Phonophobia Hyperacusis refers to a general hypersensitivity to sound of any frequency, and phonophobia to an anxious sensitivity towards specific sound largely independent of its volume. Hyperacusis and phonophobia represent disturbances of central auditory processing without peripheral pathology, often combined with psychosomatic reactions. Phonophobia is generally used to refer to discomfort caused by loud sounds rather than 'fear' of sounds as the etymology of the word might suggest. An abnormally heightened sensitivity to loud sounds. SNOMEDCT_US:313387002 Fear of loud sounds UMLS:C0751466 HP:0002183 Auditory hypersensitivity