In many cases of long-term sound damage, people first begin to have difficulty hearing high-frequency sounds. Loudness can be generated without damage, as in the case of actors or opera singers. Women are more likely to have it than men. The middle…, Hearing loss on one side can be caused by reversible problems, like wax or fluid buildup, and irreversible sensorineural or mechanical problems in the…. A common voice problem in children is caused by stress on the laryngeal tissues from excessive screaming and shouting. “It’s probably not shocking to hear that there’s not a lot of money to study EHS and that many doctors have never even heard of it,” he says. For example, if you tend to have more episodes when you're stressed, you can find ways to ease your anxiety. Your doctor will ask you what kind of noises you’ve been exposed to during different times of your life to help make a diagnosis. There are different opinions about its cause. The syndrome was initially thought to occur most commonly in women and those age 50 and over, but in his research, Sharpless has found that about 13% of undergraduates have experienced it at least once. ", Sleep Medicine Reviews: "Exploding head syndrome.". Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, What It's Like to Have Exploding Head Syndrome. They’ll do this to help you assess whether the sounds that you encounter put you at a higher risk for acoustic trauma and hearing loss. People older than 50 are more likely to have it. Write to Kate Samuelson at [email protected]. “There’s this sudden crescendo of noise, then a profound and jarring explosion of sound, electrical fizzing and a bright flash in my vision, like someone has lit a spotlight in front of my face,” an EHS sufferer explained to the BBC. ", American Academy of Sleep Medicine: "Exploding Head Syndrome.". However, if you’re experiencing hearing loss, your doctor will stress noise protection of the ear and limit exposure to loud environments to prevent the problem from getting worse. Those who experience EHS to a high degree, where its frequency or intensity is particularly troubling, may be advised to use antidepressants, calcium channel blockers (which are often used with headache disorders) or an anti-seizure medication. “I’ve received a number of phone calls from conspiracy theorists who don’t believe the scientific explanations.”. Smart Grocery Shopping When You Have Diabetes, Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Dogs and Cats, Coronavirus in Context: Interviews With Experts. There are no well-established treatments for EHS, and there has never been a controlled trial for it, Sharpless says. The malleus is the outermost and largest of the three small bones in the middle ear, and reaches an average length of about eight millimeters in the…, The human ear consists of three regions called the outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear. Hearing loss can be treated, but it can’t be cured. The eardrum protects the middle ear and inner ear. Injury occurs at the level of the inner ear. This is the estimated noise level of an average group conversation. They may also use something called audiometry to detect signs of acoustic trauma. Another word for loud-voiced. “The way we use our voice and the prosodic patterns in our speech are important for our social interactions, and this is often impaired in people with ASD,” says Fusaroli. With Asperger Syndrome, the people have trouble while talking. Find more ways to say loud-voiced, along with related words, antonyms and example phrases at Thesaurus.com, the world's most trusted free thesaurus. “Simple things like that can really lead to a reduction in episodes. © 2005-2020 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. All rights reserved. Drinking enough water can help you burn fat and increase your energy levels. A sleep medicine specialist can help figure out if you have it. Others who have it more frequently may find it anxiety-inducing and start avoiding sleep, or feel panicked when they go to bed. Difficulty hearing sounds at lower frequencies may occur later. It's where you hear a loud noise right before you fall asleep or wake up -- and other people don't hear it. Your doctor may prescribe oral steroid medications to help with some cases of acute acoustic trauma. Because EHS occurs when a person is falling asleep, researchers think it may be connected to the brain having problems shutting down. Children with autism who talk loudly often don’t know they’re doing so, while others don’t understand why talking in a loud voice … It's where you hear a loud noise right before you fall asleep or wake up -- and other people don't hear it. Cephalalgia: "Exploding head syndrome: Six new cases and review of the literature. Everyone can hear you." Unusual and Rare Psychological Disorders, Oxford University Press, 2016. This page explains exactly how much water you should drink in a day. American Sleep Association: "Exploding Head Syndrome. There are three bones located in the middle ear: the incus, the malleus and the stapes. One of the most important symptoms that can signal the onset of acoustic trauma is called tinnitus. People at an increased risk for acoustic trauma include those who: People continually exposed to noise levels over 85 decibels are at an increased risk for acoustic trauma. Those with mild to moderate tinnitus will most often be aware of this symptom when they’re in silent environments. Acoustic trauma can damage the way that these vibrations are handled, resulting in hearing loss. In fact, you’re among the roughly 10-15% of people who have experienced Exploding Head Syndrome (EHS), a phenomenon that strikes as a person is falling asleep. You should call your doctor if you're bleeding from your ear. Last medically reviewed on August 23, 2018. The people may be talking too loudly at this time. Episodes could come every so often. Some people have described it as a gunshot, cymbals crashing, or a lightning strike. Although its name is very vivid, exploding head syndrome isn't painful. It’s generally painless and lasts just a few seconds. Cognitive Behaviors Typically, kids and adults with Asperger’s have normal to above-average intelligence. “In general, anytime you have sleep disorders, one of the best and easiest things to do is to regulate your sleep by going to bed and waking up at the same time and to avoid using alcohol or caffeine prior to bed,” Sharpless says. However, more research is needed to determine which groups of people are more likely to be sufferers and how prevalent it is.