Experience: I’m a musician who became allergic to music

I was 25 years old and living in Ireland when I noticed that my left ear felt as if it had water in it. I didn't think much of it at first. Every time I heard a loud noise, the feeling got worse.

I was prescribed antibiotics after my GP said I had a small hole in my ear. After the hole healed, I began to experience pain in my ears.

This had an impact on my behavior. On a train, I would sit as far away from the loudspeaker as possible, while in a cafe, I wouldn't drink from the coffee machines. The pneumatic doors on the buses made me dislike them. Plates clinking together, or the toilet being flushed, were all caused by noise at home. It was as if everything had been turned into a volume amplifier. I started wearing ear plugs to block out noise. My doctor didn't seem to know what was wrong.

I moved to London in 2004 to pursue a music career, but my condition got worse. I would be in pain in the studio trying to mix a record. I became depressed about how this made it hard for me to become a professional musician. I was hard to get along with. If we had an argument, my partner would have to whisper at me.

I sought help from the National Health Service, but was told there was a long wait to see the ENT services. I found out about a condition called hyperacusis, which seemed to be what I was suffering from, after I turned to the internet. Most people are able to tolerate certain sounds.

It felt like the last chance for my hearing was when my ENT appointment came 18 months later. I was not expecting much, but I was happy to get a diagnosis of hyperacusis. He suggested hearing therapy at the Royal London hospital, instead of more hearing tests or strong anti-anxiety drugs.

My hearing condition and my emotional issues were discussed in therapy. The therapist helped me understand that my fear of noise was a problem and that it was likely to hurt me. When the plugs are taken out, the brain perceives sounds to be louder than they are, so it's often the worst thing a hyperacusis sufferers can do. This can reinforce the fear of noise.

There is a link between anxiety and hyperacusis. I suffered from anxiety as a kid and I think it was an underlying cause. I became so worked up about making music that my hearing became an issue as my career opportunities opened up. I was reassured when the therapist explained that it was a case of dealing with my anxiety, and that there wasn't anything physically wrong with my ears.

It took just a few sessions of counseling to get my hearing back to normal. This reassurance felt like a lightbulb moment because you don't often encounter quick fixes. The emotional cost of hyperacusis was huge. It was a relief to be able to experience everyday life again after nearly giving up on music and my girlfriend.

I had a real problem with irrational fear. My hearing condition helped me get out of the emotional hole I was in because I had a lot of frightening thoughts as a young person.

My girlfriend is now my wife, and I still make music with my band, Five Grand Stereo. I could have lost both if it weren't for the help of the National Health Service.

As told to Daniel Dylan Wray.

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