Reduction in Range of Tolerance for Sound

Decreased Sound Tolerance (DST)

Hyperacusis—super hearing, which is not accurate

Loss of tolerance for moderate or louder sounds

Types of Hyperacusis

Richard S. Tyler, Ph.D., professor of communication sciences and disorders and of otolaryngology at the University of Iowa, describes four categories of hyperacusis: loudness, annoyance, fear, and pain hyperacusis

Loudness hyperacusis: moderately intense sounds are judged to be very loud.

Annoyance hyperacusis: a negative emotional reaction to sounds.

Pain hyperacusis: experience pain at much lower sound levels than listeners with normal hearing

Fear hyperacusis: a negative response to sounds that may cause avoidance behavior. It can include particular sounds or a class of sounds.