what happens if there is a mismatch in the feedback mechanism?
He rapidly withdraws his hand from the glass of warm water because he experiences discomfort, discomfort in the absence of impending damage. So this mismatch in the feedback mechanism results in a decreased threshold for discomfort, but not a decreased threshold for damage. In the case of hyperacusis, there is no evidence that there is a decreased threshold for cochlear damage, only that a sound well-tolerated by some is uncomfortable or even painful to others. I do not mean in any way to underestimate the magnitude of what can be a very serious – even incapacitating – problem; I wish only to clarify its nature. Two observations should be made at this point: • First, there is some opinion that in the case of acute hyperacusis induced by a sudden exposure to a loud sound, the hair cells of the cochlea may, indeed, be temporarily “hyper-sensitive” to damage. There is disagreement on this issue, but I think that might be prudent for an individual who first develops onset of hyperacusis af
