What Does Overstimulation Sound Like To Someone With Autism? (PLEASE WATCH THIS WITH HEADPHONES ON)

This was mainly made to show my mom. Ha ha. So please remember I am just trying to show (to my mom) what it's like for me to be in a crowded room and why it's always been so hard for me to focus.
If this in ANY way helps others... feel free to share. But mainly... I hope this explains things, Mom.
♥
#autism #bensound
Artist, Dad, & Hobbit
LIVE EVERY M/W/F AT 9AM CST
ssavaart.com

[@RMX-ART]

As someone with autism this is amazing Scott

[@eranking1966]

I am also autistic and I agree with you

[@ssavaart]

Thank you! ♥

[@marsdiep1976]

Hear, hear!

[@LadyMajolish]

Agreed, also from a Autistic Person.

[@Jaspertherateater]

Another autistic person here I agree

[@ssavaart]

Does anyone else unintentionally focus on the texting in the left ear? It’s like it gets louder and louder 😅

[@Aphrodites-strangest-kid]

I hear it

[@StandAloneSoul]

I agree that it seems to get louder and kind of more intense/intrusive.

[@eowynmoonlight]

Yea... It's really intense because the sound is higher and even doesn't fit with the talking around. It stands out a lot

[@imjustawanderer09]

Yeah but it's in my right ear, it is really intense it made me cringe. I heard it more than the girl talking...

[@angelaaskins9419]

Certain people's voices make my left eardrum vibrate, it feels really weird. One of them is my youngest son, have to make sure he sits to my right.

[@loriextraordinary]

As someone with an autistic cousin, he said that it was painfully accurate. Thanks, Scott!

[@K0NG]

My cousin has bowel cancer so I know what that feels like 🙏🙏🙏

[@haldouglas4773]

​@@K0NGamazing, not only did you miss the point, you completely demolished a separate building entirely.

[@urlocalautistic]

@@haldouglas4773fr

[@columbinafan]

@@K0NG h u h.

[@Electrostatic_Fusion]

​@@haldouglas4773 😂

[@lolgacha3217]

I'm neurotypical and you captured our experience totally right. We are able to "blur" other noises that may not be as important and concentrate on the one thing we want to focus on. We don't usually experience auditory stimulations, at least not at the same level as an autistic person would. I have a couple of autistic friends and I really want to get a better insight on their experiences so that I can be help them when they need it. Videos such as this help a lot! Thank you for making this :)

[@skachor]

Your friends, autistic or otherwise, are so lucky to have someone as thoughtful as you in their lives.

[@lolgacha3217]

@@skachor omg thank you! You are so nice 😊 really just trying my best here hehe

[@my.fav.no..is.12.point.9]

this is jaw-dropping to me.

[@Eeeemomo]

Thank you for this! I wish more NT’s were like you :)

[@lolgacha3217]

@@Eeeemomo you are so kind thank you so much

[@frankiebgoode]

I have ADHD, and this is incredibly similar to how I hear things in a crowded restaurant. The only difference is that one of the conversations across the room, or behind me, will suddenly stand out more, or a person will say something that drags my attention away from whomever is speaking to me, or at the table. Also, loud noises like clanking dishes, or laughter will often make me double take, or jolt like I’m in a haunted house and someone just jumped out of a wall or something. And that doesn’t even take into consideration the random stuff I blurt out in response to the other conversations going on around me. It’s like my ears have a whirling radar effect and my impulse control is shot. I’m an overwhelmed mess trying to pretend that I’m normal and usually end up just feeling embarrassed and stressed.

[@arthurtaylor64]

EXACTY!! I also have ADHD and its the same for me, minus the replying to others conversations. It's such a struggle that I need earbuds or headphones, preferably with noise cancelation, just to go outside without every little sound bothering me.

[@thelocalshoop]

THIS!! its a weird blend of focusing in and out -- but this even happens in conversations in quiet places so that might just be me ;; also all the noises are why i straight up forget what im saying midway through talking, i either get distracted by some random noise/movement and forgot what i was doing, or have a random embarrassing memory pop in that makes me physically flinch. then ill get too focused on covering that up or just being plain embarrassed it that im not really prioritizing the conversation anymore aghh

[@Jypsie415]

Exactly 💯!! I have ADHD as well and crowds are a nightmare! Especially if I'm running late and have to try to find my friends/family in the crowd. It's just a jumble of colors and noise!

