Solène has suffered from hyperacusis for eighteen months. This hearing disorder, characterized by an intolerance to everyday sounds, turned his life upside down and made him experience an ordeal. The 35-year-old Audoise agrees to testify to Midi Libre to raise awareness of this pathology and give hope to those who suffer from it.
She lived as normally as possible until this summer day in 2024 and this children’s cinema screening. The life of Solène, 33 years old at the time, then turned upside down. “The sound was loud, very, very loud in the room. I still blame myself for not having gone out.”
The session ends, the Carcassonnaise feels ringing and tinnitus. Impossible to sleep. The next day, the pain got worse. Solène calls on the 15th and is prescribed corticosteroid treatment.
“The worst moment of my life”
“I wasn’t feeling well at all. I was sleeping very little. I was crying a lot because of the tinnitus, I had cottony ears.” To get some fresh air, with the agreement of a doctor, the woman who is a professional social worker goes to the mountains for a few days. 24 hours after returning home, the Audoise suffered terrible pain. “The tinnitus explodes, the hyperacusis increases. All the noises bother me. For two and a half months, I was forced to stay locked in a room. I completely gave up. I couldn’t anymore. It was the worst moment of my life.”
What is hyperacusis?
Hyperacusis is a hearing disorder characterized by an intolerance to everyday sounds, “even when they are at a volume normally tolerable for the majority of people”we can read on the website of the Hyperacusie Solidarité association. The perception of noises and sounds, even the most banal, is increased. The subject is hypersensitive to all sounds which thus become annoying and restrictive on a daily basis, underlines the Hearing Foundation. It is regularly accompanied by tinnitus and can have a strong impact on the daily lives of those who suffer from it.
Hyperacusis can be “painful or not painful” and its evolution can vary from one person to another, “sometimes until complete recovery”. There is no “no treatment” more “different support tracks” which help reduce the impact of hyperacusis on daily life.
Hyperacusis can have several origins: auditory causes (sound trauma), neurological causes (dysfunction of the central nervous system) or linked to other pathologies. There is currently no single treatment to cure this invisible disability.
Razor blades in the ears
VMC, computer fan, lapping water in the bath, Solène no longer tolerates any everyday noise. “Everything becomes unbearable, as if razor blades were cutting through my ears. The pain radiated up to half of my face.” The worst for the thirty-something: “I could no longer stand the high-pitched voice of my son, 3 years old at that time.”
Solène goes on forums, tries to identify the illness from which she suffers, sees numerous health professionals, can no longer work. She ended up being followed by an otoneurologist, affiliated with the French-speaking Association of Multidisciplinary Teams in Tinnitus (Afrepa). Solène now knows that she suffers from hyperacusis, without the origin of the problem being clearly identified.
“The sounds of dishes torture me”
To be able to leave her room, the young woman uses hearing aids with molded earplugs and noise-cancelling headphones. At first, it was impossible to cook, go shopping, pick up your son from school, or attend his first show. Added to the unbearable pain of each noise is guilt. “I couldn’t do anything anymore. I was completely dependent on others.” The computer fan causes burns in his ears. THE “clack” shampoo when opening perforates his eardrums.
After six months of severe hyperacusis, Solène gradually recovered and saw better after a year. “I can now speak normally and go out with my hearing aids”she shares.
“Almost on the road to real life”
His advice in case of similar symptoms? Rest and be monitored by a specialized professional, such as those from Afrepa for example. Accustomed to participating in festivals, concerts and attending fireworks, Solène recommends that everyone protect their ears during each noisy event.“It can happen to anyone and no one expects it.”
“What still tortures me a lot are the sounds of dishes.” The Audoise is aware that she is getting by “pretty good compared to others” and agrees to testify to bring a little hope to those who also suffer from hyperacusis. “By going to online forums, I thought my life was over. Today, my ear remains fragile but it’s better. I’m almost on the road to real life.”
