Having hyperacusis makes hearing everyday noises unbearable for Joyce and Ben. Feb. 4, 2014— -- For Joyce Cohen and Ben, a constant in their relationship has been the quest for silence. Before ...

As the father of two deaf sons and the author of a book on the history of cochlear implants, I thought I knew a bit about hearing problems. I was still shocked by an e-mail I received some months ago.

For most of us, the hum of a refrigerator, the clatter of plates or a nearby conversation are just background noise. But for some, these sounds are uncomfortable, distressing or even painful.

Many people become hard of hearing as they get older. But another common condition is less well recognized, and is almost the opposite problem: hypersensitivity to sounds such as someone’s voice or ...