Lights are too bright, textures are too rough and sounds are too loud. Although I do have quite a few sensory "quirks" my worst by far is sound.

Imagine hearing three people. One person is loud while the other two softer in tone. Normally, you would hear the louder sound. Not only first, but clear while the other two takes more effort to hear. But for me, this is not the case. The softer tones are so much easier to hear while the louder tone is so loud, 'too loud', that the sound becomes distorted.

I can deal with the pain it brings. But when I hear a certain sound, and can't comprehend what that specific sound is, I go into panic mode. I have a thought disorder that tells me all sorts of paranoid delusions of what the sound could be. Also, when I escape into "my world", and are suddenly pulled out, I go into a panic attack. So naturally, I am terified of loud and unexpected noises.

My question is for ideas to help. My therapist told me to wear headphones ( because music is calming, and my life :) ). This has worked so far, but in some places I am forced to take the headphones off. I know they have tinted glasses for certain light in sensory dysfunction, but do they have earplugs that can drain out certain sounds?

Any information or links will help.

SGH

So many things drive me crazy and I've never been diagnosed with anything. But things aren't as bad now that I take Prozac. I have migraines and the neurologist proscribed Prozac. It killed two birds with one stone so to speak.
I'm not saying you needs meds...but things don't bother me so much anymore.
Good Luck!

Have you tried Auditory Integration Training? My daughter has sound problems - can't stand unexpected noises and lots of different types of engines (truck, school bus, leaf blower). Our OT told us to try AIT and an audiologist agreed.

Auditory Integration Training? Never tried it, and it's never really been spoken of. I've only saw a behavioral therapist and speech therapist. What exactly does it do. And being 18, is it too late for me?

SGH

It basically consists of listening to specific music that goes through filters. The music is fast and constantly changing. Here's a paragraph from the Autism Research Institute:

Auditory integration training (AIT), as developed by French otolaryngologist Guy Berard and based on the work of his predecessor, Alfred Tomatis, typically consists of 20 half-hour sessions of listening to specially modulated music over a 10- to 20-day period.AIT has been reported to be beneficial in several conditions, including AD/HD, autism, dyslexia, and hypersensitive hearing at certain frequencies.

REMOVED.

when you are unable to wear headphones to block some of the noise, try this tip... using the soft molded earplugs for swimming... this should give you some relief.