Published on 12, July, 2020
Those with sensory issues surrounding sound, do you also have very good hearing? Sound is a huge problem for me regarding distraction. I just came out into the garden for a smoke and they’re having a party a few doors down which was winding me up, but I was trying really hard to ignore that and kept trying to make myself carry on with my online search of something (not very successfully). But while all this was going on I noticed this annoying noise on the fence next to me, not particularly loud, and I was struggling to work out what it was. I tried pushing the fence to see if it was the breeze, moved the plant to see if that was brushing against the fence, nope. What it was, was a wasp, collecting wood from the fence for its nest I presume. In the past I’ve also heard a wood louse giving birth in my outhouse when it was quiet and hunted down the noise. And probably a little louder, but the bubbles inside a can of opened Coke drive me mad too.
Yes I think my hearing must be ultra sensitive to even the smallest sound.
I too notice the sound the bubbles make in a can of fizzy drink, although that particular noise doesn't really bother me.
If a fly gets into the room the noise is so annoying that I have to hunt it down before I can concentrate on anything else.
The sound of a ticking clock is highly annoying to me as well.
I notice electrical sounds too. The buzzing that emits from certain types of light bulb. When using my computer I'm constantly aware of the noise it makes, especially 'chugging' noise of the hard drive working.
A few months ago I went for a walk in a quiet nature reserve. No people, no dogs. I thought it would be perfect for me. Then I realised there were electricity pylons running through the reserve. I was soon so overwhelmed by the buzzing noise from them that I had to leave.
I find that my brain becomes sensitised to certain sounds and the more I am exposed to those sounds the worse it gets.
There was a new housing estate built near where I live. Every day for 3 years I had that constant bleeping noise from their vehicles from 8am until 5pm. At first I could tolerate it. The longer it went on I found it unbearable and like torture. I think living with that for so long is what put me into burnout and resulted in my sensitivity to noise becoming extremely acute. Now I think I can pick up the sound of one of those reversing bleepers from miles away.
If I go into a shop the very first thing I notice is the bleeping from the tills. Often it is so overwhelming I have to leave.
Currently the noise I am ultra sensitised to is dog barking, the sharp high pitched yapping type.
My hearing is so acute that I find ear plugs and ear defenders ineffective. The best I have achieved is a slight dampening of the noise by wearing both together. However they amplify my own internal body sounds and sensations so much I can't tolerate them. Last night I put in some ear plugs, to try and block out the noise of screaming children outside. They barely had any effect. I could even still hear everything that was being said on the TV while wearing them.
Like you I can't relax at home because of the noise from neighbours. I dream of moving somewhere remote, with no neighbours and no noise. However in my area remote cottages tend to be used as holiday cottages. If they do go on the market they are way out of my budget
Autonomistic said:I too notice the sound the bubbles make in a can of fizzy drink, although that particular noise doesn't really bother me.
I think I find it more annoying if I’ve had a build up of other things during the day. I kind of get fixated on it then wishes she’d hurry up and drink it so it would stop.
Yes we are surrounded by pylons where I am and I tend to zoom into that noise too. Occasionally I’ll be on a walK and I’ll stop, realise that everything is so still and quiet, literally no noise and it’ll make me smile. My dream is to live in the middle of nowhere, no neighbours or roads, but it’ll never happen as I won’t ever have the money to do this.
I’ve also tried earplugs and find the internal noises distracting. Though sometimes I’ll put up with that as a better alternative to what I can hear without them. I think I’ve been pushed to my limit after all of these years and I’m zoning in on noises now even more so than before. It sort of reminds me of the film Lucy, where she is taking in so much information from everywhere - I can watch that film over and over.
Yes with me it’s driving to somewhere to walk where it’s quiet. I do drive but as little as I can get away with as I find people tailgating, not saying thank you when you give right off way, not indicating on roundabouts etc really anxiety inducing and it annoys me, the worst is if I can hear sirens and can’t work out which direction they’re coming from.
One thing I found annoying was the countryside around me became ridiculously busy during the pandemic, after they were told to go for a walk for their mental health. Now there are people everywhere and I really struggle with that. It’s almost ruined it for me. I also struggle with finding new walks as I always worry I’ll walk on private land and get told off and I get lost so easily. I’m not good with maps at all.
Yeah that would be great, though I wonder how it would work if people were also adhd as it looks like I am. I’m completely alone now (except my adult kids) because of the few people I’ve had in my life have either annoyed me, or I’ve annoyed them. I don’t know if it would be the same with others with autism and adhd as I’ve never known anyone that’s been diagnosed.
Highly recommend watching Lucy.
Yes that's exactly how I feel. I've been pushed to my limits with noise and now I'm even more sensitive to it than I was before. Non autistic people don't understand that we can't get used to a particular noise that's bothering us or learn to zone it out.
The sensation of being in the middle of nowhere with no noise is one that I strive for. It makes me smile too. That's why I go out walking in remote countryside when I am able to. However just getting out can be too overwhelming, as I have to battle against so much noise before I reach such a place.
Wouldn't it be great if there was a village in the middle of nowhere that could be inhabited solely by autistic people.
I haven't seen that film so I'll look out for it.