Too Much Noise!

TOO MUCH NOISE

My life long struggle with Auditory Sensory Overload.

What is Auditory Sensory Overload?

Before I talk about experiences with Auditory Sensory Overload, I think I need to explain exactly what it is. Sensory Overload is any experience of overwhelm caused by an over-intensity of one of the 5 senses.

What are the signs?

Although temporary, the signs of auditory sensory overload become obvious after a few attempts to communicate with the person in question due to a louder than average environment.

• "Shut Down" a period of inability to respond to one's environment or to other people.
• Increased anxiety (sometimes even panic attacks) 
• Short and heavy breathing.

How does it affect my life?

To cut a long story short, I avoid going to places where I know that there is going to be a lot of noise like discos and nightclubs. This had made dating extremely difficult for me as those are the most common places for trying to find a partner. Personally, I would rather meet my date in a dining place like a restaurant and a cafe when there would be only minimal noise.

I often cover my ears when I hear the siren of an emergency service vehicle (i.e. ambulance).

When I hear somebody shout suddenly, it is as if the voice of the person shouting goes into my body and I feel overwhelmed very quickly.

How do I cope?

There are times when I buy ear plugs in order to reduce the intensity of the noise when I am outside. Thankfully, these days, I also have things like an audio book collection and YouTube on my smartphone with earphones so I can listen to music when I am travelling.

How common is it?

Among people on the Autistic spectrum, Auditory Sensory Overload is very common. It is also common for people on the spectrum to experience more than on kind of sensory overload.

What are the other sensory overloads

Sensory overload is an over-intensity of one of the 5 senses. This means that there is a form of sensory overload for all the 5 senses. They are:

Visual sensory overload: This is based on sight which means a person has sensitivity to the brightness of the environment.

Olfactory sensory overload: This is based on smell which means a person has sensitivity to strong smells.

Gustatory sensory overload: This is based on taste which means a person has sensitivity to strong tasting food or drink.

Tactile sensory overload: This is base on touch which means a person has sensitivity to external physical sensations.

Is Autism Just Human Evolution?

Is Autism Just Human Evolution?

My diagnosis story

According to my parents, I was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome at the age of 10. However, the condition was never explained to me at the time of the diagnosis. In fact I was in a constant state of disbelief of the idea of me having the condition until I arranged a one of appoint ment with a secretary at my local surgery to see my medical records. For me to realise this truth was heartbreaking. I thought I was like every other person on the planet but clearly, medical science had other ideas.

The medical mystery

Throughout my life, I have had Asperger Syndrome (AS) and other Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) be called all sorts of things. I've heard it be called a mental illness, learning disability, medical condition and even a disease!

Medical science always puts a negative connotation to the autism spectrum. Many have said that there has to be a cure for it. However, I am hearing more and more no YouTube that ASDs are rather a step in human evolution. This way of thinking about ASDs is certainly not out of the question when you consider th growing amount of cases around the world. (even without the controversial MMR vacccine) Many scientists have struggled for decades to find the cause of ASDs but alas have yet to find an answer.

What is the truth?

So is autism really just a step in human evolution? If scientists are not able to give a definite external reason for the sharp rise of ASD cases then we are clearly seeing a transformation within the human species. Society is always demanding us to conform and be like everyone else as if we were all ment to be the same person. Society is always fearful of someone who is different in some way. However, it is our differences that makes the human condition as rich as it is.

As you are about to learn from these 3 videos, there are a growing amount of people who beleive that ASDs are not "illness" that have to be "cured" in some waybut rather a step in human evolution. Maybe all of us will be "autistic" in some way.

Teal Swan: Autism (Understanding Autism, Autistic Children and Autistic Adults) - Teal Swan

Arthur Arcturus: Is Asperger's Human 2.0

Tony Atwood: is Asperger Syndrome the next stage of human evolution?