As someone recently diagnosed with add late in life, I now ask myself if any of my behaviours are ADD-related.

I've noticed two distinct reactions to noise and wonder if anyone has had the same experience.

I get very irritated by random continual loud noise like a room full of boisterous children. Sometimes that kind of noise gets me angry and upset. (I amazed my family last night by remaining calm in exactly that environment under the effects of Ritalin.)

On the other hand, I get my best ideas in the car or in the shower. I'm now wondering if the low constant noise of the car and the sound of the water in the shower are somehow stimulating. It might also be the confined space combined with the noise.

Sometimes when I can't sleep, I go downstairs. Recently I noticed that the low drone of the furnace helped me to fall asleep.

It also occured to me that I might be experiencing a positive effect but attributing it to the wrong factors.

Anyone have this sort of experience?

oldbutnew2add

I was JUST going to post a message in regards to how radio commercials are DRIVING ME NUTS !! I can't stand them anymore, and they seem to last much longer than they used to, and are more frequent !!
I've always had a problem with noise associated with shredders, vacuum cleaners and leaf blowers. That type of noise jars my entire system, and I can't 'think', and find myself getting hostile if I have to be subjected to them.
Weird...
I'm thinking of never turning the radio on again, due to my hostility with commercials lately.
Nova

Have you found any good effects of noise? I'm thinking that droning low frequency noise might have positive effects. The furnace, and car fall into the low frequency noise category - not sure about the sound of the water in the shower.

Somehow these noises seem soothing and conducive to good ideas.

I am two months into an add diagnosis and less than one month on meds. So my perceptions may be skewed. I may be looking for things that are not there.....

oldbutnew2add

I have the same types of response to noise as you obn2add, I have to have a certain amount of noise to get my brain to function so there has to be a radio or tv on or music, I can't work in silence. I also need the tv to fall asleep by distracting my brain.

On the other hand movie theatre sound levels drive me insane and inconsistent noises that alternate in volume irritate me. I have an extremely sensitive startle reflex, unexpected noises have me jumping out of my skins - my children hate going to suspenseful movies with me.

I also think that my ability to be in control of the noise has something to do with my irritability level. I can control the tv, radio, etc, I can't control a group of kids, loud unexpected noises, etc....

Hmmm... Your point about the control factor is interesting.

Are you on any meds? Have they helped you with reactions to noise you can't control. Last night was the first time I didn't get angry about this particular group of children and their noisemaking.

As I got older, I seemed to be more sensitive to noise. It also seems to have concided with having children.

My general feeling about Ritalin is that the noise that normally goes on in my head (that is how I see it now), is considerably lessened. My theory is that I'm more tolerant of the noise outside my head as a result. Does that match your experience?

oldbutnew2add

(I amazed my family last night by remaining calm in exactly that environment under the effects of Ritalin.) My family noticed a difference too.

On the other hand, I get my best ideas in the car or in the shower. Ditto. I thought perhaps it was the movement of the car?

It also occured to me that I might be experiencing a positive effect but attributing it to the wrong factors. I kept a journal when I first went on medication.
Laura

I'm scared of the toaster.

Or let's put it like this: I have a problem with sounds that I know will come and that I startle at. I never stay in the same room as the toaster unless there are people talking there. When I was little I used to run a lap around the house.

i like classical music in the background as i work.

i dislike the sound of all my children attempting to speak over one another to get my attention.

i like loud concerts, but only if the artist is good.

i hate the sound of the television constantly droning.

i love the sound of the water or a fountain.

i can't stand things that are high-pitched.....

Wow this is too weird. I'm just figuring out that I am more then likely ADD as of this week. I have been treated for depression and anxiety for the past 3 years and that isn't it at all.

As for noise......lots of kids making noise makes me nuts. I tend to go within myself and tune out everything just to cope. If I am talking to someone I will not hear anything else going on around me, that includes my child saying "Mommy, Mommy, Mommy". Usually the person I am listening to says she wants you and then it's like I come out of a trance (sp?). I'm not sure I heard either one of them. If I am reading I usually turn the tv on to help me focus on the book I am reading. This I find really weird. It's like the background noise helps me to focus better and I become less distracted. When I go to bed at night I turn on the bathroom fan to help me sleep, I also do this for lovemaking. I know strange!!!!Like some of you said "the noise in our heads is already so loud that we need certain sounds to help us relax." I can totally relate to commercials making you crazy. I often mute the tv for commercials....flipping channels as my husband would due makes me nuts. If I don't mute then I tune out. I'm sure there are a million different things we do in regards to noise. I love having this support and common quirks. Makes me feel normal at least around here.

Blessings,
Mary

I have many pairs of ear plugs.. I like sound I don't like noise, especially high pitched noise. I carry ear plugs with me at all times. Those little foam jobs fit in anywhere.. :)
Ian

