Noise Sensitivity: When The World Is Too Loud

I have always been bothered by loud sounds, but it has been getting worse. The other day
I was helping hold a package together, so it could be taped with a large tape dispenser. The sound of the tape being pulled and cut just about burst my eardrums! I hate the sound of large trucks or loud mufflers or motorcycles. I sleep with a fan AND earplugs. I'm sorry for all of you that have this terrible issue. I am a musician, so sound is super important to me. I will continue to research this and I am very glad I found this website. Good luck to all of you!

I suffer every day of my life. It started when I was 14, and everything started hurting my ears, from pencil/pen tapping to drums. I was tested by an ENT Specialist, and they said my ears were "perfectly fine". I continued suffering my life to this day where I am now 17, and every day noises are still torturing me. Even while wearing earplugs, the noises still torture me. It's like I can hear everything through them. I actually wish I can just go deaf. Deaf people are so lucky they're not suffering every day like me. I'm planning on going back to the ENT sooner or later. If they keep saying that nothing's wrong, then they either aren't specialist or I'm just cursed to suffer like this. The torture devices include: Metal chairs (like at school), drums, high-pitch noises (i.e. screaming, bus brakes, whistles, etc.), big mouths (yelling, laughing loud), clapping, slamming notebooks/textbooks, stomping, talking loud, just everything is torture. I wish I can just go completely deaf!

I have TMJ and have inner ear problems, cannot stand loud noises, makes me very nervous asked about it many times from my doctor just got no real amswer.

It is probably an inbalance in the vestibular area of the ear. Look at exercises found in Minds in Motion to help with this. My grandson suffers this.

Well, I thought I was premenopausal or my kids were just too loud but it is not normal and glad to hear I am not the only one. Their voices drive me nuts , as well as the TV. When I set it to my desired level, nobody can hear it. I guss I will start using earplugs. I used them years ago when I wprked in a very loud bar and it was great because I could still hear what people said but without all the extra noise.

The worst place for me is the Cinemas. Yes, I'm okay with the sounds of the movie but the people inside always annoys me. I can always hear their conversation even when they are whispering. Also when my family or my sister's friends come to the house and I'm about to go to sleep or suddenly waking up in the middle of my sleep because of them talking. I'm a light sleeper so when there's a noise in split second, I wake up easily and will be having a hard time sleeping again. I always play some rain sounds with thunder or waves so that I can sleep easily. But I play loud music like Nightcore but it's the type of noise that I chose to hear.

so i am among friends. i had a head injury from a motorcycle accident and was diagnosed with a type of epilepsy (language sensitivity--both speech and hearing) nothing else. later a concussion resulted in noise sensitivity. the first that "annoyed" me was the sound of women's heels. (fortunately, where i live few women--or men--wear heels, but that made me more sensitivity to sound in general. a musician (and performer), i'm fine when, as a group, we lead the national anthem at a baseball game, but i never attend games in a stadium (because of all the noise). a joke i made out of this is "i'm sensitive to noise unless i'm making it." over the years i seek restaurants that are quiet and sit in a corner or near a wall. my favorite residence was a condominium next to a canyon. the noisiest thing was coyotes (at night). i used ear plugs where i live
now because other tenants come and go early in the morning and late at night. now i use a fan all night instead. actually, being a performer is fine because i'm the one making the noise. my close friends and family know my sensitivity and won't invite me to a noisy place to celebrate birthdays, etc. i guess i don't go to the beach for the same reason. so i guess living with myself is the way to go. so don't feel deprived not doing a few things where there's too much noise for me. i hope you all do the same. whenever possible, choose where you spend your time so you can be at ease--and that includes profession, too.

Noise has always angered me but more so recently. I am turning 44 years old. I am a female and work in a prison. It is extremely loud there, with fans, loud carts moving, guys talking and arguing. When I come home, the noise doesn't stop. It seems the dogs are barking, my daughter talks extremely loud, her and my husband seem to be arguing all the time. We live next to a main road. Loud trucks, cars with loud mufflers, loud motorcycles are constantly going up the road. Hearing my husband chew drives me crazy. He was just eating an apple and I just wanted to freak out on him. I'm unsure of how to get a hold of this and be happy. I find myself staying away from friends and family because they drive me crazy. I hate going to places that play music. I just want to pack up and move to a lake where there's no one around. But that's not an option. I need some help on how to deal with this.

