Learned a new term: parageusia.
That cute little term covers a side effect of Bell’s Palsy. Specifically, it describes the tendency for one ear to suddenly experience loud, unexpected sounds as REALLY LOUD. Like, painfully loud. Have a friend who bursts out in laughter? It’s like knives driven into the skull. Dog barking? Might as well have him gnaw on your head awhile. That would feel less painful.
And the strange bit? Parageusia normally occurs in the ear on the same side as the Bell’s Palsy. Mine, um, moved. It started on the left side, then moved, and staid, on the right. Just one more odd thing to get over.