Most people with autism have sensory sensitivities to some extent whether it is textures, smells, bright lights, tastes or sound. Sensory overload is a challenge day to day, and for me sound causes it. However, I have found ways to overcome it.

When I was a child, I hated loud noises. It was the loud, short bangs that were especially distressing. They terrified me.

One situation involved fireworks. I used to dread Bonfire Night. It was a time of the year I hated. Everyone else loved the noise, and I could understand the beauty of watching firework displays, but I could never understand why anyone would want to stay in an environment surrounded by loud banging. I remember one situation when my babysitter took me, my brother and my sister to fireworks. I cried throughout the entire display. The sound was awful, and she couldn’t understand why I was crying. When I think about it now, I feel guilty, as she was taking us to something special and hoping we would enjoy it. My brother and sister did, but I hated it.

Image by Pexels from Pixabay

I remember I hated the loud music in restaurants and pubs. It was so loud, people couldn’t hear each other speak. Shouting to communicate made no sense to me. It just added to the uproar.

Noise created a feeling of discomfort for me, and sometimes even panic. My brain couldn’t cope with it. I got overwhelmed.

Image by congerdesign from Pixabay

I still have auditory sensitivity today, however, over the years I have learned to manage it. I still avoid noisy environments, and if I can’t, I wear ear plugs which make an enormous difference. They reduce the sound enough so that it does not trigger sensory overload.

For more information

• Autism and sensory processing Available at: https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/about-autism/sensory-processing (Accessed: 19 July 2025).