I find the banging of plates or pots in the kitchen very painful. Someone talking loud is also a problem.

I work in a hospital . You would think hospitals were quiet so the sick could rest... Well not at all! Between constant bells and now the new "safety alert" that goes off on my phone constantly. There is no way to get away from the noise as these bells and alerts are piped into the medication, nutrition and supply rooms. Not to mention they are loud as well. Of course there are people talking over one another because it's so loud! Then there is the "global talkers" who want everyone to hear what they are saying. I'm an RN and everyday I go to work with the optimism that I will give great care and it will be a great day. The noise takes away all that including my last nerve! I feel irritated by everything and wonder why can't someone please instill some rules about being quiet! These would be mine iif I were in charge. Don't speak to anyone unless your less than 3 feet away. Turn down all bells and ringers and be considerate. If I say anything people just don't get it, so I keep quiet but am exploding inside. It is getting to the point that I may have to leave nursing altogether. Sad.

I cannot believe there is a name for this! I have found silicone/wax earplugs and noise cancelling headphones work WONDERS. My stress level/anxiety IMMEDIATELY subsides when I use these. I cannot believe that I have come across this blog! Lol. I am so excited. So much so that I just jumped up and ran to tell my husband. :-) So nice to know that I am not alone! Actually, the ABSOLUTE BEST GIFT I HAVE EVER RECEIVED was from my husband and it was the noise cancelling headphones!! Since then, however, I have found the silicone ear plugs (the mold to your ear and create a seal OR you can just lightly put them in your ear and it muffles the loud sounds but still allows you to hear what others are saying.

Loud noises have always bothered me; however, now that I am a senior citizen, I have
Loud noises have always bothered me; however, now that I am a senior citizen, I absolutely cannot tolerate noise. So, I avoid large stores, especially since most modern parents make no effort to control their children. Whenever I walk into a store or restaurant and hear a child/children crying/screaming, I turn around and walk out. I absolutely cannot stand it. It hurts my ears and makes me seek a quiet area. Why can people not realize that no one wants to hear their screaming child? And that it actually makes some people sick!!

Wow this makes me feel a tiny bit better knowing I am not just being over dramatic and it does actually have a name! I also can NOT stand the screaming children in the shopping malls/supermarkets anywhere and everywhere. It make my heart instantly race and my anger levels go from 0 to 100 as soon as I hear it. I also share an office with 3 others and trying to get work done when you are extremely busy is near impossible. I am just so happy I am not the only one out there lol

For me it's comes and goes. Which sounds like maybe it's not the same. It's like all of the sudden the radio is blaring an i can hear everyone else's conversation except the person talking to me. My chest gets tight and I have to leave the area. Is this same for anyone els?

I have problems with hearing traffic noise, especially at my house. When I am in my backyard, the sound of the road about 0.4 miles away makes me very irritated and short. Strangely, if the noise is on my street from neighbor, I don't mind at all. It's the idea that my peace is interrupted by a bunch of strangers cars that makes me angry. Does anyone else have a similar problem? Oh, and don't get me started on motorcycles!

Glad to hear others experience the same problem. Our local major airport has changed its flight path and unfortunately our house is under the new flight path. The loud plane noise will start at 6 am and wakes us up. Then it's hard to go back to sleep again. This makes us depressed sometimes. We lived at this house for 19 years before FAA changed flight path. Didn't know they can do that without consulting local community.

I am hearing EVERYTHING right now. I was fine a few minutes ago and some noise somewhere triggered by headache and inside raging emotion. I just want to go find someplace quiet until the 'rage' goes away. People just look at me if I tell them I have this noise problem. Thanks for this blog.

I thought I was just easily irritated, so I am glad to read this and see that others feel the same. Like others, loud screams and squeals from children set me on edge. It's like I can feel it moving down my spine. And I love kids and all, but I can do without that. Even my coworkers background chatter drives me nuts. I am sitting at my desk, wearing ear plugs, as I type this.
I do have epilepsy, although well-controlled with medication. I am curious to know if the above reference are the noises that TRIGGER a seizure or if it is just a generally high sensitivity level for those with epilepsy.

