Hyperacusis or noise phobia?

[Paddingtonthebear]

Does anyone have any experience of this? Our child has a real issue with sudden loud noises. Not all noise, but things like whistles, fireworks, sirens, motorbikes. Gets startled, upset and completely overwhelmed and is now age 10 so has not outgrown it. GP wasn’t really any help, it doesn’t appear there are any hearing issues as such.

Hopeful bump..

If you are still around @Paddingtonthebear I have hyperacusis, have always had it since the earliest childhood my mother can remember. I was exactly like your child. It's a miserable distressing thing.

When I was a kid there was no diagnosis, I just had a 'problem with my ears' which of course doctors thought I'd grow out of. I didn't. It's a lifelong thing I'm afraid. Your child will have to learn to live with it just as I did. It has resulted in quite a reclusive life, although I did manage to do some things.

What causes it? Well we still don't know. It could be a nerve-related thing, it could be the stapedius muscle in the ear that doesn't function properly in order to shut down loud sounds so they are bearable. Why it doesn't do this is unknown. Maybe it's brain perception related. I don't know. I'm 67 and it's been with me all my life. I have learned how better to deal with it, but there can still be times I'm caught out. Earplugs are an essential to be used only in extreme circumstances (otherwise they'll make things worse if used too much). I use them during thunderstorms and also fireworks (when I isolate myself as much as possible indoors in an inner room).

I am sorry I don't have something more upbeat to tell you. Whatever you do, give your child as much support as you can. You will never fully understand it, even though you see his or her experience of it.

Sincerely hope I'm wrong and that in your child's case, it will improve with age.