Friend with autism and sensory difficulties

[babyblue12]

My friend has recently been diagnosed with autism, in her mid-40s. She’s also suffered from anxiety for around 10 years.

She’s recently had new neighbours with young children move in, and this is causing her a lot of problems as she’s very sensitive to noise. The children laughing and screaming (when playing) is meaning she won’t go in her garden, has to keep all doors and windows shut, and is generally very miserable. She’s now (regretfully) looking to move house.

Does anyone have any less drastic suggestions? There must be lots of people with sensory difficulties who don’t have to move house to be able to manage it. She really doesn’t want to move but can’t cope with the noise.

Noise cancelling headphones may help?

A pair of very good noise-cancelling headphones (wireless) would be helpful. I wear mine when my office gets too noisy

I have these

www.johnlewis.com/sony-wh-1000xm3-noise-cancelling-wireless-bluetooth-nfc-high-resolution-audio-over-ear-headphones-with-mic-remote/p3751140?sku=237700724&colour=Silver&s_ppc=2dx92700055386103237&tmad=c&tmcampid=2&gclid=Cj0KCQjw-O35BRDVARIsAJU5mQXxzMljiTmYMVEiws7QhJFchKeiTwVxTAhvuNYmm7TLzP_9Re1KJBAaAssnEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

If very noisy I also have an app which plays a calming background noise such as the sound of the sea or a river. That really helps when noise particularly bad.

To be honest, I'm having this issue right now, and I'm moving house shortly. I genuinely think it's the only option. We wanted to move anyway from a flat to a house, but then we got a very loud family living in the flat above and I frequently end up in sensory overload. My mental health has gone massively downhill despite industrial earplugs, headphones, music, etc. Sometimes you just need to get out.

Besides, I don't think it's healthy to have to wear sound cancelling headphones and earplugs all the time in your own home, it's just not sustainable as I've found. Sometimes I need complete silence, a bath, or sometimes I just want to watch a film with my partner.

Agree with PP who thinks noise cancelling devices are not sustainable long term. I have a similar problem with my garden, except it's a motorway that buzzes noise deep into the night most days. I love being outside but that constant noise drives me absolutely insane. The first weeks of lock-down were bliss in that respect. And now I can't 'unhear' it and again spend most time inside. I've been thinking if you can somehow use soundproof shielding for part of the fencing.

She has tried headphones but says she wants to be able to go in her garden and just enjoy it, rather than having to wear headphones. Plus it means she can’t sit in the garden and chat to someone.
It’s such a dilemma and I feel really helpless when she rings me upset, as I don’t know what else to suggest.

I have aspergers and my neighbours can be noisy, I listen to music through my headphones or I get ragey with their noise. Luckily it's not all the time but summer is the worst as they are outside a lot and they are sociable so have lots of BBQs with music and very loud talking until late.

Problem is with moving, she cannot guarantee what her new neighbours will be like or that the same thing won't happen again when she moves.

Does anyone have any less drastic suggestions? There must be lots of people with sensory difficulties who don’t have to move house to be able to manage it. She really doesn’t want to move but can’t cope with the noise.

I wish i had some helpful suggestions for you, but unfortunately I've resorted to what your friend is having to do. I'm stuck living at home, next to a household of people that are screaming and yelling even when the kids aren't around. And they've got a dog. I hate them. Can't move due to financial and practical concerns. I wish moving was an option.
The other posters are right though, headphones or ear defenders aren't a good long term option, in fact long term use can actually make sensory issues worse.

Have a look at Vibes. They are ear plugs that filter out high pitched background noise but you can still hear normal conversation. You can get them on Amazon. My nephew, who has autism and sensory issues, finds them really good.

So sorry to those of you who are also going through similar. Must be so awful, especially in your own home.

Thanks for the recommendation of Vibes, have had a look and sent some info to my friend. I really hope she gives them a try, especially at such a reasonable price.

I recommend these custom made earplugs. They fit your ears perfectly so are comfortable to wear for long periods of time. The Pro17 ones filter out almost all background noise but you are still able to hear someone speaking to you etc.

www.hearingprotection.co.uk/products/pro-series

Just spoken to her and she said she can’t wear anything in her ears, so earplugs are out