Unbearable Noises

Hi,

I get deeply distressed hearing eating, slurping and licking noises, particularly the dog washing himself because it happens so often. I'm pleased he does keep clean! But he's quite noisy, OH thinks so too, so it's not just my sensitivity. Spending most of the time at home wearing ANC earphones,  if I don't I'm stressed, anxious and physically tense, waiting for it to happen.

I've tried increasing my tolerance, only managing a few seconds and going back to square one constantly.

Any advice on how to tolerate these sounds better, relax around them?

  • Same, mine has got worse. I did think about forcing myself to listen to the ASMR videos of people chewing etc…in an attempt to flood myself with these noises in the hope that i find everyday sounds not as intense. I can’t bring myself to do it though

  • The only thing that helps me is to avoid the sounds where possible, either by removing myself from the source of the sound or using the noise cancelling function of AirPods.

    I can’t bear somebody breathing very close to me. It’s ok if they aren’t invading my personal space and aren’t noisy breathers, but it caused huge issues when I used to be married.

    The sound of chewing, slurping or any noise involving body fluids that emit from the head region are really annoying. 

  • I think noise cancelling for extended periods there some evidence emerging excessive use and reliance on them could be bad for your tolerance

    I have to use noise masking most of the time for the noises you describe (although I have no dog) so the radio will be on when we eat or the TV - but I limit use of the noise cancelling headphones to 1-2 hours a day

  • Not yet, my sensitivity has been getting worse so exploring if there is anything more I can do myself.

  • There are lots of claims made about CBT and it may work for some people, for some things, some of the time, but many autistic people find CBT dosen't work. I think its being seen as an answer to everything.

    I'm not sure what you can do about intrusive noises, whilst I don't suffer from the same ones you do, I have different ones, like the neighbours and their screaming kids and multiple, competing sound systems. I hate the sound of cats blowing spits through their fur and licking between thier toes, I'm just glad I don't have to do that

  • I can totally relate, my absolute hatred of slurping, chewing, licking, cat grooming sounds amongst a million other things, makes my blood absolutely boil. It was bad when i was younger, but its even worse now. I have to wear earplugs if i’m sitting next to my family when they’re munching on stuff or swallowing loudly…failing that i just leave the room till they’ve finished. Its hard to describe how it feels to someone who doesn’t experience it. It makes me so mad. Like you, i’ve tried increasing my tolerance to it, but like you after a few seconds i’m done. I was thinking of getting therapy for it. Have you tried therapy? 

  • I don't have any suggestions, but thought it was just me that found certain sounds extremely annoying and painful trying to put up with them in situations where I can't just go elsewhere. 

  • As you might already know, sound sensitivities are among the varying types of sensory sensitivities that we can experience as autistic people:

    NAS - Autism and sensory processing

    You might find the information here helpful. It discusses misophonia, which it describes as "a heightened sensitivity to specific sounds, often resulting in intense emotional and physiological responses":

    Reframing Autism (Australian charity) - Sensory Overload: Navigating Misophonia in Daily Life

    I'd suggest asking your GP for support. I also have hearing issues - including tinnitus and hyperacusis (with misophonia and more). I was initially seen by ENT ("Ear, Nose and Throat" - who checked for physical causes for my tinnitus), then audiology.

    I'm now part way through a course of hearing therapy. I've also been issued with hearing aids that include programs to help prioritise the sounds that I do want to hear (eg what I'm watching on TV) over those that I don't (eg misophonia-triggering sounds made by others nearby).

  • That sounds like misophonia (you'll have probably heard about it before?) I'm not sure how much can be done about it, I struggle with it as well to some degree. Google claims CBT therapy can help but not sure much difference it'd make