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Glite Dictionary
hyperacusia

hyperacusia

9.9
An unusual sensitivity to normal sounds that makes them feel very loud or painful
  • noun
  • /ˌhaɪpərəˈkuːziə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : hiperacusia
  • People with hyperacusia often find ordinary sounds, like a clock ticking, painfully loud.

Examples

  • People with hyperacusia often find everyday noises unbearably loud or painful.

  • She suffers from hyperacusia and finds loud noises unbearable.

  • Because of his hyperacusia, he wears earplugs even in quiet environments.

  • The doctor diagnosed her with hyperacusia after she complained about discomfort from normal conversation.

  • Many people with hyperacusia avoid crowded places.

  • Due to her hyperacusia, she struggles to enjoy concerts because the music feels overwhelming.

  • He experiences hyperacusia, which means even quiet conversations can cause him discomfort.

Synonyms

hyperacusis
vshyperacusia
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A condition in which normal sounds seem too loud or painful

is the same medical condition but named with a different term
auditory hyperesthesia
vshyperacusia
  • Specialized
9.7

A condition of very sensitive hearing that makes normal sounds feel too loud

is the broader clinical label for extreme intolerance to ordinary sound

Antonyms

hard-of-hearing
1 4.2

A person who cannot hear well

How Sensitive

hyperacusia
  • Specialized
9.9

Surface Forms

hyperacusia singular
hyperacusias plural

Morphology

hyperacusia = hyper + acus + ia

The prefix hyper- is clear, but the hearing-related root is a bound classical form rather than a familiar English word, so the overall meaning is not predictable for an average learner.

Etymology

Hyperacusia comes from the parts hyper- ('too much') and acusia ('hearing'), the same root you see in the word 'acoustic'. So, it is like having the world's volume turned up, which explains the extreme sensitivity to ordinary sounds.