Noise sensitivity - Driving me mad, can anything help?!

[LynAsh]

Hi all,
I know this is likely an eye roll statement but pretty sure I’m undiagnosed ADHD and really struggle with noise sensitivity especially with my two children and it’s making me so short, snappy and intolerant 😮‍💨
I want to be patient but i have struggled so badly recently that I feel I’m dipping into real lows with it and not being the mum I want to be.

Is there anything out there that has helped anyone? Even just types of earplugs & such.

Thanks

Perhaps you suffer with misophonia? Certain noises make me either anxious or irritable, e.g, next door’s dog when it barks, when people are eating or drinking noisily.

A lot of people recommend Loop ear plugs. I ordered a couple of different pairs to try but found them too uncomfortable to wear (if I remember, I got a full refund)

I now use silicone ear plugs which I buy from Boots. Very comfortable and effective.

I've got Loops, I quite like them. There are different kinds that block out noise to different degrees.

Thanks both @Pinkbendyman @GreenElfWitch, I’ve purchased some Loop ones to try.

i haven’t actually thought about misophonia and will take a look into it, I’ve just put this alongside a few other things I tend to deal with/show signs of and thought possible ADHD but I know many run to these types of diagnosis these days.

i really want to try and find a fix in the interim that can help me become a little more present and happy with my lil’ ones. It makes me so sad to feel so uptight and constant cortisol running through my body.
Doesn’t help my partner works 50-60 hr weeks and is only home a fraction before bedtime/working weekends but there are single mothers out there bossing it and I need to pull my big girl pants up! Just need a little guidance from anyone who may have been through it.

wondering maybe a lil PPD but my lil girl is nearly 9 months and I’d say I’ve felt stretched mostly this last month or so.

I hear you op.

I used to work in music and developed tinnitus a long time ago. I thought I'd managed it and incorporated it into my life until my two kids came along and now I have two shrieking banshees right near my sensitive ears.

Last summer I popped a pair of earplugs in during the day (something I'd previously only did when at gigs) and now I've accepted that I need them in daily. Maybe for a fair few years until my children speak at a reasonable volume and stop randomly shrieking.because it hurts my ears.

I use these cool black ones with a bear logo from Amazon but honestly, I've been using earplugs for years and years and any pair of foam earplugs does the job,. arguably better than the moulded ones. They are more comfortable too imo.

Oh my goodness! @SueSuddio you may have just hit the nail on the head…
I too used to be heavily involved in music and fronted bands and a particular band for over 10 years, touring the lot (alternative, so loud and thrashy somewhat) and since I had my boy (nearly 6) I’d noticed hearing loss in my left ear and have had investigations and leaning toward Ménière’s disease as I’ve an under developed ear that side and also likely damage over the years with in-ears use (incorrect frequency and such).

Soooo let’s hope the plugs do the job and thank you for relating and sharing your experience - as it can feel real lonely at times.

It also may sound silly not putting the two together in the first instance but with hearing loss, I didn’t really assume sensitivity as such and it making me so damn irritable, just assumed there is more to it - Which I guess could still be the case.

Things that help

Ear plugs - as always mentioned

Giving the kids puzzle books/ books/ screen time to give me a break

Brace yourself for noisy times and remind yourself it's not for everyone- but go for it and fully commit to it when you do. So give them an outlet.

Also tell them when it's all getting too much. Encourage taking turns to speak. When they're getting hyper provide an outlet - trampoline or bike ride, den building. Taking turns to speak and not going a million miles an hour doesn't just happen overnight but it's okay to keep reminding them and explain that your brain can't process that.

Use sensory circuits - so big gross motor activity followed by methodical, creative or sorting activity - Lego / puzzles drawing . Segue into a calm activity. This helps meet their needs ans bring them down. Also each stage is temporary so easier to cope with.

@TumbledTussocks So so helpful thank you!
I really do need to enable more noisy time and make it intentional. I fear I’m just muting him all the time and that will cause problems long term and I don’t also want to turn him into an anxious person 😬😮‍💨

Truly great advise, thank you I’ll be trying all those!