What Do Your Significant Others Think About Noise? Did They Get More Sensitive to Noise?

[Juan]

Several of my ex-girlfriends said that they were getting more sensitive to noise after just learning about hyperacusis, which would point to a psychological role on this condition. They did not get hyperacusis but were more aware of noise around and the decibel levels.

What do you think of this? What is the reaction of your couple to noise?

 

[Tybs]

Can't say anything about SO's in my case, but some of my family members have become a bit more wary of sounds in general since my tinnitus came up. Eventually I chose to mention it a lot less, since I got a bit worried they would start actively searching for sounds when in silence.

No real anxiety reports in the end though, so far they're doing fine.

 

[iAzra]

It is not psychological, it is habitual.
Like, I am most of the time in the house, when I go near the cars or smokers, the smell is so hard for me, not because I have told myself that but because I got used to not having that around and my body get used to smoke-free air.

Like if you are in the dark and then come out to the daylight your eyes hurt. No psychological issues here, only biological.

And to answer your question, yes, my BF got more sensitive to the sounds too cause we live in a very, very quiet environment and don't go out as much. He can go wherever and do whatever but he comments that it is way too loud etc.

 

[Juan]

It is not psychological, it is habitual.
Like, I am most of the time in the house, when I go near the cars or smokers, the smell is so hard for me, not because I have told myself that but because I got used to not having that around and my body get used to smoke-free air.

Like if you are in the dark and then come out to the daylight your eyes hurt. No psychological issues here, only biological.

And to answer your question, yes, my BF got more sensitive to the sounds too cause we live in a very, very quiet environment and don't go out as much. He can go wherever and do whatever but he comments that it is way too loud etc.

I can understand that, but in the case of my ex-girlfriend she commuted to work in the city every day. Took trains, the metro, walked around the city, so I don't understand how someone can become more sensitive just because they live in a quiet apartment, if half the day they spend around traffic and public transport.

As for me, I travelled the path from almost total seclusion at home to having a more or less normal life, noisy job, I take trains and planes sometimes (although most of the time I drive in a very quiet environment), sometimes I can go to a restaurant, or to have coffee (mostly on terraces, not inside), but anyway this is an improvement.. and the point is my job is noisy, so this would dismiss the theory that you can habituate to hyperacusis or tinnitus and that a "normal" environment helps habituation.

Just to be more clear, I have been able to tolerate a more noisy environment because I have lost hearing due to my hyperacusis and the accidental noise exposures derived from "habituation" to normal situations..