Noise Sensitivity: When The World Is Too Loud

As others have commented, it feels good to realize I’m not alone in my lifelong sensitivity to sound. Especially the persistent drones and hums of mechanical/electronic noise (air conditioners, heavy traffic etc) loud/amplified noise (souped up cars/motorcycles, excessive volume of amplified music etc).
Truly (no pun): I hear you!!
It makes it physically, emotionally and mentally stressful at times to have to endure the daily cacophony of an urban life.
Yet, my noise sensitivity (that it seems few people around me have) is also a sweet gift!
I notice the sweet subtle sounds in nature. Like the sound of the breeze moving through the dune grasses near the beach on a quiet day; or the lovely sounds the surf makes on a rocky shore. A very different sound as a wave crashes on the shore, compared to the music of the retreating wave trickling back through the beach stones.
The world has so much beautiful sound. But like a good composition, silence is also needed, the pauses, (or simply lack of audio clashing/competition,etc) in order to experience the beauty.
Personally I feel that folks like us are a bit like “canaries in a mine.” Just because many people aren’t as aware of the assault on their senses and mood, doesn’t mean it’s not affecting them. It would make neighborhoods and cities far more liveable and enjoyable if the idea of decibel limits were dialled down.

Thank you for this website! I have had issues with noises all my life, but now, midage, it's getting intolerable and causing such anxiety, it's affecting my work and marriage. Kids playing outside until midnight set me off, as well as my landlord's kids temper tantrums. My husband eating crispy crunchy things...NOPE!!!! Loud commercials , car alarms, cell phone conversations, sniffling and yawning sounds on the bus, any repetitive beeping noise and also repetitive blinking lights cause me anxiety and sometimes all make me feel irritable. I don't know what to do. I live in a noisy city and crave a move to the country.

I'm not reading any discussion about what to do about the sensitivity to noise. Many doctors are saying that earplugs have a negative effect, and that you have to normalize yourself to noise. I wear earbuds with the sounds of natural water flowing at a level near my tinnitus, it is soothing for me, but has not really changed my response to noise. I have read it will take time, so I am being patient and keeping at the sound therapy.

Being on the autism spectrum is often the readon people have a strong aversion to loud noises. They can cause meltdowns.

Not sure what type I'm in but my environment w/unilateral hearing makes it impossible to not go at 4 days in a row without wearing an ear plug. The worst is random dog barking!
There have been times I get to a state of hysterical crying or screaming. However when I can I try to escape the environment to somewhere I can tune out and sketch.

I truely wish lawnomowers, leafblowers, and weed wackers did not exist

You all are my kindred spirits! I’ve had noise sensitivity since birth. I’ve always felt like an oddball. I don’t know anyone personally who feels as I do. I think I’m one of these Highly Sensitive People. I buy foam earplugs in bulk and use when I vacuum, sometimes when I sleep, or when there is more outside noise than usual. Fireworks at July 4 and New Year’s are the worst. I try to find a town to visit where fireworks use is limited or banned. I can understand people using fireworks on these two holidays but the rude people in the community where I live set them off at random other times of the year. People who blast their vehicle audio systems (boom boom boom) are the rudest of the rude. Being stuck at a traffic light with these jerks is hellish. I’m looking for a quiet place to retire.

Hi... I'd just like to say, whenever the world seems to get so much louder, which is very very often, I can hear people even whispering from a bit of a distance or around where I live, I can hear the cupboards being closed or the sizzle of a pan from another room and it gets me all built up inside, even if someone scolds me or raises their voice evn if it's not meant to be for me I can't stand it, usually if i get to or when I'm allowed to I have to always put earphones on and listen to music just to seclude myself from the outside noise just so I can live a little more peacefully, I know it's not the best solution but it really helps me keep my world in a more quiet cove

I have ADHD and migraines, and noise- especially "background" or "white" noise - is extremely distracting to me when I'm having a migraine or when my adhd meds aren't working.
Fans in particular can ruin a night of sleep for me, and are very distracting. Conversations 20 feet away about a slightly interesting thing are distracting as well.
I have to turn music down or off while driving when I get close to my destination or when traffic is heavy.

