New test for noise sensitivity

[MNmom]

I have to share my "cute kid story" now that I am back to work as a school psych with a mechanical valve. Not sure how much anyone is familiar with children on the autism spectrum, but some children may have hightened sensitivities to touch, taste, sounds, etc. Well, I had a student in my office the other day, and there is also a large peice of equipment that all the building phone lines go to (they stick us psychs in odd places) ANYWAY, that peice of equipment makes some humming type of white noise, so it wasnt completely quiet in the room, plus, we were having a conversation, and there was a table between us, so its not like we were that close. During a pause in the conversation, he asked me what that ticking sound was. I said, oh, you mean that humming noise? (knowing exactly what he meant, but wasnt sure what to say) No, he said, that tick, tick, ticking - to the beat of my heart valve. I confessed, it was me, and explained that I had a mechanical valve. He said he had really sensitive ears. (note to self- remind teachers not to sit him near wall clocks- he may not be able to complete his work)
So now I have a new appreciation for the noise sensitivity- it is real. I had his special education teacher later sit in the same spot he did and we sat in silence and she couldnt hear anything. Amazing.

 

[Freddie]

That is amazing and kinda freaky at the same time.
What is really freaky is that I don't hear mine anymore. Well very seldom. Could something be wrong?
Oops sorry, I think I just high-jacked your thread.

 

[Bina]

Freddie, you went and wore out a mechanical valve already.....LOL.....JOKING....!!
Standing in front of windows creeps me out, sound-wise, but other than that it helps me to sleep.

 

[MNmom]

im sure nothing is wrong

im sure nothing is wrong

Freddie, they told me at Mayo that after awhile I wont likely hear it anymore either. They said all of us have the ability to hear our own heart beats whether or not mechanical, but our brains have trained us not to "hear" them because we would all go crazy if all those sounds that are now white noise were so easily identifiable. Which is more reason to empathize with people who really cant filter out all those extra noises in the world that we have programmed ourselves not to hear.
Like everything though, it is probably best to check with your Dr if you really cant hear it even in quite places where you used to hear it when you stop and pay attention and try to hear it. I cant imagine that- I still havent adjusted to the noise factor (or the pulsing- I can easily take my HR just by listening)

 

[Bina]

I believe the Aortic valve has alot more pressure on it also....mitrals are larger with less pressure.

 

[Freddie]

Sounds like a plan...sorry for the pun. I'll check out my quiet places in the morning. Although, I can still kinda hear it in the shower.

 

[Freddie]

Freddie, you went and wore out a mechanical valve already.....LOL.....JOKING....!!

Bina U funny!!!
You made us laugh.

 

[zipper2]

I really miss my clicker,it quit when the mitral went
haywire and stopped the noise. they say cus the mitrals
so bad it's not pushing it enough to click the mechan.aortic
But it's funny how this effects my sleep cus i don't hear it
for almost year now. I'm gonna ask for a noisy one this time so
i can sleep,maybe i'll get two and not sleep too noisey

zipper2 (DEB)

 

[Lisa in Katy]

I've had people ask about the ticking in the strangest places, but almost always when there is glass nearby. I was sitting across from my boss one day, his desk has a glass top, and he could hear it. Lots of times when people ask me what it is, I say, "I don't know, but I hear it too." and then proceed to help them look for the source of the noise. "I think it's coming from under this paper." "No, it's behind this book." It's lots of fun! Especially if you're weird, like I am!

Autistic kids often do have heightened senses. Imagine being in his world where every little noise is audible and because of his autism, he probably can't tune it out like we do with white noise.