Extreme sensitivity to noise, etc.

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I'm very sensitive to sounds. The low electric buzz that all electronic appliances make (even when they are switched off and just plugged into electricity) drives me nuts. I can hear normal lights and the electricity going to them above my head or inside the walls. I find the sound of electricity really uncomfortable.

Recently I had to go and close all windows in my workplace, because there was a really painful, high pitced electricity sound coming from the tail light of a truck that was left running outside the building. None of my colleagues heard anything, but I felt like my ears were being stabbed, the sound was so loud and painful. That's very common, me hearing painfully loud sounds while nobody around me hears a thing.

I absolutely hate the sound of laundry machines, dish washers and such appliances. It's really uncomfortable and I always try to block it out somehow, by closing all doors and listening to music to hear the noise less.

I find it very uncomfortable when a lot of people are talking at a time, especially if they are talking loudly or if the sound echoes.

I can hear stuff moving inside clocks, but I'm usually not bothered by it.

I can hear tiny sounds in my car and notice very early if something is unusual, like some part about to get broken. If I try to get it fixed early I'm always told that they find nothing wrong with it though. After a few more days or weeks of driving the sound becomes loud enough for other people to hear it, so usually I have to let it get that bad before I can get it fixed, because otherwise people just tell me it's all in my head, until I show up later when the problem has become more easily detectable for other people.

Do any of you have that problem? People not believing you when you mention a sound, smell or something that they don't detect? People often imply that I'm imagining things if they can't sense the same as I, and if I'm greatly bothered by some sensory input they tell me I'm overreacting and that it isn't there, it's just in my head, and they treat me like a nutcase. It is really annoying when people react that way.

I know what you mean; I even hear leaves falling into the ground in a forest - that is the extent and magnitude of my sensitivity.

Oh yes, neighbours that can drive you up the wall with their noise. I have three motorcyclists living next door and they too love to torment me with the roar, hiss of those engines. I talked to them about my condition, but they just rolled their eyes. I've often said that I should have been born in another century. Civilisation is now awash with noise, and the worst kind of noise, really.

As far as I can tell, this is normal.
When I was younger, I didn't realize that I had hypersensitive hearing, but when I could pick out each and every individual voice in a professional choir made up of people that I had never heard speak or sing before, I figured that something was up. It's gotten to the point that I can understand every conversation in a 60ft by 80ft concrete room full of 40 people as clearly as if I were standing next to them, and I can hear all 37 pieces (I counted) of my watch individually from 13 ft. away.

My therapist said it best: "If he could hear any better he would be hearing my thoughts."

If it gets to be too much, i just focus on some individual thing and try to listen to that and only that.