Hello,

I’ve just signed up, so I wasn’t really sure where to post my story, but this seemed like a good place.

I wanted to share my recovery, to give hope and possible paths toward healing.

To summarize, I experienced hyperacusis and some tinnitus. Over two years, I had hyperacusis three times. The first two times, emergency treatment (Solupred and auditory rest) worked. Unfortunately, the third time it didn’t. I’ve also always had occasional high-pitched tinnitus, usually triggered by stress, and I’ve always had sensitive ears (recurrent ear infections during childhood).

After my first episodes of hyperacusis, I wasn’t worried because my ENT told me it was due to illness or allergies. Since I recovered, I didn’t question it. I did become more careful because I knew I was sensitive to noise, but I was still able to go to concerts without any lasting effects.

The third time, I thought I would recover again, so I overexposed myself to noise (repeated headphone use at maximum volume). Even though there was no immediate acoustic trauma, I think it was the repetition that caused it. I then saw another ENT who confirmed this possibility and told me I had slight hearing loss at a high frequency in my left ear. He still prescribed Solupred along with Tanakan to improve ear oxygenation.

My symptoms included echoing sounds, blocked ears with cracking when swallowing, buzzing in my left ear, and occasional high-pitched tinnitus. Even though it was the third time this had happened, I panicked much more because it kept getting worse. I couldn’t tolerate the sound of my own voice, and I could see that the treatment wasn’t working.

After researching on forums, I explored different options: osteopathy for my neck or jaw, a stomatologist for my jaw, sophrology to manage anxiety, and even acupuncture, alternative medicine, or Chinese medicine. This helped me regain hope and also convinced me to stop spending time on forums, where there is a lot of anxiety but little reassurance (which is why I’m sharing my story here).

I also turned to YouTube, where I found recovery stories that lifted my spirits. Some people talked about dietary cleanses to rest the body and boost immunity. I haven’t tried this yet, but I think it can only be beneficial.

Eventually, I decided to trust my instincts and focus on the psychological aspect. I contacted my hypnotherapist again (I was lucky to have already worked with her very successfully). She suggested my symptoms were probably psychosomatic,real pain created by the mind due to excessive stress,and guided me back to exercises I was already familiar with.

I started relaxation exercises again, tried to focus on positive thinking, rested, and worked on addressing my personal issues (anxiety, self-sabotage, etc.).

I should mention that I’m a student, so I had more flexibility than people who have to work. I was able to isolate myself for two weeks and work remotely. If possible, I recommend resting at the beginning, but not isolating yourself too much. When I started feeling better, I returned to classes wearing hearing protection. Seeing people again and living more “normally,” while focusing less on sounds, helped me a lot.

It’s now been almost a month. My hyperacusis has disappeared. I still have slight sensitivity to sharp or high-pitched sounds in my right ear and mild tinnitus from time to time, but it’s manageable. My ears are no longer blocked. I believe this was partly due to jaw tension preventing my Eustachian tubes from opening properly (I grind my teeth and have a very tense jaw), as well as chronic nasal congestion.

To conclude this long monologue (sorry—I didn’t want to leave out any details), what helped me the most was:

Taking time for myself and caring for my physical and mental health

Maintaining hope and finding positives in everyday life

Exploring psychological causes, since sound trauma is often linked to emotional trauma

Checking for mechanical causes such as jaw or neck issues

Gradually re-exposing myself to sound and being patient

Avoiding very loud noises like headphones, earbuds, or concerts

Not letting the illness define me and continuing activities I enjoy, with adaptations if needed

Remembering that some symptoms are normal and often stress-related

If you have questions, feel free to ask. I found positive testimonies and exercises on YouTube and in a book on Chinese medicine and can share links. I can also share my therapist’s contact details, although what worked for me may not work for everyone. She specializes in psychosomatic issues and is based in Clichy.

I also kept a daily symptom journal in PDF format, which I can share if useful.

Most importantly, keep hope. Recovery is possible if you listen to yourself, trust yourself, and work through your underlying issues.

Laurine