Why Noises Feel Louder (and More Annoying) When You Have ADHD

Some kids say classroom sounds make them feel angry or upset. Others feel pain from things like a school bell or people chewing. If you have ADHD, this might sound familiar.

You may react to sounds more than others. That’s because ADHD can affect how your brain handles noise. It doesn’t filter sounds well, and it turns up the volume on things that should feel normal. This can lead to stress, distraction, or even fear.

What causes this? And why does it happen more in ADHD?

In this article, you’ll learn why noise feels louder and more annoying when you have ADHD—and what that means for your brain and daily life.

Why Noises Seem “Louder” to ADHD Minds

Let’s take a closer look at why sounds seem “louder” to ADHD minds, and what researchers say about how the ADHD brain reacts to noise.

More Kids with ADHD Are Sensitive to Sound

Children with ADHD often say that sounds bother them more than they should. In a 2020 study, researchers tested 30 children with ADHD and 30 children without. They found that 36.7% of the children with ADHD had hyperacusis—meaning they were overly sensitive to sound. But in the group without ADHD, only 13.3% had the same issue.

The team used both a questionnaire for parents and interviews with children to find out how sensitive the kids were. Children with ADHD often said that sounds like classroom noise, school bells, or screaming made them feel annoyed or even hurt. Some kids covered their ears, tried to run away, or said “It hurts.” These reactions happened more often in the ADHD group than in the others.

Why does this happen? One answer may lie in how the brain processes sound. People with hyperacusis often show hyperactivity in brain areas that control hearing and emotions. These brain pathways turn up the “volume” on normal sounds. It’s like the brain’s sound system has a broken volume control—it keeps blasting even soft noises.

This “turned-up” system, known as central gain, means the brain reacts more to every sound. That could explain why a simple school bell might feel painful to a child with ADHD.

Trouble Filtering Sounds Out

Another big reason is that people with ADHD may have problems filtering sounds. Researchers studied adults with ADHD using a brain test called the P50 suppression task. This test checks how well the brain blocks out repeated or unnecessary sounds. Adults with ADHD had weaker P50 suppression, meaning their brains let in too much sound. They also scored higher on a test called the Sensory Gating Inventory, showing they often felt overwhelmed by noise.

This overload may cause children—or even adults—to feel anxious, distracted, or upset in noisy places.

Have you ever sat in a classroom and couldn’t focus because of tapping, coughing, or chairs squeaking? If so, you may have experienced what many with ADHD feel every day.

Sensory Overload and ADHD

These reactions point to Sensory Over-Responsivity (SOR), a pattern that research has linked to deeper differences in how their brains process sensory input.

According to a study, children with ADHD scored significantly lower than typically developing peers in 11 out of 14 sections of the Sensory Profile, a tool used to measure responses to sensory experiences. The study also found challenges in visual, tactile, and multisensory processing, as well as emotional and social responses, pointing to a broad sensory processing difficulty in children with ADHD.

Why do certain sounds or sensations lead to such intense emotional reactions in some children? One explanation may lie in how sensory and emotional brain systems connect. One study found that ADHD children showed higher sensory responsiveness than controls based on electrodermal reactivity, suggesting their nervous systems are more reactive to sensory input. This heightened sensitivity is often tied to the limbic system—an area involved in mood and emotional regulation.

Further supporting this, studies show that children with ADHD displayed significantly different sensory response patterns, such as lower scores on Sensation Avoiding and Emotionally Reactive scales. In the same study above, children with higher anxiety or affective disorder scores on the CBCL also scored lower in areas like touch and auditory processing. These findings suggest a clear connection between sensory sensitivity and emotional challenges in ADHD.

So, when a child with ADHD lashes out over a sudden noise or avoids touch, it could be their brain’s intense way of reacting to a world that feels too loud, too fast, and too much.

The Link to Misophonia

There’s another condition called misophonia that also affects how people react to sounds. In misophonia, certain sounds—like chewing, breathing, or tapping—cause anger, disgust, or panic. Misophonia may happen more often in people with ADHD.

One large study showed that 12% of people with misophonia also had ADHD. Another study from 2020 showed about 5% of people with misophonia had ADHD.

So what’s happening? Experts think misophonia might be a type of auditory overreaction caused by trouble processing sound. That’s something many people with ADHD already struggle with.

Real Experiences with Sound Sensitivity in ADHD

Many Reddit users with ADHD shared that everyday sounds often feel louder, sharper, and more overwhelming than they should.

