Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) Practice Test

Hyperacusis is characterized by an increased sensitivity to certain frequency ranges of sound, leading individuals to perceive sounds as unbearably loud or uncomfortable, particularly on the affected side. This condition often affects one ear more than the other, resulting in a perception that sounds are louder from that side. People with hyperacusis may react negatively to sounds that others find relatively normal, experiencing discomfort or pain.

Understanding hyperacusis is important for managing conditions related to hearing and sensitivity to auditory input. Loss of hearing in one ear pertains more to conditions such as unilateral hearing loss rather than hyperacusis, which involves sound perception rather than the ability to hear. Difficulty hearing high-pitched sounds aligns more closely with presbycusis or other types of hearing loss, not hyperacusis. Complete deafness refers to a total inability to hear and does not describe the specific phenomenon of increased sound sensitivity associated with hyperacusis. Thus, the perception of sound being louder on the affected side is the most accurate description.