[@SherifTariq]

That’s exactly how I feel as well. I think I have some form of ADHD, but multiple doctors have diagnosed me as not autistic or ADHD. 🤷‍♂️ And yet, this is exactly what I go through. It’s frustrating.

[@sandylopez8048]

I get so tweeked I don't hear a thing from across my own table. Too busy looking at the way out. God bless our friends and families for understanding and knowing when it's time to go. ❤

[@LegXacy]

I wish I could show this to my coworkers who thinks adhd overstim isn’t real, I know there’s differences between adhd and autism but I resonate with this so much

[@awl5451]

Not only overstimulation, but understimulation too!! But i don't get how they think it isn't real, i have adhd and my brain tries to focus on everything at once and before i started meds walking my dog without earphones or playing pokemon go was a nightmare despite me living in a small(under 0,5k ppl) village, i heard every little rustle of the grasses and trees around me, birds chirping, airplanes flying by, dogs barking, and it's like everything at once is trying to pull my attention towards it so i feel like my brain is ripping at the seams, i was literally going INSANE without something engaging to focus on In a city it's even worse, cause if i'm overwhelmed by the sounds(even on meds they overstimulate me a lot) i can barely see around me fsr 😅 the more muffled the sounds(for example by earplugs) the BETTER i can actually see around me, it's kinda wild No matter what i'm doing i'm hearing everything that's happening around me at once, always. Tho if the voices get distorted my brain stops registering words, only that there are sounds coming from the person's mouth. When we still had older phones it made me nervous asf cause i had a hard time understanding others through the phone. In echoey halls i learned to quickly give up, i won't be understanding most of it even if the person has a microphone(which tends to distort the voice a bit too...)

[@partylikeits1066]

​​@@awl5451that's funny because I have adhd and had no problem focusing on the second one! But I feel that way trying to read a book or watch a presentation. I think it's an illustrative example of the fact that what is engaging and stimulating can be different for different people with adhd

[@BlackSeranna]

I really wish I could show others how chattery my head is; some days I can’t go where there are people because it’s way too much.

[@awl5451]

@@partylikeits1066 oh, absolutely!! I actually rly enjoy reading books haha I can hyperfocus on it for hours without stopping if the book is interesting to me. Tho if it's boring then reading it is a literal mental torture(and i do still struggle with sentences not sticking in my head, so i have to re-read some a few times before my brain lets me comprehend them) It rly just all depends on what we personally find engaging and no person with adhd is the same, which is fascinating but also makes getting diagnosed a chore if you stumble upon a psychiatrist who thinks a person with adhd has to be a walking stereotype

[@mimf9808]

really, same for me! it's also so weird, like, most days I can put up with noise in school, during band practice, etc- but apparently a dinner table with 6 adult family members is FAR too much and for me it's like this, but like, go from basically what he had before to slowly turning up the volume on EVERYTHING UNTIL IT ALL BECOMES MUSH

[@suzannelebeau4503]

Wow, I've struggled with anxiety my whole life and have been called "oversensitive " for EVERYTHING. Im nearly 60 now, but am just this year starting to think autism might play a role. I just thought everyone heard rooms like you do. I now have loop earplugs, which I really like! I haven't been to a cinema in over 20 years because the sounds and flashing makes me fall asleep right away.

[@ganicc4782]

Autism and anxiety work together like Thing 1 and Thing 2. I feel like my own anxiety (the social side of it) has kind of encouraged that idea, and autism just really doesn't help, kind of "enhancing" any sort of awkwardness my social anxiety side of things may cling on to.

[@JeccaJ]

Yes! I love action mocies especially Marvel but I always fall asleep during fight scenes because there's too much going on! I need to be wide awake and concentrating so hard to get through them!

[@user-xe2hf6fi8d]

What are these loop ear plugs, and what do they do?

