A question of sound.

[Blind As A Bat]

Are people with the Autistic disorder (Aspergers), prone to hating loud, or drone-like noises where it can drive them up the wall? Like if I came over and make really loud obnoxious noises, or put a CD on of a low drone noise, would it make you completely stressed and go off it?

 

[dayhiker]

quite a few are .. but not all.

 

[singpeace]

It's a common symptom with Asperger's called sensory integration dysfunction,and there is a symptom-check
list at webmd.com. I pasted a link to the website here.


http://www.webmd.com/brain/autism/tc/aspergers-syndrome-symptoms


BTW, Einstein had Asperger's.

 

[TalusJumper]

Are people with the Autistic disorder (Aspergers), prone to hating loud, or drone-like noises where it can drive them up the wall? Like if I came over and make really loud obnoxious noises, or put a CD on of a low drone noise, would it make you completely stressed and go off it?

I definitely am- loud and droning sounds really bother me. I have learned to tolerate it now but as a child, they would shut me down. I still HATE loud Harley-Davidson motorcycles today.

I specifically remember that I was at a birthday party when I was probably 6 or 7 and we had a game to pop balloons by sitting on them. When it was my turn, I was deathly afraid of doing it and refused to pop mine- it brought me to tears for the fear of the sound. For years, it haunted me and I felt I was a coward for not going through with it.

Today, sounds like hair dryers, vacuum cleaners and blenders still get to me. The weird thing is that if I am controlling the item making the sound, it is more tolerable as I can logically justify the sound since I control it.

 

[Blind As A Bat]

The worst sounds I have ever heard in my life are drills, sirens and helicopters.

 

[C-Man]

Ringing telephones and alarm bells set my teeth on edge every time.

 

[kbirdgirl]

The white-noise generators in doctor's waiting rooms drive me nuts and I also can't stand vacuum cleaners

 

[Sabertooth]

I am not particularly irritated by those various sounds, but even the the smallest sound will distract me if it is "out of place." If a sound "makes sense" in a certain setting, I eventually just tune it out.

 

[dayhiker]

Ya, I've learned to tune out a lot of noice. But a barking dog still bugs me. I definately prefer quiet.

 

[ThePurpleFlower]

I definitely am- loud and droning sounds really bother me. I have learned to tolerate it now but as a child, they would shut me down. I still HATE loud Harley-Davidson motorcycles today.

I specifically remember that I was at a birthday party when I was probably 6 or 7 and we had a game to pop balloons by sitting on them. When it was my turn, I was deathly afraid of doing it and refused to pop mine- it brought me to tears for the fear of the sound. For years, it haunted me and I felt I was a coward for not going through with it.

Today, sounds like hair dryers, vacuum cleaners and blenders still get to me. The weird thing is that if I am controlling the item making the sound, it is more tolerable as I can logically justify the sound since I control it.

Just the idea of a balloon popping sets my teeth on edge. One time I was at a party, and a whole lot of balloons started popping. I had to abandon my date and run for the nearest exit. By the time I got there, i was hyperventilating. Thank God, my date was understanding...nice guy...ended up married to him.

I hate motorcycle sounds too, and drills, and sirens. For me, it's worse when it's out of place and I'm not expecting it. I commute every day into the downtown area, where there is a lot of noise. However, I know what to expect, I know different streets I can take to escape certain sounds, and I always carry my MP3 player and a package of earplugs.
What's worse is when I'm in a quiet area and suddenly a siren starts wailing. Really shakes me up and messes with my head. Or when the regional train I take gives off a horribly deafening fizz-popping sound before I leave the station. I've had to ask God to forgive me for the many times I visualize that train being crumpled into a million pieces as revenge for the hurt it causes me. Now I just try to leave the platform as quickly as humanly possible.

However, I do find the white-noise sound of certain fans to be extremely soothing. It's not as good as quiet, but it's very close.

 

[TheChristianAspie]

I hate, hate, hate the sound of a vacuum cleaner!
Noisy food is the worst for me, though (celery, carrots, cereal, chips). Makes me feel like m ears are going to bleed.
I don't like beeping either.

 

[Fierce Badger]

I really can't stand it when multiple people talk REALLY LOUDLY almost to the point of shouting. Being an aspie is difficult enough in a social situation with a crowd but when it's loud there are many times I just have to leave the area and calm my mind down.

 

[Autocannibal]

My noise threshold is slightly lower than that of others. Mostly I just echo the sentients of people here - I can get over white noise but I can't focus when there are out-of-place noises.

 

[MoeSzyslak]

I wear headphones when I mow the lawn, vaccuum or use power tools.

 

[dayhiker]

The noise the blinker on my Ford Focus bugs me. I still use it as its a safety issue. Grrrrr