Paper + Metal + Noise = HELL!! !

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My two biggest tactile sensory problems since I can remember (going back to first grade at least) are paper and metal.

My biggest sensory issue of all is noise.

So imagine me at a restaurant. Not only is it noise chaos, it's metal silverware wrapped in paper napkins! And while this probably sounds quite simple and even idiotic to the casual non-autistic observer, it is a nightmare for me. In fact, I struggle deeply even sitting here typing about it, hours removed from the situation!

Then I have another problem. I had to make out ten invitations for my daughter's birthday party. PAPER PAPER PAPER, do you know how much paper I had to touch!??! I can't get the sensation to leave my fingertips and I have to keep dragging my fingers across the polished tabletop and rubbing them fiercely on my hoodie...to try to replace the sensory stress from touching the paper.

Yes. Just one more reason school was hell.

As for the metal problem, I eat with plastic utensils. If it were up to me, we would now have metal in the house at all. If I hear someone's teeth hit the metal, I go nuts - it sends a vibration through me i cannot even describe.

Okay, so before I go totally over the edge...anyone else? lol

not so muchme
Sounds like the old "fingers over a blackboard"thing!! !! !! !! !

SAME HERE! I was never quite as bad as you, and am better now BUT..... On the plane yesterday, **I** was the one holding my ears. And did anyone else notice the blinking lights?

Now you've done it! I cannot get that image out of my mind now.......MENTAL SCREAM. I was just getting ready for bed too. Make it stop!
Incidentally, about metal: For unknown reasons, metal elicits strong sexual arousal for me. I always feel/sense metal when having sex. I suppose that's very peculiar. Metal coat hangers are a real turn-on. Ok...nevermind. Waaaay too personal.

I'm the opposite. I love the feeling of metal. Whenever I feel a material I don't like (like my parent's couch), I cancel it out by touching metal. However, the teeth scraping on utensils really gets to me too. It's always very distressing when my Mom scrapes her teeth on her fork. Or scrapes her fork against her plate. That's bad too.

sex + coat hangers??? . Almost lost my dinner there, and I'm a guy.

The sound of crockery (plates and bowls) at close quarters really hurts my ears and makes them go hot.

Whenever I empty the dishwasher I am wincing and covering my ears.

Trouble is I have to put the plates etc in the cupboards and I like them stacked a particular way.

It's something which can send me over the edge if I don't do it carefully.

I'm always gald when it's over.

Wow, I learn something aspie new every day! Now it makes sense to me why I could never stand (and still can't) when someone else (but especially me) rubs their hand (or anything) on carpet. It's like the fingernail/blackboard thing for me (though THAT is fine and doesn't bother me in the slightest), though the feel (as well as the sound) of carpet-rubbing gives me the shivers. I've never been exposed to that feeling/sound for too long, but I imagine it would be like Chinese water torture if someone made me rub my hand on carpet for any length of time. (Just THINKING about it makes me clench my fists!) Khhllllllllrrggggrrrrrrrrrfff......

Just thought of another one--my younger brother eating bananas--ack! Couldn't STAND the mushy chewy sound. But that could just be because it was my brother.

Last edited by affengeil on 02 Oct 2007, 1:41 am, edited 1 time in total.

White noise derails me entirely.

I hate the sound of styrofoam rubbing against something, and the feel of peaches, especially against my tongue.

Graphite on paper
markers on paper
but the worst noise in the world people talking
not 1 or even a group 4 or 5 but a cafeteria or that certain someone behind you that will not shut up and every time you start to understand something he makes you lose your train of thought

(if this is no a run on i do not know what is i suck at writing)

AAAH! Yes, pretty much anything on paper (including paper on paper, or cardboard rubbing against itself) unnerves me.

Styrofoam is bad. I don't like it when I have to take a new computer or monitor out of the box and it's packed with styrofoam. Styrofoam makes a terrible noise.

I think the worst feeling thing is pine sap. It's so hard to get off your skin and it feels terrible.

Funny! Had never thought that was a sensory issue...My mom is very picky and has a metal scoop in the ice bucket in the freezer...I can't even open the refrigerator without it driving me nuts...Also, if I am wearing sandals and a little sand/dirt gets underneath and I walk on tile, the noise it makes, that nobody else can hear, drives me crazy...Last weekend I had to stop, take my shoes off and my husband (he's great) actually cleaned the bottoms for me because I couldn't even do that without it driving me nuts...