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An odd relationship between hearing sounds vs. voices

Oakling

I wondered if someone more knowledgeable could help me to understand why, with my incredibly sensitive hearing, I struggle to hear and interpret words and voices.

My hearing is, probably like many here, exceptionally sensitive. I can hear things that most people around me cannot. What other people seemingly allow to happen around them will often make me uncomfortable (tremendous volume to me). And yet, I often struggle to hear what someone has said to me, or near by to me. I am constantly turning the tv volume down to get away from loud music/ sound effects, but having to turn it up during dialogue. I now have the subtitles on constantly. 

Does anybody else experience this? Does anybody have any information or ideas on the matter. I’m wondering if it is to do with interpreting, processing and understanding spoken information, rather than simply recognising that a sound has occurred and trying to identify its source.

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  • Yes I experience this a lot.

    I too watch TV with the subtitles always on. However they are not always in sync with the dialogue, which makes it hard to process. I'm also constantly turning the volume up and down due to the variable sound effects. Sometimes I try rewinding to hear the dialogue again. However if the background noise is too loud the subtitles are the only way I can understand what is being said.

    I cannot stand it if anyone speaks over the TV. I need warning and to be able to pause one sound first before I can focus on the other. If both happen at the same time I cannot hear or understand either of them. It all gets scrambled together and my brain doesn't process anything meaningful.

    It's the same if I'm trying to converse and there is another background noise or interruption. It puts me off totally and I can't process what the other person is saying or what I am supposed to be saying. Any kind of social or group situation and I find it extremely difficult to listen or talk.

    If I am in a noisy environment I find it almost impossible to hold a conversation, as I can't hear what is being said. It becomes an overwhelming wall of noise. 

    I put it down to my brain being unable to filter sounds. Every sound is competing for attention. The only sounds I can pick out are the higher pitched ones, that I generally find I am the most sensitive to and intolerant of. I can hear a reversing bleeper or a dog yapping half a mile away Slight frown

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  • Yes I experience this a lot.

    I too watch TV with the subtitles always on. However they are not always in sync with the dialogue, which makes it hard to process. I'm also constantly turning the volume up and down due to the variable sound effects. Sometimes I try rewinding to hear the dialogue again. However if the background noise is too loud the subtitles are the only way I can understand what is being said.

    I cannot stand it if anyone speaks over the TV. I need warning and to be able to pause one sound first before I can focus on the other. If both happen at the same time I cannot hear or understand either of them. It all gets scrambled together and my brain doesn't process anything meaningful.

    It's the same if I'm trying to converse and there is another background noise or interruption. It puts me off totally and I can't process what the other person is saying or what I am supposed to be saying. Any kind of social or group situation and I find it extremely difficult to listen or talk.

    If I am in a noisy environment I find it almost impossible to hold a conversation, as I can't hear what is being said. It becomes an overwhelming wall of noise. 

    I put it down to my brain being unable to filter sounds. Every sound is competing for attention. The only sounds I can pick out are the higher pitched ones, that I generally find I am the most sensitive to and intolerant of. I can hear a reversing bleeper or a dog yapping half a mile away Slight frown

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