sensitive hearing?

Question

my 6 year old keeps telling me it's too noisy in school
she has been saying this since she started nursary and now she is in year 2 though school is a loud place to be my eldest has never had any of these complaints
i'm wondering if i should take her to see the gp for a hearing test and if any one has come a cross this problem with your child can they find out about sensitive hearing through a hearing test or is this test for deafness that they carry out?

Answer 1

It could be that your daughter has sensitive hearing: I didn't like school because it was loud either, but most of those there were about half-deaf.

I don't think it's really a problem, other than making her very uncomfortable. But you might want to get her tested and perhaps invest in something that will help muffle the noise for her.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Hi...

Im a qualified Audiologist (hearing specialist..I do hearing tests, fit hearing aids etc)

What you're describing is called hyperacousis....It's not a terribly common thing, people who suffer with hearing loss most commonly experience it...This is due to the fact... The volume at which they hear a sound and the point of it being too loud are moved closer together, thus causing overt sensitivity in loud sounds...in hearing loss, this phenomena is called recruitment.... Its an adversion to loudness....

Im assuming your daughter however does not suffer with hearing loss, so it makes diagnosing anything, (if there is anything to diagnose) difficult...

The test used to distinguish a persons tolerance levels is called a ULL test (uncomfortable loudness level) its a very subjective test, especially with a child... The proceedure is usually preceeded by a standard hearing test... using the same equiptment...that is headphones, an audiometer (hearing test machine) and a push button...what happens is that a beeping sound is played to the test subject, these are gradually increased in volume, the patient is asked to tolerate the sound and 'anticipate' when the next sound will be too loud...

so its : beep....Beep... BEep, BEEp, BEEP.... if you get me...The person should be able to tell, by the previous increase in volume, at which point their tolerance level is met...

But, as you can see, its vert subjective, children are notorious for performing badly in these tests as they are not usually understanding of the importance of result...

Ive added a two links for your information, on peoples views towards this and what possible causes are....

http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/sym/sensitive_hearing.htm

http://www.ctds.info/noise-sensitivity.html (remembering this is just one persons experience and is not something to take too much to heart, but consider)

I always think, in any instance where you're not sure, it's best speaking to your family doctor, you'll get reassurance there, or referral to an ENT (ears, nose and throat) clinic..for further investigation...again though, referral does not indicate anything is wrong, family docotrs remember have a general knowledge and not specialist in every aspect of health, sometimes they refer on for someone who specialises in an area to give reassurance where they perhaps arent experienced enough..

For your information... We see hundreds of children your daughters age every week... A very small percentage of them have anything wrong at all...

All the best.

Answer 3

my son (8) also has had sensitive hearing since i can remember. the doc's told me there is nothing they can do for him- his is not too sever so i never forced the issue. i also work in public schools and for the kids who have sensitive ears to the point they scream during loud activities we give them a set of ear protectors. you can buy them at any store in the sporting goods section they are about $10-$20. They are used by hunters or anyone who shoots guns to protect the ears from the loud shard sounds. but do not get ear plugs they look more like big head phones. put your name on them and send them to school with your daughter and tell the teachers she is to use them when ever she feels it is too loud. the kids can still hear just fine. it just takes the edge off.