According to nellie6712, even normal noises like a TV that's slightly too loud or someone vacuuming can trigger major discomfort and lead to strong irritability. Torschlusspanik_88 added that overlapping sounds—like a TV playing while someone talks and phone audio plays at the same time—can become so unbearable it “drives [them] crazy.” This intense sensitivity wasn’t rare either. A large number of users upvoted similar stories, with Objective_Bunch_3698 and u/matticusbellius both pointing to chewing sounds as especially irritating.

Interestingly, this reaction to sound doesn’t only happen when noises are loud. julesverne6 said they can get irritated even by softer noises and sometimes describe them as physically painful, especially when tired.

According to Thislexxtick, sensitivity increased dramatically when their ADHD medication (methylphenidate) wore off. They said the sound sensitivity became “unbearable,” forcing them to change medications despite its benefits. This connection between medication timing and noise sensitivity shows that internal brain regulation might play a key role in how people with ADHD process sound.

Some users shared a twist to the experience. According to OR-HM-MA91, even though they feel deeply stressed by loud noise, they often speak very loudly themselves without noticing. Why? taylor914 explained that they hear everything at the same volume—air conditioners, doors creaking, distant voices. Because of that, their own voice naturally gets louder to “compete” with all the background noise. This same idea was supported by Puzzleheaded-Ad-379, who said that mechanical or sudden sounds were especially hard to handle, yet they didn’t realize they were shouting until someone pointed it out. These experiences show that sound sensitivity in ADHD can be both external (hearing) and internal (voice control), creating a confusing mix that many users struggle to manage daily.

Strategies for Managing Loud and Annoying Sounds with ADHD

Here are some strategies that can help you manage loud and annoying sounds:

Use Sensory Tools to Reduce Noise Impact

When sounds feel unbearable, small tools can help. Noise-canceling headphones and earplugs are simple but powerful ways to block out overwhelming sounds. These tools help protect your brain from becoming overstimulated, especially in busy places like grocery stores or public transport.

For example, you might wear loop earplugs during a crowded school assembly or use over-ear noise-canceling headphones while doing homework in a noisy house. For many with ADHD, these aids aren’t just helpful—they’re necessary for focus and calm.

Identify and Avoid Triggers

Recognizing what sounds bother you is an important first step. Tuning into your surroundings to pinpoint the sounds that set off your discomfort can help you plan ahead. These might be things like a humming fan, the tapping of a pencil, or even someone chewing loudly. Once you know your triggers, you can take steps to reduce your exposure.

For example, if the sound of clinking dishes in a cafeteria drives you up the wall, you could choose to sit in a quieter corner or bring noise-dampening earbuds with you.

Or if the hallway at school is too loud during class changes, ask to leave class a few minutes early to avoid the rush.

Create a Calm Environment

Modifying your space can lower stress from sound.

Experts recommend a full-body approach to calming hypersensitivity—this means including regular exercise, a healthy diet, and calming activities such as yoga and meditation. These habits help build a strong foundation for handling noise better.

environment, you can use soft lighting, comfortable textures, and quiet zones to create a peaceful setting where your brain can relax.

For instance, you might set up a calm-down corner in your room with pillows, a weighted blanket, and a small fan for white noise. Or use a white noise machine while falling asleep to block out barking dogs or traffic noise.

Address Each Sensitivity Directly

Rather than treating all sensory issues the same, each one should be handled separately. For sound, that might mean asking for the TV or radio to be turned down, or choosing a quieter table at a restaurant.

If you're in a classroom and someone's tapping their pen repeatedly, you could politely ask them to stop—or ask the teacher if you can move seats. If the noise continues to be too much, taking a break or moving to a calmer space is not only okay—it’s healthy.

At a birthday party, for example, stepping outside for a few minutes of quiet can help reset your brain.

Final Words

For many, this intense sensitivity affects emotions, focus, and how they interact with the world. Misophonia and sensory overload can make things worse.

But with the right strategies—like using noise-blocking tools, adjusting your environment, and recognizing triggers—daily life becomes more manageable

If certain sounds bother you more than they seem to bother others, there’s a real reason for it. And there are real ways to make it easier.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is sound sensitivity the same for everyone?

Nope! Some people feel pain (hyperacusis), others get angry or anxious (misophonia), and some just get really distracted (hypersensitivity).

What is misophonia?

Misophonia is when certain sounds—like slurping or chewing—cause strong feelings of anger or disgust. Even if you know it’s not logical, it still feels overwhelming.

Can ADHD cause sound sensitivity?

Not directly, but it’s very common alongside ADHD. It may also show up with conditions like autism or sensory processing disorder.

What if someone’s sound is triggering me?

If possible, step away or use headphones. It’s okay to remove yourself from the situation instead of reacting in a way you’ll regret.