Overwhelmed by persistent noises while trying to relax

I effectively barricaded myself in our garage for a year or two so I know where you're coming from! Would wearing ear buds for say 10 minutes give you a break long enough to cope with the chatter again? It's not unreasonable to say "I need a break every now and then and will be 'back in the room' shortly".

Indeed. My younger stepdaughter gets huffy when my wife and I do it. We've told her that if we pause the TV we can give our full attention to what she's saying, but from her perspective what she wants is to be able to sit with us with the TV on "in the background" and chatter. When she knows we will "make a big deal out of it and pause the TV" when she speaks, she feels that she has to remain silent, which is not the experience that she's wanting.

I'm not sure what the answer is here because I can see both perspectives - but it's pretty clear that our respective needs (mine and step daughter's) are in conflict.

Most satellite dishes have quad LNBs so you can drive 2 Sky+ boxes from 1 dish or get a cheap Freesat box and hook it to the spare outputs of the dish so you can have your own box in your room.

But that's the beauty of it - if you hit them hard enough, they won't interrupt you.. 

Hello Plastic,

A good suggestion. Unfortunately, I could potentially end up using it multiple times in an hour.

Hello IDWCC,

I have also paused shows and waited. Unfortunately, when my Mum eventually notices, she tends to get huffy. Also during some evenings, when she has a skinful, she just tends to ramble on and on and on about nothing, so I could sometimes be waiting up to 10 minutes.

A good suggestion. Unfortunately, we only have Sky in the living room. Also, they would pester me thinking there is something wrong. Some days I have considered barricading myself in my bedroom, and not coming out again!

That would drive me mad.  I have big problems with concentration.  It takes me about 4 attempts usually to watch an hour long episode of anything.  I find in so many programmes and films the voices are really low and speech is so often mumbled, yet sound effects are stupidly loud and I’m constantly changing the volume, and still miss half of what’s said.  Having the addition of other people and stupid ring tones and talking would drive me crazy.  Can you go to your own room to watch tv or something? 

I can relate to this! noises that no one else notice like eating grate on me. Its worse when Im stressed. I came online as Im so near meltdown as a neighbour (known trouble maker) has been outside hammering his car all day since Thursday, 9am until 5pm everyday. His dog isnt friendly so barks all day at anyone passing and even tries fighting other dogs. Then you have his wife shrieking! I want to cry. I cant go out as Im so wound up its usually best not to. Theres no point talking to them. I'm close p meltdown. Its too hot to stay in as I'm trying but even then the noise is above the TV. Miserable due to problem neighbours.

Ive told my husband to put his phone on vibrate before as its too much for me, he works agency so gets alot of messages and calls

Do they appreciate your autism?   

Is it worth getting a ping-pong bat and writing "please turn your ringtone down" on one side and "I'm trying to watch this - please be quiet" on the other?   You can use it as a sign to hold up for them to see without having to boil up and say anything inflammatory to them.

I record anything I actually want to see in case of this - and I find that everyone else has no clue about the cadence and timing of dialogue in films & tv - they always want to rabbit during the critical plot lines.   STFU!!!!

I can relate to this, especially when watching TV or trying to work at the office. When I watch TV especially e.g. news stories or good documentaries, I actually find myself enjoying tuning in to the emotions or gravitas of the occasion (e.g. if someone is giving a speech in parliament) and it seems to be at precisely these points where people feel the need to chatter over the TV. At work people leave the message tones on their phones on and that breaks my concentration.

The only way I have found to deal with it where TV is concerned is to leave the room and watch the clip again on my computer, or use noise cancelling earbuds in the lounge and give up on trying to listen if it is e.g. news. If it is something I specifically want to watch, I pause the TV every time someone talks over it, & wait for them to stop before un-pausing it.