I'm so glad I'm not crazy. I have always been sensitive to noise and lights! Especially at night or when everything is quiet. I do not know why but I deal with this at least once or twice a week. It's been happening since i was a child. I hate it and people look at me crazy when i try to explain it to them.

I've spent 27 years moving from place to place in search of a quiet place to live. I'm unable to find it. I'm extremely resentful. To the degree which I am having a hard time sleeping. Seeing everyone driving around so happy just enrages me, knowing that where I live used to be a beautiful, quiet coastal town. I just don't know what to do. I can't keep moving. I am now in my 60's. I sometimes wear earplugs. But I didn't move here not to hear the birds and wind. I hate cars and jets. I just wish they'd all drop dead.

Sorry but it isn't called "hyperacusis" it's actually called "Misophonia"

I really hate the sound of rooster.. Since i was a child.. It's just not hate the sound but its really annoyed me than other people. Some neighbors have roosters and annoyed me so much. Always, a year or more.. Now im at 26yo.. I always wear earbuds at home.. Except night.. And i also hate the sound of laugh tracks but now it getting worse, people laugh annoying me too.. Except they laugh with me. But it's annoying.. I always hate the show that use laugh track and i avoid watching movie in crowded time ..

Why the loud noise from tv annoys me and drive me crazy. The same when people around me talking all at the same time. I can't stand it. Its getting into my nerves. Eversince when I was a kid when I watched tv its in the lowest volume like about 3-6. And the other members of the family 1-100 volume its on 60+ and I swear it drives me nuts. Oh I almost forgot. I also hate the sound of running water from the faucet.

hi, I would not normally call myself sensitive to noise but due to sleep deprivation 13 months I am at the crisis stage needing rest. Neighbour abuse, tell yon all night at a pitch she knows disrupts my sleep. Breach of six terms of her tenancy, the Director of Housing just gave her carte blanche to continue disturbing my sleep (torturing me, in my experience). The constant low hum of a television is driving me insane. I also suffer with Complex PTSD, and can not get out of the house to access the service I was linked to (and have had to let me go). All I want is some quiet, but I have come to realise that quiet is outlawed. I used to have a quiet bedroom but apparently my neighbour has more rights to have telly on all night (which she denies and the Director believes without evidence) whilst I have no rights to a quiet bedroom to sleep, despite being disabled and sick with m h difficulties and chronic pain (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome), therefore needing bed rest daytimes as well, due to the sleep deprivation making it worse.

I have had an issue where everything is too loud to me in general, like the TV or music that's in a room but not on earphones. I know there are two separate hearing issues-one makes veryday life sound loud, the other makes people enraged or upset at specific sound types. I seem to have both at once! In general I feel like everything is too loud even things I am never annoyed by such as rock music which I love, or TV shows I like, or my dog other talking. Loud, but not making me hateful at all. Then there are certain sounds that send me off the deep ends. People talk so loud, certain ones more than others, in public and on transit, makes me want to go over and just punch them. All my life even as a child I have despised babies. When I hear a baby cry, or babble or talk or even laugh, It makes me suddenly enraged and homicidally upset. I never knew why but I don't act on what I feel or I would certainly be in prison! Its like a hundred evil thoughts in one seconds time about how I hate children and babies, I hate people who have a child and why would anyone want one? I wish I could shut the thing UP and beat its mother to death just for not shutting it up herself immediately etc. Etc. Until it stops, or I plug my ears with music, I will not be ok again. Another thing that makes me this angry is loud rap music. I do not simply hate rap, but it sends me into a uncontrollable rage inside. So doeslous talking. I want to shut the person up NOW even if that required me to tear out their throat. So I have to sit there and tell myself people are Morons and I can't stop them or act on it because laws protect idiots etc. I have no criminal history at all. But maybe one time my control will fail. Who knows the future. As far as General noises or everyday sound- those do not make me angry, they are simply all way louder to me that to those around me and I tell people how loud the TV is or how loud the cars are and no one agrees. However background noise is my best friend, fans on all the time drown out the sharper stuff I hate. White noise Calms me and music that I LIKE, played on earbuds that drown out the rest of the world calms me completely. On the bus I must do this or I hate everyone near me. And the earbud music on a bit loud doesn't bug me one bit because only music played in a room alongside the usual room sounds it talking freaks me out. Earbud music is just fine. I never know why this is. Just like I have no idea why babies send me into a rage that's even harsher than I feel toward people who have actually harmed me directly. No idea. But I clearly have both disorders. Right now the TV is on pretty low yet it's blasting loud to my ears I had to insert earbuds without listening to anything, just used like earplugs, so I can stay in the room and watch the show and not freak out with a headache. Everyone else says they can hardly hear it. Also modern movies make the dialogue so quiet and the soundtrack so insanely loud, it is horrific. I have to adjust the volume 50 times per film just to hear it all but not the music. What's wrong with these filmmakers? Shut the music UP and tell you boom operator to get closer to the talking.

