I’ve heard, and I don't know if this is true, but, those with SB and shunts have heightened hearing sensitivity, meaning they are more sensitive to loud noises than those who do not have Spina Bifida. This is true for me. Any loud noise at all can really hurt my hearing, and I think I've even got some level of deafness in my right ear (where my shunt is) but it has never been documented. Can you please demystify this rumor as to whether it's true or not?

You are not alone in feeling that you have noise sensitivity. This is a problem that others with hydrocephalus and shunts also complain about. We do not know exactly how common this is. We do know that it does not affect everyone, but it certainly bothers some of those with shunts.

We also do not have studies of treatments for this problem of hyperacusis (oversensitivity to certain frequencies of noise) associated with shunts and hydrocephalus. There are treatments for hyperacusis in the general population. There are audiologists and ENT physicians who work in this area. They use a desensitization technique also used in tinnitus (a persistent ringing in the ear) called Tinnitus Retraining Therapy. In this therapy, patients listen to a broadband noise at soft levels for a defined period of time each day in order to increase their tolerances to sound.

Aside from Tinnitus Retraining Therapy, you can use noise reduction head phones, ear muffs, and ear plugs to decrease the intensity of environmental noise, particularly when you will be in situations where loud noise is common.

As for your concern about deafness, you should have a hearing evaluation performed by an audiologist. Deafness has many causes and is not typical of Spina Bifida, hydrocephalus, or shunts. Therefore, you should have this formally assessed.

For more information on the genetics and factors associated with Spina Bifida, please visit the Spina Bifida Association fact sheet.

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