Re: 4S and misophonia/hyperacusis

[Guest guest]

I have to admit that my suggestions are motivated by what Darlene wrote,

positive associations and perspective on our phonia/sensitivity. Although, I

have done cognitive/behavioral therapy it wasn't focused on my sound

sensitivity. One type of therapy, called Pesso-Boyden Psycho-Motor helps

individuals with deep emotion pain. For example, I was in a group with 3 incest

survivors (I was not one). Essentially, the therapy helps patients enroll and

act out " postive " outcomes to horrible circumstances, so the the emotional part

of the brain starts to feel and remember a pleasant or relieving thought to

replace or supercede the painful memory. It doesn't work all the time, but when

it does, it is amazing how " gut " feeling the change in perspective can be.

THERAPY

I have discussed my sound sensitivity in therapy and basically 2 therapists

seemed to think it was a " fight or flight " reaction to a childhood stimulus.

For me that would be my Mom during the divorce, and as an adult working at law

firms with harsh and verbally abusive lawyers. Recognition was the first step,

I didn't much farther than that.

EARPLUGS

Having said that, I, like most of you was told by my audiologist to just use ear

plugs, which I did for many years (still do). In most situations, it " solved "

the problem, but my trigger list was minimal then. As the list grew over the

years, I realized I was using my earplugs ALL the time. And when I took them

off EVERYTHING seemed too loud. THAT wasn't good. That's when I went to see

Dr. Margaret Jastreboff at Towson University and get tested and start their

treatment program.

HYPERACUSIS TREATMENT

Dr. Jastreboff diagnosed me with hyperacusis, which ended up being incorrect. I

followed their 1st step basic therapy protocol, which included getting a water

fountain, sound soother, test my volume sensitivity every day with listening to

music at different levels for sustained times, going to movie theatres without

earplugs, and reducing my use of earplugs. Everything, but the music volume

test, helped me feel calmer and gain some tolerance. I even brought my sound

soother (ocean waves was my favorite) to work. I was improving, so to speak.

Then after 3 months, Dr. Jastreboff had to decide if I was a candidate for the

$2000 white noise sound retraining program. She decided I wasn't a candidate,

but didn't have much advice for me past that. They ended my sessions, and gave

me no written report on my conditions or the results of their observations,

which I thought odd. I emailed them twice over 2 months and no response. So I

have to say, they must have been avoiding a misophonia catagory, which at that

time they had no therapies for.

Less Stress/IPod

Two yrs has past since the hyperacusis therapy. A year and half ago, I was

oddly, yet fortunately laid off my paralegal job at a law firm. I had time to

myself to do what I wanted, when I wanted, and on my terms. Granted, I was

alone most of the time, but I found myself to be much more tolerant at my

trigger sounds and have the patience to not react, when I WAS with others.

Six months ago, I got a temp job as a paralegal in a mixed

cubicle/office/hallway work space. Overall, it was quiet, BUT everyone's soft

sounds started to become loud and clear to me. I finally tried an IPod and it

has SAVED me. I really appreciate the music as a distraction and a mask. It

dosen't completely block the sound triggers, but helps me to endure.

FUTURE

For the future, I'm going to try my own positive thought connection protocol

with some of my less offensive trigger sounds and see if I can gain more

tolerance.

That's all folks!

> >

> > I've dealt with these issues for 21 years now and am getting worse

> > at tolerating sounds and even words.There HAS to be a cure/ treatment for

all

> >the people that are suffering like us. With medical technology today, why

isn't

> >this issue resolved?? Maybe Doctors don't want to use a cure. I have Chronic

> >Lymphocytic Leukemia, and 4s is MUCH worse to deal with in my life anyways.I

> >feel for the Whole Group!

> >

>