I am so relieved to read all these comments from so many fellow sufferers of this hearing condition. I'm 68, living in Los Angeles, one of worlds noisiest cities, and I have been living with worsening hyperacusis for the past two decades, at least. I sympathize with everyone on here and value all your advice.

In 2005 I had a brain stem stroke and since then I cannot tolerate loud noises. My brain just cannot process all that noise and that is what it is to me, just "noise." If there are too many babies crying in the store or too much noise in general, I get agitated and my brain shuts down. Recently my church installed a new sound system in preparation for live streaming and the praise and worship music was so loud I couldn't stand it. I finally sat down and put my fingers in my ears. I could feel myself losing it. I ended up leaving service and haven't gone back. As of today, I have been told that the music is still too loud and even a gentleman with hearing aides has to turn them off!!! That's a problem folks! No response from the pastor and I have told him about this issue I have. I am looking into ear plugs so I can help squash the over-powering noise and return to church. I have also voiced my concern over the decibel level and the effect on the young children in church.

Im suffering from depression. I use to feel too loud sound scare me & i feel the world against me. Since the world too loud to me.
Even a door loud knock scare me, no i feel so angry for no reason.
I gradually move the loud sound to music. Music of loud, beats, Nightcore types of song. They help to keep my mood down.
Every Night before i go to bed, i put on loud music on my headphones. & Before Work i do the same.

I enjoy science videos but can't tolerate the background noise. All videos have so called music and this negates from my educational growth and fulfillment.

After reading this I thought I was the only one sensitive to noises. I have always hated loud bangs since very little, don't know why, I wear wireless headphones now which are quite effective. I would love noise cancellation ones but they're nearly £2-300 quite expensive. I live in a small estate in a sort of village where there seem to be an increase in families with kids. They're not generally mean but during the summer like now, they stay out until 10pm and play out like I used too, although my parents never allowed me or my sister out after 9pm. I think parents are too lean now and not strict. They have no control and I am quite embarrassed by how many parents moan about their kids and they shouldn't have had them in the first place. I live alone and sometimes house sit for family which is good, yet noise at my dads where I house sit is traffic noise. Theyre in a terraced house with a main road where buses, often lorries and the stupid boy racer cars and motorbikes that love nothing more than to rev their annoying exhausts. I cringe and wish I could shut out traffic sounds even when I go out shopping. I don't know why it makes me so anxious. I use the back bedroom upstairs to get some peace but back at home the kids are a pain. I cant afford to move yet and I just prefer winter time as less people seem to be out, only then fireworks on november 5th start and drive me on edge. I like going out but honestly, I sometimes wish I didn't have too as I just can't stand noises!! Hope others can find some help my doctors think it is just anxiety. I hate bubble gum popping on buses sometimes usually by horrible teenagers during the school holidays. urghhh.

I'm so glad I found this thread. I, too, have a high sensitivity to sound. I have anxiety as well as tmj and just found out that noise sensitivity is related to both of these issues. I thought it was people being disrespectful when they slammed doors, played loud music, etc. but that didn't explain why I can't tolerate the background music at shopping malls, stores, restaurants, etc. Noise is everywhere and it's difficult to get away from it. I started thinking of why people don't like silence anymore. I like to read and you can't even go to the library and find it quiet there anymore so I do think society has something to do with a lot of it but, if you have anxiety like I do, I believe it aggravates the condition. I've used earplugs but suffered from ear infections so am afraid to keep using them. I've resorted to using a fan which does help a lot. I don't like earphones with music or sound effects because they only contribute to the problem. I've read about people on this thread using noise cancelling headphones so tomorrow I'm going to go to the store and get them and, hopefully, it will help me sleep better at night. Thank you for this forum and for the posters with all their advice. It's nice to know I'm not alone, and I've gotten a lot of great ideas to help me with this issue.

