overly sensitive hearing?

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Does anyone else have really sensitive hearing? All noises are overly loud and mind numbing, causing my to head pound and create ringing. Im wondering if this is an aspie trait? Whenever I go outside i feel like im going to pass out because of the noise and everything is always too loud. peoples voices, general noises, Im always jumping, scared of motorbikes and bangs and clangs of any sound, does anyone know how to cope with this?

Buy musicians' ear plugs. I have an Etymotic pair that dampens only 12 db and still allows you to hear speech frequencies. I actually hear people better while wearing these because their voices aren't contending with all the other noise. They're not perfect, but they have really given me some peace. In super loud situations, I use 32 db or higher, but I have a harder time hearing speech. Seriously, invest in some ear plugs. Make sure you get a pair with a carrying case!

I'm not. But sometimes if it gets too loud, I hear crackling, for a lack of a better word.

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I have the same problem; environmental sounds can become overwhelming, even those that aren't loud, just constant. I have standard foam earplugs that I carry with me, and, though I don't know precisely how much noise they cut out, I've been in situations where the ambient volume was easily 90-100 DB and they reduced the sound enough for me to tolerate it for at least two hours, they were just off the shelf at Wal Mart and I would have gone crazy a long time ago without them.

have serious noise filtering issues. If there is any kind of background noise going on then I am going to struggle to hear you

Don't skimp on the earplugs. Get custom-made ones fitted to your ears. Yes, they are expensive, but they generally last a long time and conventional earplugs can give you headaches because they do not allow air to move between your eardrums and the outside. You can also change the filters according to your needs and the outside noise.

It is the bane of my life. It is so frustrating and debilitating.

I have been using mouldable natural wax earplugs to sleep for years - available on ebay for £6.99, very effective and waterproof for swimming apparently - they cuts out a lot of noise. I also spent a small fortune on noise cancelling in- ear earphones which I plug into my phone and have quiet music playing whenever I am out with the dog or such like. I often just put them in during work if it gets too noisey; I don't plug them in, just use them to dull the noise whilst still being able to hear the phone if it should ring.

Certain sounds are worse than others for me; I can hear high pitched noises when most others cant and sounds like car alarms or house alarms drive me bonkers. I just don't seem to be able to block it out other than through the use of earplugs. I used to sit with my fingers in my ears every Thursday morning as the office fire alarm was tested, but now I have cleared it with my manager to put the earplugs in. If it keeps ringing then I will hear that and evacuate, but thankfully, the edge has gone off it.

As Aspendos says, it is often found in people on the spectrum, but it makes life very difficult and depressing for me a lot of the time.

i do as well, although i am largely desentized to common sounds like fridges, highway rumble and heating radiators.
i also always carry a box with 15 dB musicians earbuds with me, but i prefer to not use them, i'm afraid of developing a dependance.
aside from those, i also have 20 and 25 foam plugs for if it's really too bad or for sleeping (dont want to risk losing the expencive ones)

as gretchyn said: in many places it's easier to hear others with the musician plugs in

i must wear noise reduction earmuffs.

I have sensitive hearing. I don't cope well with it any more. Years ago, it never used to bother me.

I have some Etymotic ear plugs which reduce the noise to a more comfortable level, but the plugs themselves can get uncomfortable after a while.

I also have the Etymotic ER6i noise isolating earphones which I use with my Walkman. These are great. They've had quite heavy use over the 3 years that I've had them, and I've had to repair them, but they are repairable if you don't mind having a bit of patience.

I live near a busy road so car noise is a particular problem for me.

I have HFA, PTSD, and sensitive hearing. Some sounds make me jump out of my skin. When i have insomnia, i can hear the whole suburb around me waking up, radios, fridges opening, cars starting, tvs etc. My solution to the problem of sensitive hearing was to teach myself the art of sound production. I am now a kick arse sound engineer.

Thanks so much for your feedback and advice. It helps to know Im not alone. I will for sure look into some good ear plugs and see how it goes