Acoustic Shock

What is acoustic shock?

An acoustic shock is an involuntary startle and fright reaction to a sudden, loud, unexpected sound, leading to a typical cluster of involuntary, highly specific symptoms.

Acoustic Shock becomes an acoustic shock disorder or acoustic shock injury if symptoms persist. Acoustic Shock needs to be distinguished from, and is separate and different to, inner ear damage from noise exposure. This is known as acoustic trauma and causes noise-induced hearing loss.

Acoustic Incidents

The acoustic incident resulting in a case of acoustic shock is always an unpredictable or high-intensity sound, triggering a strong startle and threat response.

Additionally, acoustic incidents leading to acoustic shock are often:

loud
sudden and unexpected or have an impact quality
threatening
in close proximity to the ear(s)
occurring in a situation where the person is unable to move away from the sound
outside the person’s control

Call centre staff that wear headsets are vulnerable to acoustic shock, and research has tended to focus on this group. However, acoustic incidents can occur anywhere.

Acoustic incidents through a telephone line can originate as feedback oscillation, fax tones, signalling tones, or even malicious whistleblowing by dissatisfied call centre customers. Acoustic shock symptoms can develop as a result of cumulative exposure to sustained headset use. In some call centre cases, this can occur without a specific acoustic incident being identified.

Acoustic Shock Symptoms

Typically, people experiencing an acoustic shock describe it similarly to being stabbed or electrocuted in the ear.

The initial symptoms can include some or all of the following:

A severe startle reaction (this may include a head and neck jerk)
Stabbing pain in the ear
Tinnitus, hyperacusis
Sensations of burning, numbness, or tingling, (or a feeling of blockage or pressure in the ear)
Sensations of muffled or distorted hearing
Mild vertigo and nausea
Headaches
A shock response (such as shaking, crying, disorientation, or fatigue)

Symptoms usually fade within a few hours or days. In some cases, almost always associated with the development of hyperacusis, some of the symptoms can persist for months or indefinitely. Persistent symptoms are often sound-induced and can include:

Pain in and around the ear
Tinnitus
A feeling of pressure or fullness in the ear
Pain, numbness, burning, or tingling in the side of the neck, jaw, or face
Balance problems or unsteadiness
Rarely, hearing loss

Acoustic shock symptoms are involuntary, so they cannot be readily controlled or easily objectively measured. The unusual symptom cluster may be misunderstood or not believed. Persistent symptoms are unpleasant, frightening and can be deeply distressing. This can lead to a range of emotional reactions including trauma, panic attacks, anxiety disorders and depression.

Causes of Acoustic Shock Disorder Symptoms

The immediate cause of acoustic shock symptoms is considered to be excessive contractions of the middle ear muscles (stapedius and tensor tympani muscles), triggered by hearing the acoustic incident. While the stapedial reflex is an acoustic reflex triggered by high volume levels, the tensor tympani reflex is a startle and ‘protective’ reflex with a variable threshold.

Persistent acoustic shock disorder symptoms are consistent with a condition called Tensor Tympani Syndrome (TTS). With TTS, the tensor tympani muscle is spontaneously active, rhythmically contracting and relaxing. This appears to initiate a cascade of physiological reactions in and around the ear.

Symptoms consistent with TTS can include:

Tinnitus (often with a rumbling quality)
Rhythmic sensations in the ears such as clicks and tympanic membrane (ear drum) flutter
Alterations in ventilation of the middle ear cavity (this leads to symptoms in the ears such as a sense of blockage or fullness, frequent “popping” sensations – like a balloon popping – and mild vertigo)
Minor alterations in middle ear impedance (stiffness) leading to fluctuating symptoms of muffled or distorted hearing
Irritation of the trigeminal nerve innervating the tensor tympani muscle. This leads to pain, numbness and burning sensations in and around the ear, along the cheek, neck and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) area.

Our Acoustic Shock Disorder Program

Our Audiology practice provides unique expertise in the evaluation and management of acoustic shock patients and in acoustic shock workplace consultancy.

We have been working with acoustic shock patients on a frequent basis since 2002, offering international-level experience in the provision of acoustic shock evaluation and therapy.

Dr. Philippa James has extensive experience in the rehabilitation of hyperacusis, TTS and tinnitus, the dominant symptoms of acoustic shock disorder. Philippa utilises a specialised clinical approach developed through years of collaborative practice and mentorship within our clinic.

Our evaluation and management program includes:

A definitive diagnosis
A hearing assessment
An evaluation of the emotional impact of acoustic shock disorder
Detailed and personalised explanations
A detailed report, including fitness for work, rehabilitation recommendations and referral for further evaluation and management

Contact Us

Are you experiencing acoustic shock symptoms? Or would you just like further assistance and advice? Get in touch with us today to discuss acoustic shock and how we can help you.

FAQs

What is acoustic trauma?

Acoustic shock needs to be distinguished from and is different to cochlear (inner ear) damage from noise, also known as acoustic trauma, potentially causing a noise induced hearing loss.

How long does acoustic shock last?

Acoustic shock symptoms are usually temporary. Acoustic shock can become a disorder if hyperacusis develops.

How is acoustic shock diagnosed?

The neurophysiological symptoms associated with acoustic shock disorder are subjective, so cannot be objectively measured.

A carefully considered evaluation and diagnosis is made on the basis of the medical history noting acoustic incident exposure; the onset of symptoms consistent with acoustic shock following acoustic incident exposure; the pattern of symptom persistence and escalation over time; the development of hyperacusis; and any symptom exacerbation following exposure to intolerable (or difficult to tolerate) sounds.

Can you recover from acoustic trauma?

Acoustic trauma from an intense sound wave can cause damage to the inner ear structures and rupture the tympanic membrane (ear drum). The tympanic membrane will usually heal over time.

Treatment of inner damage with steroid medication, either via intratympanic injections or orally, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy may be provided. However, permanent inner ear damage is likely.

Can you recover from acoustic shock?

The factors resulting in acoustic shock disorder leading to the development of hyperacusis are complex and outside a patient’s conscious control. Symptoms of pain can be treated and take priority.

Hyperacusis desensitisation is slow, requiring determination and belief in the prospect of change. Complete desensitisation may be difficult to achieve and an unrealistic expectation. However, partial desensitisation can make a big difference to symptom severity, and to the emotional impact and lifestyle constraints of acoustic shock disorder.

How do I know if I have permanent hearing damage?

Acoustic shock generally does not result in a hearing loss, although if present it tends not to follow the typical high frequency pattern of a noise induced hearing injury but affects low and mid frequency sensorineural and/or conductive hearing.

Fluctuating symptoms of muffled or distorted hearing are common with acoustic shock disorder. A hearing assessment will identify significant hearing damage.

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