A Reflection on Growing Up With Hyperacusis

Authors

• Jemma-Tiffany Rosewater, Brown University Health Cancer InstituteFollow
• Katherine Melton, Brown University Health Cancer InstituteFollow

Publication Date

9-15-2026

Keywords

hyperacusis, dismissal, chronic condition, patient experience

Abstract

I, the first author, explore here my personal experiences growing up with severe hyperacusis pain, a rare condition that significantly affected my childhood but also gave me a deeper understanding of how medical professionals interact with children. I discuss the many ways my condition was dismissed or misunderstood by doctors, and I examine the broader negative implications that this dismissal had on both my physical health and day-to-day life. This article also emphasizes the power and sway that the words of medical professionals hold compared to the voices of children. I reflect on how outdated yet common misconceptions about hyperacusis, combined with the societal tendency to downplay what children say that they are experiencing, led to me being subjected to treatments that caused intense pain. These experiences are not just personal but also serve to highlight the broader issues surrounding how children with hyperacusis are mistreated and the harmful effects that this mistreatment can have on many aspects of their lives. Finally, this paper aims to counter harmful misconceptions by sharing more accurate and up-to-date medical knowledge about hyperacusis.

Recommended Citation

Rosewater JT, Melton K. A reflection on growing up with hyperacusis. J Patient Cent Res Rev. 2026;13:142-4.