Auditory sensitivity and work

Post Reply New Topic

I've not shared that I'm Aspie at any job.

I've been in current position since May of this year and have enjoyed it... until today.

I was told that I was going to lose my office. I will be expected to somehow cram into a space with 5 other people. That, however, is not the biggest problem. The space I will be sharing is seperated from two very noisy, social/work areas by only partial height walls. The acoustics are terrible for me, and the sensory overload is trying when in there for even less than 5 minutes.

I hate to give up the job, but know myself well enough that I will fail in that environment. Very sad about the whole thing.

I'm trying to come up with some reason I can present to upper management why I should retain my current space without going into the sensory issues which would probably end my career anyway.

Ironically, I'm a therapist and one of my specialties is helping people with sensory issues. Go figure.

Any ideas!

I probably have nothing helpful to say and I apologize in advance for that. I'm a fellow sufferer so I'm trying to think of what I would do. Auditory challenges lock me up tight.

This environment doesn't sound like it would be good for anybody.

If you *know* this is going to be a disaster and you absolutely will not be able to function, you have nothing to lose by "expressing your concerns." And that's how I'd phrase it. You know the particulars better than I do, but maybe you could start by going after this is a generic way -- concern for everyone's productivity / privacy / efficiency / sanity. If that doesn't move things in the right direction, then make it about you. You don't have to disclose AS, but disclosing auditory issues is appropriate. ("I really function best in an environment where... like the one I've been in for the past few months.")

Alternatively, I suppose you could disclose AS and hope for the best under "reasonable accommodation."

Good luck.