Cant stand to work without listening to something

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I wondered if this is a known symptom of ASD or if others can relate to this. Or maybe it is an ADD thing.

I cannot stand to work (whether it is working at a desk as a QA engineer, or whether it is putting up insulation in the basement, doesn't matter) without listening to something on some headphones or speakers. It can be the radio or music, but I always wish it to be something interesting and engaging.(tv shows, talk radio, radio dramas, stand up comedy, etc.)

It is like my brain has an obsession with needing to do 2 things at once, even though it is counterproductive. I will often put on something on Youtube, or a tv show on Hulu and then minimize the window so I don't see it, and then put on headphones. If I do not do this I feel like I can't work. I try to just ignore the impulse and be more productive, but it is very hard to resist doing it.

I'm the opposite. I can listen to music/tv if the other thing I'm doing doesn't require thinking (cooking/cleaning)

But if I'm on this forum, or working, or anything that requires brain activity, I must have complete silence.

I can't read/think with any sound

I don't think that this is specific ASD or ADHD thing.
Many people have this trait of listening to things while doing something else.
But this trait may be particularly strong for you or more common on spectrum.
I also like to listen to things while doing things, although when I am focused on the main task, I can't hear what I am listening to anymore, and that is normal for most people.

This sometimes happens to me too. It's strange because most of the time I am completely unable to focus unless there is complete silence, but then there are those times when it's impossible for me to focus without the TV on or something.

I'm the same way. I get distracted by everything around me at work if I don't have music playing in my headphones. I work a LOT better when I have music to block out the sounds around me. Luckily my boss lets me use them even though technically, we're not supposed to have them on. One of my big concerns is that something will happen and they start enforcing that rule. That'd be something I'd consider looking for another job over.

b edward - I can't sleep without a consistent background noise. It is very normal to require background noise to function, even if it is music, which I love to listen to, especially if you are used to it.