Sensory sensitivities.

Early this evening, I was sitting on the train station platform*, reading my book, when the train screamed into the station. I, being a sensible human, and protective of my hearing, stuck my fingers in my ears until the screaming stopped (possibly squealing is a more accurate term. It is high pitched and horrendously unpleasant and LOUD. It has something to do with the tunnel being slightly curved and the train braking, and something else; it isn't an every train situation, but an almost all).

As far as I could see, I was the only person with fingers in ears. Sometimes there are one or two others. But never many. I can thus deduce that this makes me weird. But I don't get the why -- are the others not experiencing it as horrendous? Are they just 'ho hum, horrid loud noise, time to get getting on the train'? I fail to believe that they all have high frequency hearing loss.

I know I'm a bit reactive on a number of sensory axes. There are a whole range of touch things that I perceive as wrong, such as velvet. I can smell things that aren't right (in particular, mildew) when no-one else can (so I'm the family go to on 'does this smell okay to you'). With migraines, I'm incredibly sensitive in general, but that is to be expected.

But why are these people not protecting their hearing?

* being the only one doing this. Everyone else was standing. The train was 7 minutes away when I got there. I wasn't standing that long, not when the platform is clean enough.

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Back before COVID, I used to carry ear defenders/ear muffs with me so that I didn't get nasty headaches from

a) the bells at train crossings

b) crying/screaming babies on the train.

https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B07S9FXKZQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

I wear earplugs on the subway except when I forget, in which case I stick my fingers in my ears.
Yesterday there was a kid quietly screaming (if that makes any sense - she wasn't really overwhelming the noise of the train) when the train was screeching. Nobody in our end of the car seemed to find it an unreasonable response.
I don't own earbuds for music, but they are pretty common, and would make fingers in ears impossible, I expect.

They have sound-cancelling earbuds which are apparently good at reducing unpleasant external noises.

I used to stick my fingers in my ears! I have sensitive hearing.

I wonder (speculation) if some of those people are more worried about ~looking weird~ (I don't think it's weird, but they might!) than about losing their hearing. Alongside the ones who have lost high-frequency hearing...

I definitely have middle aged hearing now, sadly. But when the trains do come screeching into the underground stations I put my fingers in my ears because its so unpleasant.

I am also happy to sit on the platform if I'm wearing black pants. Though I prefer to find a seat if possible, less far to get up :)

Various possibilities include:

* It doesn't bother them because living in modern society has damaged their hearing. Since urban life is very loud, this is quite common.

* It doesn't bother them because they are not fully in their bodies. As modern life is often miserable, this is common.

* It doesn't bother them because they have sensibly worn earplugs into a noisy environment, which are often unobtrusive.

* It bothers them, but they don't respond because because they were punished for it. Common among people with supersenses or neurodiverse differences.

* It bothers them, but they choose not to respond because they are worried about what people will think.

* It bothers them, but they refuse to show weakness out of machisimo.

Me, I don't give a fuck what people think. I cover my ears. And things like sirens are still too loud. I can hear owls flying and sometimes bats squeaking or pinging.

There are certainly times when PAs seem turned up a bit loud (airplanes, whatever) and I'm the only one I notice plugging my ears as the talking continues.

The velvet thing (and some other touch, smell, food texture issues) for me is the autisms. But I don't know, I don't cover my ears when I hear fireworks either. Screeching noises do suck though. It's possible people associate the gesture with children -- I kind of do (but am not judging at all!) -- and don't want to be seen that way?

Yup, I have to do that frequently, too. At the train station or when outdoors as a cyclist or pedestrian when an ambulance or police with sirens go by. I rarely or never see anyone else doing this but I wonder the same thing as you do! Some of the older folks I suppose can no longer hear the high pitched screeching that bothers me the most but the younger ones? Hm.

Sensory sensitivities.

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