy street. * A common symptom of hyperacusia is the perception of normal conversational volume as shouting.
Advanced Usage
- Differential Diagnosis: Hyperacusia is often discussed in contrast to other hearing disorders like (ringing in the ears) or (fear of sound), though they can co-occur.
- The audiologist distinguished her hyperacusia from phonophobia, noting the physical discomfort preceded the anxious response.
- Associated Conditions: It is frequently mentioned as a symptom associated with other conditions.
- Hyperacusia is a common complaint following traumatic brain injury.
- Many individuals with Williams syndrome experience hyperacusia.
Variants and Related Words
- Hyperacusis (noun): This is the more common and preferred medical term, synonymous with hyperacusia.
- Auditory Hyperesthesia (noun): A less common technical synonym emphasizing the neural oversensitivity.
- Hypersensitivity to sound (noun phrase): A descriptive, non-clinical way to express the concept.
Synonyms
- Decreased sound tolerance
- Auditory hypersensitivity
- Oversensitive hearing
Antonyms
- Hearing loss
- Hyposensitivity to sound
Noun
- abnormal acuteness of hearing due to increased irritability of the sensory neural mechanism; characterized by intolerance for ordinary sound levels