ADHD Sound Sensitivity And Sensory Overload

For many people with ADHD, extreme sensitivity to sensory input can be a fact of life. While ADHD does not necessarily cause sound sensitivity, some individuals may experience misophonia, hyperacusis, or generalized hypersensitivity to olfactory, visual, auditory, food-related, and physical stimuli.

Misophonia generally refers to a condition in which one has a decreased tolerance of and aversion to certain sounds, such as the sound of chewing or yawning. Hyperacusis, which is also known as hypersensitivity to sound, usually involves a reduced tolerance for sounds with average intensity, such as clapping. As for hypersensitivity, one may experience sensory overload in response to various kinds of stimuli.

For those with noise sensitivity ADHD, sounds with certain frequencies may be more unnerving than others, potentially prompting emotional reactions like irritation, overwhelm, exhaustion, and a sense of feeling unwell. Generally viewed as a sensory processing issue, hypersensitivity may be triggered by physical and emotional stimuli. Often, therapy can be an effective way to address sound sensitivity and general hypersensitivity, which may lead some people to experience physical pain. 

Looking to reduce the impact of triggering sounds?

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Types of sensitivities for people with ADHD

There tend to be many types of sensitivities, which can affect each individual differently. 

Types of external stimuli that may provoke discomfort and unease in certain individuals may include the following:

Visual stimuli

These include bright lights, flickering lights, neon lights, certain patterns, pictures, color combinations, and anything else that is visually striking to the individual

Olfactory stimuli

Olfactory stimuli can include body odor, cleaning supplies, nail polish removers, perfumes, deodorants, and incense 

Auditory stimuli

Examples of auditory stimuli are unexpected external noises, such as knocking on the door; repetitive sounds like a dripping faucet, a beeping alarm, church bells, or ticking clocks; loud noises like sirens, drums, a dog barking, a baby crying, and blaring music; and specific sounds like using a nail file, writing on a chalkboard, moving a chair, or stirring a cup of coffee with a metal spoon.

Physical stimuli

These include clothing labels, certain fabrics, or turtleneck-style sweaters and others.

Food-related stimuli

Certain textures like fatty meats, strong odors like fish, curry, and vinegar, and unfamiliar spices or food colorings are examples of food-related stimuli.

Reactions to stimuli can vary for different people with ADHD

Each person may react differently to stimuli, and the stimuli that bother an individual can be highly subjective.

Causes of ADHD sound sensitivity

Noise sensitivity may be described as the "physiological and psychological internal states of an individual that increase the degree of reactivity to noise in general." 

Those with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may be more sensitive to sound, according to research findings. ADHD sound sensitivity can be linked to increased ADHD symptoms, especially inattention and distractibility.

ADHD and misophonia

Researchers have also suggested a possible link between ADHD sound sensitivity and misophonia, a condition that generally makes one less able to tolerate certain sounds. Those with misophonia may be distressed by common sounds, such as yawning or chewing, which may trigger a strong emotional response. 

However, studies indicate that disturbing sounds, such as blaring sirens or screaming, had a similar effect in those with and without the condition. They also found that the part of the brain associated with fear, emotions, and long-term memories was often activated in response to the sound in people with misophonia. This indicates that these sounds may be associated with early negative experiences and responses.

A person with misophonia, which literally means "hatred of sound," may experience various emotional responses to a specific sound, including the following:

• Disgust

• Irritation

• Aversion

• Impatience

• Anxiety

• Stress

• A sense of entrapment 

• A fight, flight, or freeze response

Common bothersome sounds could include fabric swooshing or rubbing, yawning, chewing, sniffling, coughing, sneezing, tapping, clicking, and scratching.

Treatment options for misophonia usually include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and auditory distraction using white noise. CBT can help one learn how to manage the condition by addressing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. 

ADHD sound sensitivity and hyperacusis 

Another condition that may make some people with ADHD experience heightened sensitivity to sound is hyperacusis. Hyperacusis, which is also known as hypersensitivity to sound, may be described as a "reduced tolerance to sounds of average intensity, sometimes accompanied by painful sensitivity to ordinary environmental sounds, with perceptual, psychological and social dimensions." 

This disorder can also skew one's perception of loudness. For example, high-pitched noises and clapping may be perceived as painfully loud, potentially causing anxiety and distress. In more extreme cases, a person may develop phonophobia, which can be defined as fear and avoidance of situations or environments where they may encounter these sounds. 

While the causes of hyperacusis are still being studied, studies of children with ADHD suggest it may stem from alterations in the central nervous system related to hyperactivity "following an increase in the gain of auditory and extra-auditory pathways and to greater anxiety or emotional response to sound."

The condition may also be more prevalent in those with neurodevelopmental disorders like ADHD. Treatments for hyperacusis may include CBT and sound therapy, which usually attempts to "retrain the auditory processing center" to accept and respond to certain sounds.

Symptoms of sensory overload

According to Neurodivergent Insights, a website run by a psychologist diagnosed with autism and ADHD as an adult, the symptoms of sensory overload can include those listed below:

• Increased sensitivity to specific sounds with certain frequencies, loud noises, and background noise, which can impair your ability to function

• Experiencing distress in environments with flickering lights

• Increased difficulty focusing when there are a lot of sensory stimuli

• Feeling overwhelmed or agitated in crowded or busy places 

• Having an aversion to certain fabrics 

• Feeling distressed or irritated when encountering certain smells, such as nail polish, cleaning supplies, deodorants, or perfumes

• Feeling unwell or having an aversion to particular food textures and tastes

• Experiencing fatigue from sensory processing

• Feeling irritated, overwhelmed, agitated, or physically unwell in environments with a lot of sensory stimulation

At the same time, being highly sensitive is not necessarily a disorder in and of itself. However, some helpful strategies may be required to manage distress and responses to stimuli.

Looking to reduce the impact of triggering sounds?

Work with a licensed therapist online

Therapy to manage ADHD symptoms and improve mental health

Learning how to manage auditory sensitivities may reduce the effect of sensory and emotional overload. Tools like noise-canceling headphones may make a significant difference.

A therapist can also support you during the process of managing sound triggers and fostering your mental health and well-being. Therapy may also lead to more effective strategies specific to a person’s unique ADHD symptoms. 

Addressing ADHD symptoms, sensory overload, and sensory processing concerns in online therapy

If attending in-person sessions is inconvenient or adds another demand to your schedule, you may want to consider online therapy. BetterHelp, for example, can enable you to have sessions with a licensed therapist by phone, videoconference, or online chat. 

Efficacy of online therapy for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and mental health

A meta-analysis and systematic review that looked at online interventions for ADHD suggested that virtual therapy could be effective in improving attention deficit and social function. The meta-analysis evaluated six randomized controlled trials involving 261 people with ADHD. Online therapy has also been shown to be effective for disorders that may be comorbid with ADHD, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). 

Takeaway

Dripping faucets, itchy clothing, and flickering lights can make it nearly impossible to concentrate on anything else, depending on your sensitivity to them. Researchers suggest that sensory processing challenges can impact the severity of ADHD symptoms. Learning how to manage hypersensitivity may reduce the effect of sensory and emotional overload. A therapist may support you during this process with online or in-person therapy sessions.