Autism & hypersensitive hearing...problems with hand-dry

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Hi,

Wanted to see if anyone could relate to this as it's a huge issue for my hypersensitive hearing, even if I wear ear plugs. Would be good to know I'm not alone, especially as some people are just plain mean about it, and it's not like I go around demanding all hand dryers should be banned or anything, I'm just being honest about my experience.

By chance/luck, I got in contact with a researcher who is looking at the difficulties that the newer hand dryers that you get in public toilets / rest rooms are having on people with hypersensitive hearing.

In particular, it's the newer dryers that are supposed to be extra-powerful and give quick and efficient drying and be better for the environment, such as the Dyson hand dryers.

We got talking about it because he knows about my hypersensitive hearing and the problems and excruciating pain it can cause me, so wondered if any other people on the spectrum have found that these dryers may trigger sensory issues.

He's worked with people with non-autism related hearing sensitivities, such as hyperacusis and tinnitus, and some of them have to avoid using certain public toilets now as the sound of these new dryers is just far too painful for them.

Please do let me know your experiences, it would be good to know I'm not alone and if you have any info you think the researcher would find useful or just want to share your experience, please do let me know.

I've recently noticed that some hand dryers are very difficult to tolerate. I went to the drive-in with my sister's family this past summer, and the bathrooms had these dryers that were loud enough to shut off my brain. I don't recall (from looking up Dyson dryers) that the dryers were made by Dyson or were even particularly new, but they sounded like a jet engine taking off.

I've had trouble with some other hand dryers as well over the past year or so, but not nearly as bad. I don't recall them being a problem before.

Some public toilets flush SO fiercely that the sound of it scares me half to death. Not the exact same thing as you mentioned, but I do understand.

I get this too, but it's not scary, it just feels like someone's stabbing an icepick into my brain. There's one toilet at my therapist's office that - if I use it - I have to remember to cover my ears immediately after flushing or it's going to hurt.

The toilets at Wal-Mart are autoflush and are this bad as well.

I can't stand those hand dryers and it amazes me whenever I see people nonchalantly using them like the sound is nothing. It's very painful for me. I won't go in restrooms that have them unless it's absolutely necessary and if someone uses the dryer while I'm in there, I plug my ears. I don't care if I look like an idiot.

I am sorry for anyone who finds those sounds trigger them.

Oddly, I have the reverse problem. I look forward to loud hand-dryer sounds in public toilets because they block out many other sounds that I do react to.

Most people on the spectrum react to loud, sudden, or high-pitched sounds. Some on the spectrum (and many not on it) react to softer repetitive sounds, including chewing, drinking, sniffing ... and sometimes the sounds of people using toilets. The hand-dryers help cover up the sounds of other people using the toilets. Not sure how loud I would tolerate it, but probably a lot if it successfully masks the other sounds.

Some react to both loud noises (hyperacusis) and soft noises (misophonia).

I use fans to drown out a lot of soft/quiet noises in my bedroom, although on rare occasions I can get to the point where they're too loud.

I have that same issue. If I see a hand dryer instead of paper towels, I just wipe my hands on my pant legs.

My mum said that when I was 2 years old I used to scream and cry in public toilets when somebody turned the handdryer on. I grew out of it though.

My autistic brother doesnt like handdryers. But he doesn't really make a fuss. He just wahses his hands then runs straight out the door before anyone turns the handdryer on.

The main toilets in the main block of my university only have hand dryers so I have to go to the toilet furthest away from the hand dryers and when I leave I don't even wash my hands, I just run out because of the painful noise. I remember once I nearly had a meltdown in Wimbledon because they had a Dyson hand-drier.

I have got problems with my hands being too dry, especially in summer, so I keep washing my hands, even though I know it is not good for you. I just can't stand the moisturizing creams etc.

I also have problems with hearing, for instance I cannot stand our hoover, which is a great annoiance for my housemates, and me of course as well. Now i finally have found earpluggs that work to the extend that I do not have to walk a mile to stop hearing the hoover everytime someone turnes it on.

I also can hear electricity streaming in chargers, either for mobile phones or laptops, and I cannot sleep because of this. No one believes me though, which is even more frustrating.

Why do they have to make those new auto-flushing toilets so loud? It's terrifying to me.

As for the hand-dryers, I don't mind those very much. Mostly because I like the warm pressure they give off.

Same here.

I have been around those Dryers because I think the San Diego Convention Center has those what I have done during ComicCon I would eaither have my Noise Cancelling Headphones"earbuds" and the Music turned up to were I expected the loud music or I will have another set of earbud that are mainly for Bass and it filters out most of the hand Dryer Noise to make it barely decent.

I elect to wipe my hands on my clothes rather than use one of those dreadful things.

I must look ridiculous when I vacuum, I cover both ears with my left shoulder and hand

Is it a high-pitched whine? I hear that as soon as I plug a charger in.


Also, being a drummer I heard about custom ear plugs that block out certain ranges of sound. They're useful for blocking out the sound of drums without silencing everyone around you, but since I haven't tried them I usually resort to flexing something in my inner ear (it might even be in my jaw) that makes it so I can only hear the blood rushing around.