Noise intolerance, hyperacusis: totally stressed

[Kirsten]

Some of you may already have read on Facebook that the noise in my neighborhood is driving me crazy since the summer vacations have started. The kids outside have always been loud, especially in the summer. Since I don't have a/c, the windows in my apartment are always tilted in the summer, otherwise I would fry here under the roof. Like I said, the neighbor kids, and many other kids in the street, have always been loud; the younger neighbor girl is always screaming in a very high pitched voice, the older one is bossing her around, which is not a pleasure to listen to. It's been annoying, but I least I got some peace during the night.

This has changed now, because last winter, a new family has moved into the neighbor house (the same house were also the family of these two loud girls lives). Now, there's a boy in that new family, maybe 11 years old, and his window is opposite to my bedroom/office window. He's hyperactive, and very very loud. He's often standing in the open window, yelling down to the kids on the street, and that's as loud as if he would stand right next to me.

But what's been worst so far was the night before last night. There, he had a friend staying in his room over night, and he talked all night, at the open window, which he closed at 7 am (!), then it was finally quiet. Too late for me, as I got a nervous breakdown at 6 am in the morning, as I have to admit. I slammed doors and screamed, and now I'm terribly ashamed of it, because others in the house heard it (I think they heard the boy, too, but obviously nobody felt disturbed by him ). I'm feeling terrible since I had that breakdown, totally stressed.

And that boy is not the only problem: Garden parties on Friday, Saturday and Sunday night, lawn mowers all day, kids playing in the streets till late at night, and some moron shot a blank gun all day yesterday, which scared Luna almost to death. Things have gotten so bad in our street!

I cannot read, I cannot write, I cannot relax, I cannot sleep. I'm feeling this noise almost physically, and it makes me ill.

I was wondering if I may have hyperacusis, because obviously I'm more disturbed by the noise than others here. Maybe it's because everyone else around here has/had families and kids, so they're more used to it? Due to my various illnesses, I cannot tolerate noise and stress very well, and I have to admit that I'm feeling really burnt out after this horrible weekend. And it's still five and a half week to go until school starts.

Sorry, guess I just had to vent.

[Karen]

Oh, dear. Would noise-cancelling headphones help you at all?

[Kirsten]

Oh, dear. Would noise-cancelling headphones help you at all?

I was thinking about it... I tried ear plugs, but due to neurodermatitis inside my ears, they are not such a great option. Sometimes I use them, though, but they're itching.

[Freedom]

What about a "white noise" machine?

http://www.amazon.com/Marpac-SleepMa.../dp/B000KUHFGM

Obviously you'd have to find one in your country, but may be worth it!

[Kirsten]

What about a "white noise" machine?

http://www.amazon.com/Marpac-SleepMa.../dp/B000KUHFGM

Obviously you'd have to find one in your country, but may be worth it!

Interesting. Never heard about those things, but maybe it's worth a try... Will do some research... Thanks!

[Catty1]

Hopefully you have talked to the uncle and had him go with you to talk to the boy's mother. She cannot know how sick this is making you.

Is there another place in the same building you can move into?

That boy has hyper-something! Surely it is bothering other people too?

[Kirsten]

Hopefully you have talked to the uncle and had him go with you to talk to the boy's mother. She cannot know how sick this is making you.

Is there another place in the same building you can move into?

No, I cannot move somewhere else. I have talked to his uncle and he has talked to the boy yesterday, but was of course only referring to the noise he made during the night. We'll see if that helps. He also gave me his mother's phone number today so I can call her the next time. But during the day time, I have to tolerate the noise, there's no other way.

[Lizzie]

I can sympathize also, and to some degree empathize.

I have excellent hearing, and I've embarrassed a few doctors by telling them what they discussed in the hallway. I love loud rock music but could never go to a rock concert because it would be painful, it has to be to my sense of loudness.

I love, and need silence - complete and utter silence with not even the sound of wind or rain. I relax totally in silence. However, I can fall asleep with a movie running and the cats running around knocking things over. But those are my personal sounds and I'm controlling them - well, not the cats' behavior but they are my cats and it's my choice to have them.

I loathe the summer weekend noises of lawnmowers, blowers, power washers, and people who believe you should enjoy whatever music they are playing. I have to put on a movie, though I don't watch it, so it is my noise I'm hearing rather than other people's.

I live in the suburbs and it's not really a loud neighborhood but there is a small airport and Boeing plant a few miles away from me. When I moved in 27 years ago, they didn't test planes at night and a small plane going overhead was very rare. Now my Saturdays are punctuated with plane after plane going over, commuters planes on weekdays, and planes being tested at night - those roars really travel on the night air.

A white noise machine might be just what you need because the sound will be something you control and you will get used to it, so not notice it in time.