My Body with Auditory Neuropathy is Just Too Fascinating!
Hi, I’m Risa Nara.
I casually and joyfully share my daily life as someone living with low vision and hearing loss.
Today, I’d like to talk about something a little nerdy but truly fascinating—how I hear the world with a condition called Auditory Neuropathy.
Normal Hearing, but Can’t Understand Words?
On a basic hearing test, my results are in the normal to mild hearing loss range, with no major difference between my left and right ears.
But—my ability to understand the meaning of spoken words? That’s a whole different story.
Right ear comprehension: 30–70%
Left ear comprehension: just 3%!
To make things even more interesting, my comprehension changes depending on where in the word the sound falls:
Word beginnings: extremely poor
Word middles: moderate
Word endings: about 70%
Why I Never Catch the Subject of a Sentence
Because of how I hear, everyday conversations often go something like this:
Someone says:
“[Subject] did [something], and it was so much fun!”
But all I hear is:
“…it was so much fun!”
Naturally, I ask:
“What was fun?”
The problem is, people often respond by rephrasing:
“So, [different version of the same story]…”
And once again, I can’t catch the meaning. It’s a frustrating loop.
What I really want is for people to repeat the exact same words, not reword them. That makes it easier for me to catch what I missed.
APD Testing Explained My Listening Mystery
Everything clicked when I underwent an auditory processing disorder (APD) test.
It gave me a scientific understanding of my “weird” hearing—and that was a huge relief!
The diagnosis? Auditory Neuropathy.
It’s a relatively newly understood condition where the ears may hear sounds normally, but the signals don’t reach the brain properly, making comprehension in certain environments very difficult.
Where Can You Get Tested?
If this sounds familiar to you, I highly recommend seeing a specialist.
Ordinary ENT doctors often overlook it. In fact, when I first went to a local clinic, I was told:
“Oh, it’s just earwax.” 😅
Even a fairly large general hospital once told me,
“It’s probably a glitch in our equipment—let’s just observe for now.”
Eventually, I went to Tokyo Medical Center, and bam—Auditory Neuropathy diagnosed on the first visit!
They even conducted genetic testing and gave me a detailed explanation of how my hearing works.
Why Loud Sounds Are So Unbearable
One key test measured something called the acoustic reflex—a natural response where the ear dampens loud sounds to protect itself.
My ears don’t have that reflex.
This means loud sounds come in full-force—no filter.
So:
People who speak loudly? Painful.
Movie theaters? I have to wear noise-canceling headphones just to survive the sound.
Finally understanding why this happens was incredibly validating.
Hearing Difficulties: As Invisible as Vision Loss
Hearing loss isn’t always visible.
If left unaddressed, it can accelerate cognitive decline and create serious barriers to participating in society.
And no—it’s not just a problem for older people.
Whenever I teach at university, there’s always at least one student who comes to me and says,
“Lately, I just can’t process what people are saying.”
Final Thoughts: Listen to Your “Listening”
Everyone’s ears are different.
Struggling to hear in noisy places?
Hearing voices clearly, but not understanding the words?
Having trouble hearing only certain people?
These could be signs of Auditory Neuropathy or APD.
Please don’t ignore it. Getting a proper diagnosis and understanding how you hear can be life-changing.
It’s the first step toward better communication—for yourself and with others.