hypersensitivity to noise

Some noise bothers me, but I am not as affected by it as some people with AS. Sensory issues are not the dominant issue with me. At the asperger group I attend, I do not like the noise of the heater. But I am not bothered by building work noise coming from outside. However, the same building work noise bothers me when I am in my own space at home, particularly when I am reading. Noise mainly bothers me when I am trying to concentrate on something. I cannot read with people talking around me, for example, and I can only read in my bedroom. I can't read silently without getting distracted, I have to whisper aloud the words.

Because my experience of this is quite manageable most of the time, I tend to analyse situations where I'm uncomfortable by listening to see if I can distinguish the key irritants from less problemmatic background. I've found, mentioned in another post, that turning my head or positioning myself differently can reduce the impact, though this isn't practical when walking.

The thing that really has puzzled me is that I do manage to "switch off" uncomfortable sound for a while. It then comes back "on" very suddenly.  That sudden awareness can be alarming and annoying.  So I can be quite unaware of any problem at all then whatever it is suddenly hits.

I used to think this did not bother me, but I guess I was kind of misleading myself and thinking I was "normal" and that noise did not bother me any more than a "normal" person. Only now do I realise perhaps I am a little more concerned about that little rattling noise in the car, the buzz from fluorescent lights, and electrical buzzing from equipment. I guess I find them more of a distraction than an intollerable part of the environment though.

I was rather concerned to see a family on the TV once where the mother had her little autistic son wearing ear mufflers everywhere they went because he was sensitive to noise. The concern for me would be that once they come off, everything will appear much noisier making those times difficult instead, and that he will never adapt to noises and learn to tolerate them - and in the long run it will make things far more difficult. I.e. dealing with the short term issue to the neglect of long-term ones.

If anyone is looking for ear plugs, I noticed Home Bargains currently has the ones you push in your ear for 99p, there's a few pairs in the pack.

and I experience all of the sensations at the same time.

So I avoid crowd situations and try to prevent or circumvent anything that may set off a sensory overload.

Also some sounds, e.g. bus brakes and emergency sirens, make me aggressive and I have to tell myself to relax, which takes a while before I can recover and continue on my way.

My parents felt that I should experience the world in the way that the world is/was (1950s) but with plenty of space and quiet areas.

Class sizes were always small and I did not have to cope with a large school until I went to Technical College at 15, which got me ready for my time in the army (12 years).

Ear plugs do it for me, I have the industrial ones with the soft plastic link lines, i knot them to fit i can hear conversation and shut things out as required, i can also get other information like how windy it is by the sounds that go down the line of the plug.

Like the gloves on a string thing, i dont loose them so much. £2.50 for 5 washable and squeese well small, very soft too. HSS tool hire chain.

I have lots of different types for different places i go and i have my carer carry spares. a real comfort blanket to goingout.

Try a few yourself so you can get some of the sensory information. This will enable ressurances and question challenges to be tailored and more accurate, to the experience variations that you have a true knowledge of.

Sound filtration is a skill that takes time and will depend on bags of variations too numerous to mention just now.

have fun with this one. if it gets posted have a look at the asd adult stuff i wrote about postnatal experience, it may help with asd perspective and empower you with an idea or two, good luck

Thank you everyone! We will try out the ideas and see which w prefers.

Hello,

We got some musicians ear plugs for our eldest, the only downside is that they didn't at the time make them for young children so they didn't stay in very well, but they were effective. They differ from normal ear plugs by muting all sounds rather than blocking all/certain sounds. £10/pair so quite expensive. 

Hi, we get them online, they are no longer stocked by the UK supplier I used to get them from, and come from the USA.

Not sure if allowed to post link - http://www.earplugsonline.com/ 

Melly

Hi Melly

Those ear plugs sound like a great idea. My son can't wear the usual ear defenders because he is sensitive to touch as well. Where did you get them from?

Hi, S has tried out ear defenders at school, but not really taken to them. He prefers earphones and music in some environments and earplugs in others. The earplugs he prefers are like putty and can be softened and popped into the ears. He carries them in his pocket and inserts them when needed.

Melly

When we go out anywhere I tend to have in my bag mp3 player with headphones on it and also Nintendo DS which headphones can be plugged into.  This has saved us a number of times.  Sometimes just to muffle the noise slightly.

xxx

I know a fair few autistic children who wear ear defenders, but some don't want silence, they want noise they are in control of so with them an Mp3 player is better.