About Eric P. Wilkinson, MD Expertise I am a board-certified otolaryngologist with additional subspecialty training in otology, neurotology, and skull base surgery. This is the subspecialty of otolaryngology that involves the ear, hearing, balance organs, the facial nerve, and surgery of the skull base including surgery for acoustic neuroma and other benign and malignant tumors of the base of the skull.
Experience Medical school, residency in otolaryngology, fellowship in otology/neurotology/skull base surgery
Organizations American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery North American Skull Base Society American Neurotology Society
Publications Laryngoscope Otology and Neurotology
Education/Credentials MD Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 2001 Otolaryngology Residency, University of Iowa Department of Otolaryngology, Iowa City, IA Otology/Neurotology Fellowship, House Ear Clinic, Los Angeles, CA
Expert: Eric P. Wilkinson, MD Date: 7/5/2007 Subject: Fireworks and Loud Noises
Question I'm 15 years old, and whenever I am around loud noises for 15 minutes or more, I literally get sick. I get a headache, I feel like I am going to throw up, and I just feel horrible. I have to stay inside away from the noise, and I still get a headache for a bit after the noise has stopped. Do I just have really sensitive ears? Also, when I was 1-4, I had lots of ear infections. Is there anyway to overcome this, so I can enjoy concerts, 4th of July, etc.
Thanks, Kelly
Answer Hyperacusis (sensitivity to loud sounds) can occur on its own, or can be a sign of trouble with the Eustachian tube, the small muscles in the middle ear, or other ear problems. The first thing to do is have an examination by your primary care physician, and possibly an ENT to get a hearing test and potentially further testing to determine why this is going on. In the meantime you can use earplugs to decrease the trouble that you have with loud sounds.
