Earplugs

I went for over the head phones as well. I tried ear plugs but they were too uncomfortable so settled for the phones. They do make a difference and make the oversensory to sound much better.

I'm listening to a really noisy overhead monitor in work right now. Can't wait to get away from it in ten minutes when we close. I'm not usually under it thank goodness, but the office brings its own sensory overloads - roof machinery though the (seemingly mandatary) open window. I mean I know it's not life in the trenches, but still... 

My fridge is a big loud and slightly distracting, but what was affecting more was a bathroom fan droning - not that loud in the day, but at night it was slightly irritating.  The filter was really clogged with dust, so I washed it and put it back and now its quieter.  

Ah yes, I definitely do have earphones in a lot out of laziness anyway. Being a podcast junkie and and avid listener to audiobooks, youtube talks/crime interrogations, audio dramas...and when I press pause I kind of forget I still have them in there. I listen to everything at a modest volume as I can never understand people blasting their eardrums from such a near distance. But it's enough to drown out the fridge!

That must drive you nuts! I hate anything electrical like that because it hums kind of and that for me is so irritating. Definitely use your headphones when it's whining away. I do :) They're good because they lessen the noise but you'll still hear the phone ring or if someone talks to you.

I keep meaning to use them more at home. My fridge makes a fair bit of noise and while I can close off the kitchen it still gets through to the living room. Be good to wear them when reading on the sofa or similar.

Possibly. I'd never wear them when on an enquiry desk or something, but for working with stock etc. or in the back office why not? If it helps filter out some of the most relentless noise - music for instance

Flare calmer are useful, somewhere in between an earplug and not wearing one. Useful for if you still need to be able to hear people speaking to you or safety alarms etc, they just get rid of some of the background crap.

Calmer® | An Alternative To Traditional Earplugs – Flare Audio Ltd

I find ear plugs too uncomfortable for me so use sound limiting headphones that go over my head and this works well for me if I go out. At home I use my own stuff to try make sound a little more comfortable.

Daft question but can you wear these in bed while sleeping and can they be used for listening to music?

Thank you for your advice. I work in retail so would you say the ear plugs you use would be suitable for the environment?

The only downside is the amplification of one’s heartbeat and breathing- takes a while to tune out or regulate breathing to minimise. 

I’ve started to wear them intermittently in work. Just squidgy ones that I got fairly cheaply on Amazon. 

they’re particularly helpful now that I’m back in the actual office so much and given that the office consensus seems to be windows must be open at all times (Covid). That means the noise from machinery on the roof is a constant distraction as is the freezing cold draft. Nobody else seems bothered by either. I fully appreciate that I’m the odd one out. But I’m less self conscious in my hoodie (worn up), sunglasses and earplugs (sometimes all at once) than I was. I mentioned my diagnosis at work so it’s understood if  still occasionally teased about by one or two people passing my desk. 

Awesome, thank you so much for your advice . I was actually looking at loop earplugs but wasn't sure which ones would be best so thank you :)

Thank you, will give them a go :)

I don’t need to use earplugs, but I do wear them at night, and it does actually help me switch off more than if I didn’t use them. They are just simple foam ‘super soft’ earplugs by Macks. Probably not what you are looking for,  but worth a shot perhaps? As they are inexpensive. 

There are some extremely good noise cancelling ones with pass through at prices under £50 or even £30 now.  The technology has filtered down.  Have a look on www.techradar.com and www.whathifi.com for recommended ones.  Personally I spent a lot on high end ones but you can still buy previous models that are 90% as good as the latest version cheaper.  For example the Sony WF-1000X4 are about £200 but the previous model WF-1000XM3 is £100 in Argos and secondhand through CEX as A grade (Which in my experience means brand new and never used) are £75.

I bought Loop Quiet ones off Amazon a while back £18, not cheap but washable so works out cheaper than disposables and stay in better.  You get small/medium/large eartips in the pack, so you can find the size that fits.  There are cheaper ones, I just found these recommended on autism pages a few times so felt they would be a good buy.

They reduce noise level by about a quarter, which might help depending on the background noise.