Published on 12, July, 2020
I'm only very mildly on the autistic spectrum and have no diagnosis. One thing that is causing me massive problems at the moment is noise at work. They have the radio playing over the work PA system and it is making me very stressed and anxious. I normally have the radio playing at home and like to have that background noise but work is different. I think because it is over a PA system to sound quality is poor, also the music is stuff that stresses me, dance and hip-hop (too percussive, lack of melody?), the DJs all talk in over an excited way and the adverts also use very excitable tones.
I've been told that I can't wear ear-plugs as it is a health and safety issue. So I wondered if there is any method I can use to deal with the stress and anxiety itself.
I am looking for another job but I can't stand this one much longer unless I find a way to cope with the noise, so I may have to leave with no other income if I don't get a solution.
It is just working in a supermarket but after closing, so they have the music because other people like music whilst they work.
Can we back up a bit. What type of work do you do, and why are they playing music? It's not just Autistic people that find music irritating, quite a lot of other people do as well. Background music is everywhere these days, and it shouldn't be. At least some places have a more enlightened view. https://www.theguardian.com/business/shortcuts/2016/jun/01/is-marks-and-spencer-right-scrap-in-store-music
The 3M ear defenders are pretty tight (I have a pair of 3M X5A for general home use) and so it might be worth trying a pair. There are various levels of noise protection and the pair I bought cost £25. Take a look at:http://solutions.3m.co.uk/wps/portal/3M/en_GB/PPE_SafetySolutions_EU/Safety/Products/Product-Catalog-PoW/?PC_Z7_U00M8B1A0OP590IB369UJT2UU4000000_nid=88M65W4JK1beN8MT32R3VMgl
If they turn out to be no use for work then they should be of use at home. I use my pair exclusively at home and consider the benefits to be very worthwhile (although I would prefer people to make less noise and not play their 'music' outside).
Thanks caretwo, I have now looked at those suggestions. I'm not sure what the Health and Safety issue is, I don't think they are, they mentioned not being able to hear the fire alarm but I said that I could and they still weren't happy. It seemed that anything that might interfere with my hearing would be a problem. I certainly couldn't wear anything like ear muffs as they'd fall off if I was bending down. I think I'm going to have to try getting/ adapting earplugs that will reduce volume but not muffle anything and can be discreet enough that they can't be seen.
Not knowing exactly what the health and safety issue is, I wonder if 3M's Push to Listen ear defenders would be of use. You simply push a button to listen and the ear defender opens for communication (and automatically shuts off after 30 seconds).
Perhaps noise-cancelling headphones would be of use. There are models from Bose, B&W and Sony which allow you to set the level of noise cancellation so you can increase or decrease your awareness of your surroundings. Have a search for 'noise cancelling headphones' on the What Hi-Fi? website (https://www.whathifi.com/).
Thanks Nellie,
I'd already looked at the Mind website and couldn't find anything relevant. On the autism website the only thing that seems roughly relevant is the anxiety bit, but it is talking about anxiety where you are worrying that something bad was going to happen and that isn't the problem. The noise isn't causing me worry, it is uncomfortable to me. The best way I can explain it is that it would be rather like expecting someone to work in a room where the lights were flickering randomly. It wouldn't actually be harming them but it would be very uncomfortable and become less tolerable the longer they were there. So tactics to deal with worrying situations don't work because I'm not worried something bad might happen, the something bad is happening, I am being made uncomfortable by the sound stimulus.
Hi SheilaEskdale,
The following page from the National Autistic Society's website is all about mental health http://www.autism.org.uk/about/health/mental-health.aspx. From this page I've managed to find a section of the Mind website all about tips for everyday living (available here https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/tips-for-everyday-living/) which may be of use to you.
Best wishes,
Nellie-Mod