diplacusis: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowTechnical/Medical
Quick answer
What does “diplacusis” mean?
A medical condition where a single sound is perceived as two separate pitches or tones in one or both ears.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A medical condition where a single sound is perceived as two separate pitches or tones in one or both ears.
An auditory disorder, often associated with hearing loss, Ménière's disease, or other inner ear issues, causing a distortion in pitch perception where the same frequency is heard differently between ears or in one ear as a double tone.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Exclusively a technical, clinical term in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally rare in both UK and US English, confined to audiology, otolaryngology, and related medical fields.
Grammar
How to Use “diplacusis” in a Sentence
Patient + have/suffer from + diplacusisDiplacusis + be + caused by + conditionTo diagnose + diplacusisVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “diplacusis” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The diplacusic distortion made musical intervals sound dissonant.
- A diplacusic patient
American English
- The diplacusic effect was most noticeable with pure tones.
- Diplacusic symptoms
Usage
Meaning in Context
Academic
Used in medical and audiology research papers, textbooks, and case studies.
Everyday
Virtually never used. A patient would more likely describe the symptom (e.g., 'I hear two different pitches').
Technical
Core term in audiology, otology, and hearing science for a specific perceptual disorder.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “diplacusis”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “diplacusis”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “diplacusis”
- Misspelling as 'diplacuses', 'diplacussis', or 'diplocusis'.
- Using it to describe tinnitus (ringing) or general hearing loss, which are different conditions.
- Pronouncing it with a hard 'c' (/k/) in the middle syllable.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Tinnitus is the perception of sound (like ringing or buzzing) when no external sound is present. Diplacusis is a distortion of an existing external sound's pitch.
Treatment depends on the underlying cause. It may resolve if caused by a temporary condition (e.g., ear infection), but if caused by permanent inner ear damage, management strategies like hearing aids or auditory training may be used.
Yes, the sudden onset of diplacusis or any hearing distortion warrants evaluation by an audiologist or otolaryngologist (ENT specialist) to determine the cause.
It is a relatively uncommon symptom reported by a subset of patients with sensorineural hearing loss, Ménière's disease, or after head trauma.
A medical condition where a single sound is perceived as two separate pitches or tones in one or both ears.
Diplacusis is usually technical/medical in register.
Diplacusis: in British English it is pronounced /ˌdɪpləˈkjuːsɪs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌdɪpləˈkjusɪs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of DIPLAcusis like a DIPLomat for your ears who can't agree—your two ears (or one ear twice) give two different reports on the same sound.
Conceptual Metaphor
A faulty stereo system where the left and right speakers are out of tune.
Practice
Quiz
Diplacusis is most closely associated with a disorder in: