What is your biggest sensory issue?

[BarrowInFurnessRailwayStation]

For me, it's sound. I struggle so much with noise, particularly unwanted music. I struggle in supermarkets and cafes.

In the house, it's usually quiet. We don't have a TV and we wear headphones if we're watching something on our devices so we don't disturb each other. My home is very peaceful.

I also struggle with feeling too hot and with my clothing feeling uncomfortable. Sometimes, I let myself get too cold because I can't face putting more clothing on then getting too hot. It's a constant struggle.

What do you all struggle with?

Oh yeah, that modern jazz 😖 horrible.

Deep bass affects me as well.

Does anyone happen to have any recommendations for noise reducing ear plugs? Preferably ones that still let me hear conversation etc but a quiet version... I was looking at the Loop ones but reviews are hit and miss and I really don't have money to waste as it were!

Low noise (cars rumbling, neighbours music), overhead/brought lights, tight fitting clothing,

Sound bouncing off hard surfaces. The architecture and decor styles of the last couple of decades - all hard floors and glass and no fabrics of any kind to soften/dampen noise - have created this issue in almost every restaurant and shopping centre and public space. It makes me feel a bit seasick.

I find it really hard to filter out background noise and concentrate on conversation when there are bouncing echoes.

Clutter. As a teenager I'd get out of bed in the middle of the night to tidy my room as I couldn't sleep otherwise. Having children has not helped this, and having my own bedroom which is always tidy is absolutely necessary! Also bright lights. I drive with sunglasses on all but the dimmest days.

Necklaces and most jewellery in fact. It took a massive effort and willpower to get used to my engagement and wedding rings. Even thinking too much about them and I want to pull them off.

I have to have slightly long fingernails but very short toe nails.

Peeling oranges or satsumas.

Putting on foot cream.

@Tdcp

Does anyone happen to have any recommendations for noise reducing ear plugs? Preferably ones that still let me hear conversation etc but a quiet version... I was looking at the Loop ones but reviews are hit and miss and I really don't have money to waste as it were!

I recently invested a metric shit tonne of money in my Sony WH-1000XM4s, which are considered best in class, and I love them. Comfortable, lightweight, with all the features you need. I call them 'the autist's best friend'.

If you don't need headphones per se and just want to block out sound when out and about, silicone earplugs from Boots are brilliant.

Or (bloody hell, God give me an edit button!) professional musicians' earplugs, such as these.

Does anyone have any advice for the young baby stage and their crying? I find it so triggering and can't relax. Baby 1 had colic and would cry a lot and then went on to become a whingey toddler. Expecting baby 2 now and thinking of getting noise cancelling headphones for the colic if it happens again, it was relentless. She sounded like a car alarm going off! Still stresses me out now thinking about it.

Eating noises
The click from people picking things like nails and hard skin.
To many different noises all at once but really don't mind one loud noise. I'm fine in a busy pub but hate busy pub with loud music.
People's bodily odour especially when they smell like the great unwashed....like a bin. My friend who is ND advised that someone she new smelt like unwashed genitals and I was sick.
When people on the radios spit clicks in their mouth as they talk.
Greb on peoples teeth.
Someone breathing near my ear....worse at night.
Jeans as I've got older.

Interesting thread. I cannot stand nousy eating/breathing. Also lights in supermarkets,shopping centres,doctors surgery,at wirk etc. Have lamps at home. Also realky feel shouty with conflicting sounds.

Soz for typos!

Also with clothing. I hate feeling restricted. I tend to wear the same style/ fabric dress in different colours with tights and maybe a cardigan. Soft cord dress and very light cardigan.

Smells: anything artificial, perfume, washing powder, air freshener etc. Gives me a headache/migraine and makes me feel nauseous. Cooking smells, body odour, etc, can be offensive but doesn't give the same headache.

Light: sunlight is difficult and so I always wear a hat / sunglasses. Flickering lights are terrible, but I don't like dim lighting indoors either.

Sound: busy venues with music and lots of people talking. Background tv or radio is distracting and stressful. Generally I need peace and any unwanted sound is an issue - noisy neighbours, people tapping on surfaces, fridges humming, the list is endless really.

Touch: velvet or foam (like the foam filling in some furniture) is horrible and makes me shudder. Unwanted touch is dreadful - hugs even from a friend can be difficult and it can be hard with a partner to find touches I enjoy. Seams in socks are a real bother especially when I am tired when they can be a big problem.

Food: strong tastes, spicy food, textures that are too dry, all difficult.

Heat and cold: I don't seem to regulate my temperature well and feel uncomfortable a lot of the time. Hot weather gives me migraines and I get painfully cold fingers and toes in the winter and cannot physically warm up again after getting cold - I spend hours feeling chilled to the bone even if I am back indoors again sitting under a blanket.

It's a bit depressing writing all this down, really. Feels a lot to have to deal with and for most of my life I was unaware why (late diagnosed autistic). I find it hard to get people to understand and make accommodations; they generally think I am being fussy or exaggerating the difficulties. I'm really not.

@Tdcp
My adult DD with ASD, CFS and lots of co-morbids has the Flare Calmer and is very impressed with them. We have a quiet home, but even then sometimes neighbours' ordinary noise like lawnmowers etc. are too much so in go the calmers and she's happier. She said it's as though all the irritating noises are pushed into the background.
There are a lot of reviews from people with ASD and ADHD on their website and they have 25% off until the end of January.

Sensory issues - she has issues with noise, hence the above.
Hair brushing, she was in tears with it daily until Tangle Teezers were invented when she was in her late teens.
Clothes, the usual seams and labels also tightness/looseness and the feel of any fabric. I thought I'd treat her to a floaty silk top for summer, she hates it as she can't feel it, she says it feels like wearing nothing. Ditto bedclothes, I bought her a mulberry silk quilt but again, she needs to feel the pressure. with bedding, she "invented" weighted blankets when she was a child, couldn't settle or sleep unless she had three huge heavy soft toys on her body on top of a heavy quilt. She spends most of her time in pyjamas and lounge wear surrounded by soft fluffy throws slankets etc. The type of fabric has to be, like Goldilocks, 'just right'
Food - she has intolerance issues but that aside, texture plays a very large part. Can't tolerate anything slimy when it's cooked like mushrooms, onions, courgettes, aubergine, sweet potato, but is happy to have raw courgette.
Lighting is contentious, she prefers it low indoors.
She's exactly the same as ThisTownAintBigEnoughForBoth about no temperature regulation and feeling the cold. In the height of summer she wears bedsocks.
Today, before she got up I lit the coal fire, made 2 hot water bottles for her and warmed her thick fleecy huge hoodie, she often has gloves and a throw as well. And the cat as her seat on the sofa is the warmest and cosiest place in the house, like a nest.

Unexpected noise like bangs, clatters, noisy cars outside especially.

Clothing on my wrists, forever rolling up sleeves.

@BlankTimes I'm sorry to hear about your daughter, I was bedridden with CFS for 4 years, it really is awful to live with. I really appreciate the recommendation though! I was looking at those and I did wonder if they worked as they say 😊

MY PEOPLE!!!!

Overlapping noise (is that what it's called - never heard the term before) so I can't concentrate on a conversation at all if the radio is on with a dj talking. But light background music is okay.

But I think of it as a heirachy - so, out and about lots of talking, noise etc, I can cope for a while. But then add it being very crowded - things get trickier. Make it dark with random bright lights - I'm almost hysterical. DH and I now have a strict policy that I do not ever, for example, attend evening christmas fairs or the like with the kids as I melt down. At best, I'll snap at everyone and sob a little to myself. At worst, I'll scream inappropriately at innocent strangers and lash out. In my younger days, I hated nightclubs - now I understand why! I could just about cope if I was a) drunk and b) left to dance alone.

Cannot cope with being too cold, even for a few seconds. One of the best things about early peri-menopause is that I'm more likely to be hot and while I don't like it, it doesn't cause me to melt down in the same way. I have a full length dressing gown because even just the tiny breeze of a 3/4 one was unbearable.

My sleep clothes requirements are ridiculous, with minor differences to accommodate different weather (but only slightly - eg slightly thicker, slightly higher neck t-shirt for depth of winter). When I find a t-shirt that works I try to buy multiple and wear them into the ground. Cannot wear anything that rides up on my legs so only ever wear PJ bottoms with socks, all tucked in... but accept I'll have to wake up and take them off middle of night (another benefit of peri-menopause, short pjs are fine).

Even in teens/younger years, I was almost NEVER the person who spontaneously slept over somewhere else because I just wouldn't sleep if I wasn't wearing my PJs, with my duvet, my pillow etc. Even holidays can sometimes be a bit tricky.

On plus side, my super power back in my office days was that I would start getting weird headaches when those long fluorescent light bulbs were about to go. I'd complain about headaches and flickering for a few days, everyone would be confused, then the light would start flickering.

Once I got a reputation, a call would usually go out to building maintenance as soon as I started complaining because it always took them a few days to turn up and by the time they did, flickering would be visible (and irritating) to everyone! New joiners were always a bit bemused until they learn how reliable I was!

Being subjected to more than once source of noise at once just completely fries my head, so for example, if the TV is on and my partner decides to watch a clip on their smartphone simultaneously it sends me running from the room with my hands clamped over my ears.

I also completely freak out at the sensation of anything sticky on my hands, so melted confectionery, glue, gum etc. I have a cataclysmic meltdown if I can't get rid of it within seconds.

I can't have anything touch the 'inside' of my joints, i.e. where the joint bends inwardly, so the back of my knees, inside of my elbows etc. If I ever have to provide bloods it has to be via the back of my hand. One particularly belligerent nurse who wasn't taking no for an answer and was absolutely determined she was going to stick a needle into my elbow only backed down when I warned her that if she pressed on despite my refusal that there was every chance I would physically attack her if she tried. It's a total no go for me. I can't even touch those areas myself, and I have to mod all my clothing so nothing touches.

Noise - especially music
Flashing lights
Very bright lights

Whistling 😡

Yep, overlapping noises as I can only concentrate on one at a time. The light in any room has to be mine to control so friends kindly let me adjust their blinds, curtains, lights etc. Same with TV volume, either I'm in charge of the remote or I feel sick & can't relax.
Cannot stand the sound of babies crying. Have walked out of shops, pubs, friends' houses for this reason more than any other. Can't really describe how it makes me feel, almost murderously angry & tearful, sort of hysterical I suppose. No need to ask if I ever had children!

Strong perfumes 🤢