Final answer:
Hyperacusis is the condition of overly sensitive hearing, while hearing loss includes types like conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. Sensorineural hearing loss may be treated with cochlear implants, while conductive hearing loss may be addressed with hearing aids.
Step-by-step explanation:
A patient experiencing overly sensitive hearing would be diagnosed with hyperacusis. This condition is not the same as hearing loss, which can be of different types, such as conductive hearing loss, sensorineural hearing loss, or a mix of both. Conductive hearing loss is related to problems with delivering sound energy to the cochlea and can result from blockages, damage to the middle ear structures, or fluid in the space between the eardrum and cochlea. On the other hand, sensorineural hearing loss occurs due to damage to the hair cells in the organ of Corti or abnormalities in the auditory nerve and can be a result of aging, trauma, infections, medications, or noise exposure. Hyperacusis involves a heightened sensitivity to normal environmental sounds and can be extremely discomforting for the patient.
Ménière's disease can cause a variety of symptoms including hearing loss, but it also involves vertigo and tinnitus. While sensorineural hearing loss can be managed with cochlear implants in some cases, conductive hearing loss is sometimes treatable with hearing aids.