3. Sensitivity to Sudden or Loud Noises
People who have sensory processing disorder will commonly display a very high sensitivity to sudden or loud noises, and seem to overreact to some sounds that nobody else would have noticed or found an offensive sound. Some of these sounds can include dishes clanging together, cutlery against plates while people are eating, doors slamming, people chewing, lawnmowers, vacuum cleaners and it can even extend to certain frequencies or voices.
To someone with a sensory processing disorder, sudden, loud or repetitive noises are more startling than they might be to anyone else, and repetitive noises that others might not have noticed are impossible to ignore – and this can make everything around them seem like complete sensory overload.
People with sensory processing disorder will avoid loud places and crowds for this reason, and overreact when people raise their voice.
Epilepsy is another related health condition, of which “startle epilepsy” is a subtype that can cause seizures when loud, sudden sounds are experienced.