Expert: Paul Johnson - 12/13/2010

Question
"Hi there!

I know that my question can be long, but I didn't know what to leave out as I think most of it is important for me to know or for you to answer correctly.

I wonder how could I deal with auditory sensitivity? What are the ways to deal with it in a real life?

I am 19 years old and have diagnosed Asperger's syndrome and am really sensitive to sound. Actually it has been my advantage in the field of music, am recognized as perfect pitch.
Anyway, as I can feel every vibration of the music (I am vibration sensitive - it is good because I can differentiate different vibrations themselves, and also annoying because some vibrations are horrible to hear, for example vibration of an old TV when turned on, or vibration of house machines, etc.), I also can hear really silent and high vibrational sounds, which also animals can hear, but not typical people.

When some machines are opened, as for example wash machine, TV, computer, mixer, etc... I can hear every one of them, and also the high vibration covered in their sound, not just the sound itself. If you know what I mean.

I can also hear the sound of the air when everything is silent. The sound of the air, or better written, its vibration, is different in every place, as the air waves differently regarding how the walls are placed, etc. I didn't learn this from books (I found that later when I examined what am I hearing and why, and found information), but from my hearing first. And I hear the air like I would hear a song, recognizing its sound patterns. Is interesting, but can be annoying. So I don't concentrate much on it, and luckily I don't hear it as loud, but rather a silent sound.

The problem is that because I'm so sensitive, can you imagine what a loud sound can seem to me?
I can't stand most loud noises, for example fireworks, police, ambulance, different alarms, even the alarm watch to wake me up can hurt my ears. So I put it off as fast as I can.
I am also sensitive to the sound of the hammer, I don't like yelling, loud crying, when people are talking loudly on TV or radio (it seems to me like yelling, or I hear the vibration in the voice so loud that it makes me nuts), I can't stand too much clapping, or whispering. Also some high pitched sounds go on my nerves, as the sound of an old TV when being opened, I don't like mixers, I hate vacuum cleaners and similar sounds. I also hate when there is going some street repair, when they build something and so on, because I hate the voice of excavators and similar driving machines, I hate grinding and hate drill, mixers, striking or beating something, there I refer to the sounds heard when some group of workers is repairing a street or a building for example. Too much cars going up and down on the street past me, can be very annoying and after some minute can really hurt my ears. And also too much people talking at once, or when someone is talking loudly and high-pitched.

I often need silence because I am much of the time overloaded from all the noise.

I usually cover my ears also when I hear some baby toy high pitched sound if played on for too long. I then tell it is beeping and I hate the beeping-like sounds.
I also don't like crowds, because so much people are talking at once and also making sounds and it all sounds like noise and it also hurts my ears. Horrible.

The worst that can be is the sound of the TV turned on when being played aloud. Aloud I mean there when it outruns the sound of an normal debate. When it is turned loud, or so.

I have much problems when hearing these or similar sounds, and I recently found a way that music can calm me. But having a mp3 always turned on is exhausting, as too much music can hurt my ears, because if I hear the loud music all day long or when a sound is made and it can last for long, I might need silence.

Sometimes the silence is impossible to be heard from my ears, because I also hear the air sound and sound vibrations of things (every thing is vibrating). So sometimes I just cover my ears for just a minute of silence when alone in some quiet room.

Now I bought some headphones and they help me much, but I am wandering if there is also any other way. And also, as I am always grateful for the new information, what type of the earphones would be most suitable for me? What are your experiences with that?
Also, wearing headphones can be annoying, because when it reduces the sound, it may reduce also the 'good' sounds, and I don't really like that, as some sounds can really please me. It is so difficult when some sounds really please and calm you, and others drive you nuts and no one can ever get that because they are typical. Also, how it is with wearing the headphones through all day? As I am quite new in all that.

Also, I sometimes fear that if I am exposed for the sounds too long, that it might hurt my ears and damage them after time, so is it right? Or am I making a mistake? I also have a problem that I might hear sounds as loud (and I often do), because I can hear also the air-like sounds. So a normal sound can seem loud.
How is there with tolerance? Can then a normal sound (it can be loud for me) damage my hearing? I don't get it, and I am sometimes afraid that exposing to some sounds, with no daily possibility of total silence, can make an hearing damage after some time. Now I don't know if it is only in my head or... because I don't know it.

As I am inflexible much of the time, I have difficulty searching for new, inexperienced or different ways, if I didn't see it yet. And I did not find many ways to deal with yet. I am often angry on myself for being sensory different. I may be sensory advanced, but at the same time sensory defected if to say it, and it is hard to live with that.

So knowing how to deal with the sensitivity in various ways can be really helpful. Including therapy, options, maybe redirection, anything...
And if I may ask.. what ways of thinking should I use when there's no chance to block out the sound or what else to do when nothing is available in the situation?

I think it is all for now, since it is quite long really.

Thank you really much!

All the best,

Anastasia

Answer
Hey Anastasia,

Thank you for your informative and challenging question.

Wow it sounds miserable to have such profound sensitivities. Anyway there is no doubt this is a major symptom of Autism. We have sensory sensitivities. I too am sensitive to sound and can hear vibration as well.

We take in whatever sounds and sights that are out there- so the important thing is for us to find ways to integrate the sounds into our being. It might come down to distracting our self and finding ways for us to perceive them without having a meltdown. Knowing how much they disturb you is the biggest part and then it comes down to distracting it from bothering you.