Noise tends to be a paradox with ADHD because we might love it in specific circumstances, but it can also easily overstimulate us.
Noise and ADHD have a love-hate relationship—some ADHDers need background noise to focus, while others feel completely overwhelmed by it. This comes down to how ADHD brains process sensory input and regulate attention.
ADHDers don’t just hear noise—we experience it.
We might face parallels like...
Listening to loud music, but being annoyed by someone else's music
Making repetitive and sometimes annoying noises for fun, but being irritated by other people or objects making repetitive sounds like a clock ticking
Needing background noise to focus, but being unable to concentrate if it's the wrong kind of noise
ADHD brains often lack the ability to tune out background noise, making every sound compete for our attention. Too much noise can trigger sensory overload, leading to irritability, anxiety, or shutdown mode.
Yet at the same time for many ADHDers, silence feels uncomfortable. We might find that we need some level of background sounds to stay engaged, as complete silence can be distracting or unsettling. Certain sounds can trigger emotional responses, leading to frustration, agitation, or even panic.
Why Do We Hate It?
Misophonia (intense negative responses to certain sounds) is linked to the amygdala, which also stores memories, feelings, and fight or flight response.
This explains why we can handle the noises we like but can't stand ones we have negative history with. Remember that we don't have a filter to ignore the sounds that bother us, leaving us paralyzed in aggravation!
Signs Noise is Overwhelming Your ADHD Brain
🔇 You feel anxious, irritated, or physically tense in noisy environments.
🔇 You can't concentrate because every sound feels equally important.
🔇 You struggle in crowded places (restaurants, malls, open offices).
🔇 Certain noises make you angry, anxious, or exhausted (e.g., chewing, ticking, loud conversations).
Why Do We Love It?
We also love making weird noises or copying sounds. (Echolalia) It feels like it scratches that ‘hard to reach’ spot of our brains.
However we can also find ourselves mimicking noises at inappropriate times, like the way someone says a word with their accent or a distant noise that distracted us from the situation at hand.
What Can We Do About It?
Harness Sound for focus Our love for noise can help us focus better when we…
Use white noise to block out distractions
Use themed music to create an engaging atmosphere (Café/office ambience, fantasy ambience, movie soundtracks, etc)
Instrumental Music – lo-fi, classical, electronic
Binaural beats & brown noise
Repetitive or predictable sounds like rain, fans, or waves
For Sound Sensitivity
Keep earplugs within reach (Use LOOPXBROOKE10 for 10% off Loop Earplugs)
Bose QuietComfort Headphones
Have a quiet place in mind that you can escape to (Remember that bathrooms with fans can help for white noise)
I Hear You ;)
Coach Brooke
