Sensory Issues

Post Reply New Topic

Do people here get senory problems from other people? If they make too much noise or talk non-stop?

Wouldn't be much of an autistic person if I didn't

Very much so for me too.

Oh yes, yes. Very much so.

I have had disrupted sleep due to impact and migratory noise by neighbours in two dozen different places I lived throughout my adulthood. I believe the resulting stress and sleep deprivation caused my OCD to progress, and indeed one psychiatrist thought this was the case too.

I read that "sensory hypersensitivity" is typical for autists, and my "noise hypersensitivity" makes me think that undiagnosed autism is behind my OCD and other oddities.

I've just discovered Tamaya's big topic "Upstairs neighbour noise", and I already know exactly what that's all about, though I've still to read through it (176 posts!).

It's not just noise. Strong smells bother me. Especially when trying to fall asleep - cooking smells, cigarette smoke, fire smoke, car fumes, strong perfumes. Also, certain clothing textures, or not enough clothing cover.

Maybe you mean when people do disturbing things that put you off what you are doing? I recall decades ago using a computer in a computer room at university. Someone sat at the computer next to me, and started eating a packet of crisps while bashing the keyboard hard. They would rustle the packet furiously, suck their fingers loudly, and clatter the keys with wet fingers (ew!). The noise and the stink just froze my mind up for the half hour he was there.

Is that what you mean? These disturbances just freeze you up?

Precontemplative.

Coughing, sneezing and walking about in the room above can set off my sensory issues but it might be misophonia. People chewing doesn't bother me though, in fact I can't hear it. I don't have very good hearing but I can get sensitive to noises others can hear but don't get sensitive to. I hate it. I also get easily distracted by babies screaming in the supermarket.