I have always been very aware of everything going on around me and I have to carry earplugs with me, or you may see me with pieces of tissue in my ears at the local pool hall. The sound of the clock at my X's house would drive me crazy, and any high pitches, in music machinery, animals, people, what have you, I can't stand it. I have agravated freinds in public, because of getting up and moving myself from a irratating sound. If I go somewhere and things aren't suiting me, if I can ignore it, and keep my hands to myself, I will do the best I can not to touch something, but I can't make any promises. I will unscrew light bulbs, move things off the table to please me, or get up and get what ever for myself, if it looks like, I can go fairly unnoticed. I'll move to another table, to get away from speakers, and I'll climb up on chairs and turn the tv down myself, as long as someone else is not watching it. Loud good music is Awsume, is long as it isn't screeching... The wrong tones and I can get right rude, till I have either eliminated the noise, or eliminated myself from the situation. I guess I can be a little "I got to have it my way" kind of a person, but this more a less applies, if the present surrounding are pleasing enough on their own. My boyfreind says I'm rude and don't think about anybody but myself. I don't think that is totally true..............1st of all, I am totally all for someone elses way, as long as it isn't irrating me.........2 why the heck shouldn't I please myself? I could probably ask an I'm sure some waiter would do what he could to please me, but why ask, and stress them about it, I make things the way I want, and I usually don't tell anyone what I am going to do, just move, they'll follow, or they will eventally...I've been told more than once I had exceptional hearing, I guess, I'll try to keep it that way, if I can.....Oh, and I also startle easy, and not because I am unaware of my surrounding, I can know it's coming and still it'l get me, I have like sharp pains like pins that come out me fingertips, toes, sometimes and my forhead, like electical shocks.... Does anyone else do this?

gypsysway,

I get up and disconnect speakers in restaurants too! Until this moment I would never have associated it with add.

There seems to be a common dislike for high-pitched noises.

There also seems to be a common like of droning noises like fans.

Does anyone have experience with music that relaxes you that is composed only of sounds? A friend had a record of tibetan bells that were very low pitched. I wonder if that would be relaxing to me now that I recognize the need.

oldbutnew2add

I like Enigma........

Side two of David Bowie's "Low" album was my first experience with very gentle music. I'm going to have to scout some more.

I'm not familiar with Enigma. I'll check it out.

I have to have music on all the time also, during everything I do, as I can't stand the environmental 'silence'- it enables my mental 'chatter' to go full stream ahead. Which includes music during lovemaking also. I completely relate to 'background noise' as long as it isn't jarring.
I think the commercial hostility I have is due to their 'repetition' of numbers, the name of the company, the jingle, and the biggest problem I have is with car commercials sounding like ads for World Wrestling Federation (and don't even get me started on disclaimers which come across as an auctioneer talking a thousand miles an hour). It's the presentation that's an issue with me, not the content.
Nova

I am weird some noises just irritate me and I cant handle it. There are other noises I dont mind. When I am reading or studing I have to have the radio on... the Tv is a no no too much stimualation. I cant concentrate. When I go to bed I love to put my fan on the noise it make help lul me to sleep; I also listen to the radio too while drifting off to sleep. auntchris

I love Sting's solo music.
Nova

Since I've been on meds I find high stimulous noise annoying i.e. amusement parks, restaurants, malls....I also need background noise to focus when doing almost anything and the TV or music when I'm trying to sleep cuts down on the mind races.

I am definitely affected by sound. Like you, some of my best ideas come to me while I am driving. It doesn't matter if I have the radio on or not, they just start flowing. I wonder if it has anything to do with the mass amount of information we take in as we drive...maybe it's the only thing faster than our minds.

I also seem to focus more effectively if I have my water fountain going. I noticed this quite some time ago and was curious of the cause. I found an article that made the relation to the sounds we hear in the womb as we are growing from a fetus state. I couldn't tell you where I found it, it has been so long ago. To a degree, I would agree with this. I have always been drawn to water and I try to swim every day. When I haven't, I actually miss it. Not that this proves the point, but it is interesting to think about.

Unless it is really good blues music or some kicking rock and roll, I get really irritated when things are too loud. I often spend my time off with no sound at all or listening to relaxing music. I work in retail in the mall and the only way I feel like I get a break on my lunch hour is to put in my earplugs. There I am, in a restaurant, sitting by myself, with my earplugs in, taking a break from the sounds of peoples voices and their never ending requests. A little piece of heaven and no one even knows.

As a matter of fact, today a friend of mine came over to talk while I was dining. He was speaking to me from behind so I didn't hear him. When he touched my shoulder to get my attention, I took my earplugs out and he said
"That's my girl. You're just a rockin' aren't ya?" He thought I was lost in my music. Little did he know!

I am so frustrated w/ noise right now :mad:

I CAN NOT block all the noise out....I was in church this morning and instead of being able to concentrate on the Pastor and what he was saying....I am feeling that thump of the person behind me tapping the pew to the music...and I am hearing the person to my left singing a song during the sermon...and I am seeing all the children up and down in their seats...I get soooo frustrated w/ noise. I can't think, I can't concentrate, my body temperature rises to an unbelievable degree and I seriously am so frustrated I want to cry.

noise...so interesting. I live in a really busy, noisy part of Tokyo--and it doesn't bother me at all--it feels creepy to be somewhere quiet. I liken it to being back at college when the frat parties were going on Friday nights--I didn't necessarily want to be there, but the noise, the sounds of people nearby, was comforting.

But I get this lightning-rod flash of rage when I hear loud, sudden sneezes. I can't explain it, but it trips some wire in my head. weirdo eh?

I live in the heart of the city and if that isnt bad enough, next door to City Hall and the police station. Well you may say." What is wrong with that?" All the ambulances come out of their garage. I hear sirens all the time plus I am on the main street. There are also about 10 car dealerships near me...and they have alarm that go off all the time. It is better now, but when I first moved in Oh Mother of mine help me.

I run my ceiling fan alot it has a hum that is soothing like the waterfall others were talking about. I need one of thosse things. I am so drawn to the water and it so soothing. When I am in church a fussy child or crying baby doesnt bother me...Love children, but when someone is talk and others are talking at the same time...watch out cause I will say something. auntchris