ADHD Ask: How Do I Cope When I’m Overwhelmed by Sounds?

Auditory processing disorder (APD) is said to occur in 50 percent of people diagnosed with ADHD. It might seem similar on paper to just being surrounded by noises such as screaming children in a restaurant, but for those suffering from APD, it can be a very real problem which impacts on many areas of life.

Rather than just not enjoying the volume of your environment, people with APD can find it very difficult to prioritise which sounds to tune into and which ones to leave in the background. Places with overlapping sounds such as shopping centres, public parks, and workplaces can make it hard for sufferers. School is already overwhelming for kids with ADHD without the additional struggle to separate the important noises from those in the background.

APD makes it even more exhausting to just get through the day putting forth the additional effort needed to filter through and process the constant bombardment of sensory stimuli.

Picture three kids on 3 different devices at home, losing your place in your work whenever the tearoom fridge compressor kicks in, or concentrating so hard on ignoring the background noises that you miss what people are saying.

What are some of the strategies that you can use to manage your experiences and minimise the struggle?

Speech or Occupational Therapy

If you live in a household with multiple ADHDers, chances are that one or more of you also suffers from a sensitivity to sounds.

While we might not be able to regulate the sound of people in public, if your ADHD children struggle with recognising their own sound levels, a speech or occupational therapist will be able to work with your child to help them in regulating their sound levels.

White Noise

Working from home gave many a welcome reprieve from being in a workplace surrounded by a variety of noises, but as people have to return to the worksite, there are options if you are able to utilise them.

White noise websites can offer a range of background noises to help drown out those around you.

MyNoise.net offers very helpfully named categories to make finding what you need quick and easy, such as:

• I need to focus in a noisy environment.
• I am a student with ADHD.
• I work in an open space office.

The setting within each audio file can be adjusted manually for the ultimate custom white noise experience.

Earplugs

If you need to spend time in a busy or loud environment such as sporting events or at the gym, using earplugs to muffle and filter the incoming sounds could help.

Foam earplugs are available from virtually all chemists and do help, many companies are now designing reusable earplugs to help lower the volume of the sound in your environment.

Vibes Hi-Fidelity Earplugs were recommended to me by several people with ADHD and they offer an average decibel reduction of 22dB.

That might not sound like much, but that can be the difference between the sound of a conversation versus an alarm clock, or a lawnmower compared to the sound of a vacuum.

*Examples above are taken from this Noise Chart from the American Academy of Audiology.

Finding the correct solution for you can be a matter of trial and error. I have just bought a pair of the Vibes earplugs as it has taken me nearly 40 years to realise that I don’t have to simply put up with flinching at high-pitched sounds and overlapping noises.

If you think that you might suffer from Auditory Processing Disorder, whether you have ADHD or not, please reach out to your doctor for more information.

© Kristy Westaway 2021