As a person who is very sensitive to particular sounds that can vary in pitch, frequency and density, I think it’s important to gather that loudness is not the core of the dilemma we are facing.
After years of not knowing why I am so damn sensitive to certain acoustic frequencies, I have finally gotten to the bottom of it. I have found out the reasoning as to why and how this occurs. First I must declare to you that YOU DO NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEM! It’s impaerative to understand that.
What may seem to be a problem is merely the phenomena of anxiety that the mind keeps amplifying, not knowing why it can be so unbearable, not knowing how come it seems to be that only “I seem to have this problem” while anyone who is around us seems not to be bothered by it. This anxiety that is taken place in our mind pressures us to find a solution.
So in reality what happens is twofold:
- We experience the phenomena of sharp concentrated sound to be extremely disturbing. ( this is pure physical reaction that stems from our particaulr mechanism or our particular genetic disposition)
- The mind is reacting to the phenomena by projecting fears (aka mental anxieties) in order to create pressure for us to do something about it, to find a solution. It wants to know: “when this will be over? Tell me now! Do something about it. When this will be over?” And it goes on and on until one loses it. And once we find out we can’t do anything about it, the aggravation, potential rage and anger are all increased.
As you can see this is a double edge sword.
What I have found out on myself is the following:
I have gone deep deep into my genetic code ( possible through the knowledge of the Human Design system) and have discovered that my “ailment” is simply a disposition. It is not a malady. It is not a problem. It is not a curse. Even though our modern age, led by the vast explosion of industrialism, we have had an explosion in the “new” type of frequencies generated by “artificial” bodies such as tools, machines, vehicles and the myriad combinations of them all. In other words there are so much artificial noise around us. It is not something that I can bet was a problem a 100 years ago. Basically what I am trying to convey is that my natural disposition for an environment is where the sound in that environment is diffused. Now this is very important to understand. A diffused sound is not necessarily lower in volume even though it fills big part of it. I can get irritated by listening to someone whispering next to me. Or neighbors talking across the wall. Or base sounds from music, and any sharp concentrated sounds that are created by honking, shouting, squeaking, construction and what not.
However the sound of passing cars for example or white noise, have never bothered me as they are diffused by nature and therefore does not instill any aggravated reaction.
To conclude: we have a genetic disposition for a specific environment. This is not geographical per se, but rather the nature of an environment.
In addition, I have several genetic imprints in places that are directly connected to my hearing ability which in plain language means that I am very sensitive to acoustic frequency of any nature.
Right when I had found out that my natural and healthy disposition for a diffused sound environment, I immediately purchased a few packs of silicon made ear plugs ( I use Mack’s brand that can be found in every major retail store. They cost around $3.50/pack and they come with 6 pairs) that I have worn for a year now. This has improved my life quality tremendously as it simply takes off all that edge. The remarkable thing is that I wear them almost everywhere. Where most of us use it for sleep, what I have learned is that wearing it while being awake, and using is while interacting normally in life as we do, has been a rewarding experience. You can still hear other people talking. You can hear a conversation and be engaged in it and yet have a sense of ease and detachment ( even though it is not the more accurate for describing it). It is luminous to see how much frequency and the nature of frequency has so much impact on our lives. To truly grasp that ‘frequency’ is the base for all creation however to experience it in this manner and to see the difference is an eye opener to the nature of being and how intricate and marvelous our bodies are.
It would be very helpful to gather data from other people who suffer from the same phenomena. It will help substantiate my understanding of how these things works and potentially take us out of the dark on this matter cause I know how it feels when you feel you are all alone with this and no one understands you.
If you feel like contributing your data for this research or to share your thoughts or ask questions, I invite you to get in touch with me at dduenias@yahoo.com.
Good luck to you with your sound diffusion...:)