I hate loud noises of any type and in fact loud sudden noises actually cause pain in my ear drum.

Things like doors slamming or that TV ad that's always louder than the normal TV program, causes me ear pain. It's like I have supersensitive hearing now, and anything louder than average is just too loud.

It hurts and I don't like it!

Sudden noises startle me....and it seems to be getting worse. If it's an unexpected noise I jump a foot! I feel like a newborn that "startles" so easily....at least my hands don't shoot out to the sides and I start crying!!

Kelly I think the same way with commercials vs tv shows, there is a definite difference in the two. I feel like I am always changing the volume between commercials. Drives me nuts.

I have a sensitivity to noise. I don't know if it is too much noise, too loud noise or what but I sometimes feel like I can't take it. I know I have a hard time concentrating when there is noise. This is hard for me because I teach dance and like to have the music loud. I've noticed the last year or so I keep turning the volume down lower.

You are not alone!

Well I'm glad it's not just me. I mentioned it to my neuro to which I got no response. The worst for me is when my whole family is over, I have 5 grandbabies from 6yrs old to 3mos. I can't stand all the noise and usally in up in my bedroom. Holidays are rough.

Kim

Many noises at once, and I go into sensory overload! There are some places we avoid going out too since they have the music up really loud, so everyone who would like to socialize almost has to shout. The last time I went to a place like that, I almost passed out!

But when I'm home, I've noticed I've had to turn up the volume on the TV and the stero to hear words. How weird is that? I used to be the "volume sargent", or at least my hubby used to call me that.

That's too funny! That's what my boys will be calling me soon!!

Oh yes! A trip to Chuck E Cheese pretty much guarantees a brief relapse. If I absolutely must go, I always take my cane because I know I'll start staggering. It seems to be worst with multiple noises at once - I can take one loud or annoying noise, but not 3 or 4.

And I startle too! I hadn't heard that from anyone else before. If I'm on the pot and DH suddenly comes into the room and says something, I just about jump out of my skin.

HA!

I empathize karousel, as I have one chatterbox daughter too.

From a very young age, I have had to teach her:

"There are 2 (or 3 ... or 5...) people in the room." "Each of us get the same amount of time to choose to talk, or choose to be quiet." "This does not mean it's "free time" for you to occupy the silence talking non-stop".

I've also had to tell her many times that she doesn't need to say every single thing that comes into her mind.

She's better then when she was younger ... but still TOO much.

I think this whole problem does come down to sensory overload. I am at my worst when I am fatigued, and actually guage whether I need to disconnect from a situation by my irritability level to noise.

Cherie

For years I've been jumpy around too much noise. New noisy neighbors have made me buy some $300 Bose QC earphones which lessen the noise and give me a break sometimes - but I can't wear them all the time...like w/company.

sensory overload! I used to go out with my husband when he would karoake but the noise in small buildings would just make me so fatigued. any other thing like that does the same thing.