Hypersensitive to Noise.

I just found this lovely piece  AD/HD and Hypersensitivities that Terry Matlan posted on her new site, Moms with ADD/ADHD. It, and some of the comments readers posted in response, inspired me to start writing about dealing with supermarkets when you are overwhelmed by the lighting or other aspects of the store. Unfortunately, at the moment, I can't concentrate. I'm at the coffee shop I like to sit and write at, and I forgot my ipod. The people who work here are washing dishes. I've known from the day this place opened that the acoustics were awful news for me, so I always bring music to listen to. Right now they're washing the dishes, and restacking the clean ones on top of the espresso machine. Porcelain against steel, in a room with a marble floor and no drapes or anything else to dampen the noise.

Luckily I know that I have ADHD, and I know that I am very sensitive to noise. A bad connection on the phone can make me feel seasick, and make my eyes tear. My neighbor's stereo can enrage me. The noise right now feels a bit like physical pain. These days I try to contain the steam coming out my ears, and relatively calmly put some music or white noise on myself. Since ADHD means a lack of filters- listening to something that's bothering you is like standing right in front of a stadium concert speaker stack and trying not to hear it. At least I know now that I'm not crazy, but other people, even those close to me, probably won't really be able to understand how painful it it.

The other day a friend with ADHD responded with surprise when I told them all those sensory hypersensitive quirky things he was describing could be part of his ADHD. I was surprised myself, because I don't realize how many people don't know that sensory issues and hypersensitivities are part of ADHD. I think I've come to the end of this post but now the staff here are clanking some jars and the guy next to me is typing rather loudly, so I think I'd better just sign off before I get too stressed out. Next time, I'll go back for the iPod.

Comments

[Terry Matlen, ACSW]

Becca,

What a great description of living with these ADHD related hypersensitivities! Thanks for bringing awareness to this problem. Go get your iPod!

Terry
www.MomsWithADD.com

[Sherra]

I know you wrote this post a while back, but I'm just now finding your blog. I was just diagnosed w/ ADHD (inattentive & hyperactive types) 2 weeks ago at 36 years old and I've been burning up Google ever since!

It never occurred to me that my need to have the TV and radio up only loud enough to hear it would be part of ADHD. I've always needed some type of white noise to sleep (ceiling fan or other type of fan, recording or crickets, etc.) and I find it very difficult to fall asleep when my husband has the radio on or the TV on in the living room loud enough for me to hear it in the bedroom, but other sound sensitivities never dawned on me. I'll definitely pay more attention to what irritates me now.