Noise

[cyberdog]

I realize noise sensitivity typically falls in line more with the autism spectrum, but I was curious if those whose family members suffered from OCD noticed an increase in their tolerability for noise once anxiety was treated. I was also curious if stimulants worsened the issue.

 

I live in an unusually noisy household -- two younger brothers, two small dogs, lots of yelling. It's reached the point where I literally don't even bother trying to concentrate on anything, even TV, anymore. I used to have expensive noise-isolating headphones, which unfortunately broke, but spending your life in earphones isn't really a solution.

 

I don't know where to turn anymore, if it isn't one thing, it's another -- I'm so sick of living like this.

 

I start a Riluzole trial next week and pray it does something for me.

[MomWithOCDSon]

Cyberdog --

 

There is actually a subset condition of OCD called misophonia (you can Google it); the term actually translates as "hatred of sound." There was a news magazine TV story on it about a year or so ago . . . featured sufferers who couldn't tolerate the sounds of someone else chewing their food or clinking silverware or stemware at the dinner table, etc. and so isolated themselves and ate alone, etc. Clinical misophonia would seem to be at the far end of the spectrum of your noise sensitivity as described, but to me, it's just another indication that these anxiety behaviors are more or less part of a continuum, and the extent to which anyone suffers at a clinical level versus a subclinical level, or to which one particular subset or manifestation is dominant, is part of what makes this shape-shifter condition as maddening and tricky to pin down and treat as it is!

 

As for noise sensitivity being more common to ASD than OCD . . . IF . . . and I know that's a big word . . . at least some of the issues in both conditions are attributable to, as some of the research seems to suggest (Yasko, Rosenberg, etc.), failure of glutamate modulation in the brain, then it makes sense that there might be some shared behaviors/sensibilities.

 

My DS is certainly sensitive to noise that is not his own, yet, especially during times of high anxiety and/or OCD flair, his processing is skewed to the extent that his own noise-making -- particularly with respect to voice volume and/or the volume at which he prefers his own sensory input from the TV, computer, MP3 player, etc. -- threatens to drive the rest of us from the house! Everything is SO LOUD! But if you attempt to turn anything down, he complains that he can't hear it and is "missing something." Plus, he doesn't seem to get that his own speaking volume is amped up inappropriately.

 

I will keep a good thought for you that the riluzole trial is helpful for you!

[lfran]

There is an auditory processing therapy you can do at home that our HMO ot program loaned out. It consists of 10 CDs with music and other sounds woven in. It's called the listening program. I figure if a huge HMO likes it, there may be something behind it. It made my ds much less sensitive to sounds. You can buy it on the Internet, or at least you could a few years ago.

[MomWithOCDSon]

There is an auditory processing therapy you can do at home that our HMO ot program loaned out. It consists of 10 CDs with music and other sounds woven in. It's called the listening program. I figure if a huge HMO likes it, there may be something behind it. It made my ds much less sensitive to sounds. You can buy it on the Internet, or at least you could a few years ago.

Cool! Any links, or do you have the name of the program? Thanks!

[lfran]

It's actually called The Listening Program!

[lfran]

They say it actually exercises the muscles of the inner ear so that they can modulate sound better. It was certainly peaceful to listen to in any event!

[SSS]

We did the Listening Program through an Occupational Therapist for Sensory Processing Disorder some years ago-

For 2 months, 2x a day, with special headphones, she would listen to a selected CD from the OT,

changed out every 2 weeks.

 

I'll be honest- it didn't work. It's hard to describe- when very young, the sounds seemed fear based- vacuum, hair dryer, sent her running, came unglued.

Now, certain sounds (not the volume) more like certain people talking, just irritate the %#*+ out of her- she will get angry.

Not all the time- in and out.

I think it is glutamate- based on our trial with PharmaNac (re: Stanford study in autistic children reduced irritability and can reduce

Trichotillomania/ form of OCD) due to possible glutamate blocking capabilities. She was picking moles off her body, and adding PharmaNac stopped that action- and I think reduced irritability.

 

I also am very loud volume sensitive - and actually wear earplugs around the house a lot- but don't have OCD. Okay, I do get irritable

 

We are out of PharmaNac, it's expensive, but... I think I'm going to have to buy some again.

Will you please let us know how your trial of Riluzole goes?

[PIK]

I can't stand the sound of the television, and my mother is OBSESSED with the television, keeps it on all the time, and I just want to break it.