[rewgs]

I have this, as well as multiple very loud permanent tinnitus tones. The latter sucks, but hyperacusis ruined my life, as well as stopping my career as a (I think it's fair to describe myself this way) promising film/video game composer dead in its track.

It is the most horrible condition you can ever imagine. I'm over two years in and am only recently back to being able to live a somewhat normal life, but I easily get "setbacks" due to loud sounds. In the hyperacusis community it's well known that these can become your new normal -- it's happened to me multiple times.

Protect your ears and try your best to not get concussions, folks. Though I can't confirm that one or either is the cause, it's my best guess and is good advice anyway.

[pyinstallwoes]

Does ear protection work? Maybe a custom fitted one would help?

[rewgs]

Depends on what I'm protecting from. The problem, though, is that loud-enough-to-cause-a-setback noises happen all the time. You of course won't notice if they don't cause you pain, but people yell, drop things, trucks clang and their breaks squeak, fire alarms go off...

All of these can cause setbacks, some permanent (for instance, a random fire alarm permanently increased my hearing sensitivity/pain). Wearing earplugs full time isn't a solution, partially because that's just an untenable way to go through life, and partially because your brain will compensate by turning up its "input gain," effectively making your hyperacusis even worse.

Most people with severe hyperacusis have no choice but to become shut-ins. A large percentage eventually kill themselves, to the point that I had to stop going to support forums because it happened to often.

It is truly a hellish condition. I've thankfully always come back from the points in which you could describe my condition as "severe" -- there have been times where even my own speaking voice caused me pain -- but many, many people don't, and I'm always walking a tightrope, fully aware that my somewhat normal life I've clawed my way back to could be over at any moment.

[pyinstallwoes]

Thank you for sharing and replying. I feel for you.