I just discovered this thread and it is a god-send to learn that I am not the only one bothered by loud talking, a loud TV or stereo, yapping dogs, slamming doors, etc.
There have been times that I could just jump in front of the subway because it would mean that I would no longer feel jittery from loud music coming from a colleague's cubicle. I'm not normally anxious and am not at all depressed or suffering from PSTD or anything else like that, so thought I must just be crazy (not to mention annoying to any friends and family who I ask to turn down the noise or lower the volume on their talking.
I guess misery really does enjoy company, as the expression goes, as I feel better that I am not the only one with this problem (and that I don't have the worst case of it). My heart goes out to everyone who has posted here. I do hope that one day we can get the people who don't understand this terrible ailment to understand it.
BTW: in my case the combo of ear plugs and noise cancelling headphones don't help as they muffle everything except the higher pitched sounds, and those are what bother me the most.

The sound of wind when my husband has the car window down, the sound loud talking in the office , a radio up too loud, too many people talking at the same time, the sound of someone coughing non stop, people laughing too loud or non stop, the tv being on when someone is talking at the same time. even a train that honks for too long...lol Not sure why but noise drives me crazy and always has

I have same issue only in my apartment when fellow tenants "slam" the outdoor shut. on several occasions contacted management with no response or resolution. I don't want to look like complainer, what can I do. Also, just moved here, If I knew this, would have never signed the lease...What can I do? Thank you!!!!

I can't listen to the telly above level 1 can't watch any load films or any action films or any programme which is exciting as it makes my anxiety worse very difficult in a world full of noise

PS To all you out there suffering from noise hypersensitivity, I find that the repetitive movement of crochet or knitting really helps block everything out and calm my mind. Has anyone else found the same to be helpful?

I find that its our television that agitates me the most if my husband has got it on and I'm in the kitchen with no door to shut the noise out. Last week I went upstairs with my crochet and could hear the birds which was calming but I can't always get away from it. I'm thinking of getting some earplugs and maybe listening to music through some headphones when I'm in the kitchen. I suffer from anxiety and sleep problems often but sometimes its more heightened than other times and I'm more intolerant. I'm downstairs now as my husband is snoring and twitching in bed and I can't sleep. I crave peace and tranquility. At the moment all I can hear is the clock ticking and thats fine with me!

We are so many I cried when I found that I have this kind of stuff. Music really helps me when going outside, to school, walking, crowded places and bus earphones is my savior. I hate when people talking when sleep time it really triggers me. I hope I don't have this, ever since I was kid I have noise sensitivity, many people misunderstood me if I have anger problems. Quiet place is my dream to live.

I buy earplugs in bulk - much cheaper that way - and wear them night and day. I use paper, plastic or melamine crockery (bliss! No awful clatter of cutlery on plates) and wooden or plastic spoons. The computer sound is permanently muted, and I watch tv with earplugs in and headphones over the top (so I can hear my tv but not the neighbour's). The vacuum has been replaced with wooden floors that I clean with a broom. The microwave that shrieked whenever I pressed anything is in the shed, sans plug. I leave the batteries out of the doorbell when I'm not expecting anyone and the phone switched off in a drawer. All of the above helps, but if some dear soul bangs on my front door with a fist I am tempted to do murder, and I have to seal myself in the bedroom while the washing machine does its impersonation of a Jumbo jet taking off.
It's not easy to find ways of coping, but never let anyone make you feel that you 'shouldn't' be like this. I was born like it. I'm not being awkward or dramatic. It's a disability, and therefore my responsibility to find some way of living with it. But dear God, yes, sometimes you just want to take a gun and shoot everything that makes a noise :)

Thanks so much for this article. I have always been scared of loud music and the drums and stuff. It just makes me so stressed out and wants to cry or scream. It just feels like being drowned underwater...but thanks for the solutions. The ear plug solution works great

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...:)

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.

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.