[@suzannelebeau4503]

@@user-xe2hf6fi8d They are specifically made to help knock the edge off of irritating sounds. They kind of mute things a little, but you can still hear enough to follow a conversation. There's a little insert so you can make it TOTALLY quiet, but I don't like that one. Another brand is called "Calm" earbuds.

[@amandahollingsworth1105]

This is exactly how I feel but also include the room temperature, scratchy clothes and then the smells and you've nailed it for me.

[@its_aspen]

As someone who has ADHD and anxiety this is the best representation I’ve ever seen You did amazing Scott ❤❤❤

[@CosmicGardener]

Agreed. I was gonna say "very loud white noise" makes my brain feel fuzzy.

[@Gratisgetrank]

I was about to say the same thing

[@sistercharlatan]

I'm not diagnosed but suspect I'm somewhere on the spectrum, my son has diagnosed adhd and autism and we are so alike. Ive never liked busy places. This is the perfect video to share with friends to show them why I can't sit with them in a busy place for a meal, attend larger social gatherings or even do shopping somewhere busy without wanting to cry. Thank you, I live everything about this.

[@enkiimuto1041]

Yup, that is great ADHD representation too.

[@_rat_5758]

Agreed

[@kds2142]

Scott, you NAILED it. This is why I read lips all the time, which makes people think I'm flirting when I'm just trying to focus. It's exhausting. Thank you for this, Scott.

[@l_Tea]

As a deaf person SAME it's sooo annoying.

[@Sinbaby-rt5pe]

Bro got this perfectly, its exactly how i process sound I just learnt how to have multiple convos at once so I can do this (im on computer but imagine a skull emoji here)

[@itsaspiracle]

i have adhd and i caught myself doing something i often do to make up for my sensory processing in situations like this by like trying *really* hard to concentrate on the person at hand i’ll lean in closer, force myself to stare just at them (which translated to staring at the words, since i often do this in shows and movies - i always have to have the captions on!!), and parse the words themselves as best i can to try and like piece together their meaning after the fact?? it’s hard to explain but i think the fact that this set off one of my main masking strategies is really telling of how accurate this is!!

[@anumbranprincess210]

Oh MY GOD, that was stressful!! I have some autistic family members and I don’t have it myself, but this was eye opening!! The second version you experience was really making me sweat and get kinda panicked. Thank you for the very informative video.

[@monikamorimoto]

as a person with depression and anxiety disorders, this REALLY represents how I feel when I get overstimulated and how triggering it can be. Great job!

[@skinni_the_P00hBear]

Same...

[@whiterabbit1973]

The neuro typical sound was spot on. For me, the sound of "background " or "ambient " sounds are part of a good experience. Especially at a friend or family gathering.

[@A.H._]

thank you for the input! i’m much more interested in the neurotypical side, because i really cannot wrap my head around other people not hearing all the noises at 100% all the time. just to confirm: is that really how you experience life? so… quietly?

[@peli._.668]

to be honest, i'm kinda confused? i thought everyone experienced the 2nd one, but just to a lesser extent as a neurotypical? that's what i mostly hear in crowded places anyway. i can try to focus on what the person is saying but i'm likely to miss out some details if i lose focus or i simply just can't hear them over the noise

[@aerialdive]

@@peli._.668 if you lose focus often, youre not neurotypical

[@EugeniaPortobello]

Thank you!! for commenting this, the comment section is full of people who have the second experience and I was really wondering if the first one is how some people (legend has it, it's the majority actually) do really experience it; which is mind blowing... and in the other hand, it makes so much sense... Incredible job on this video.

[@zumaone3692]

Thank you for your comment, I wondered too how it is for a neuro-typical person.

[@gunnarandersson4381]

That's very well expressed. Additionally, sudden noises are particularly difficult for me, alongside the constant background noise, such as people clinking glasses or someone starting a car engine outside. It usually takes me completely out of the conversation I'm trying to follow. But the main issue is indeed that there's no distinction between background and foreground; everything feels like it's directly in my head at the same intensity.

[@VaultingBuddy]

this! this is how even "intimate, romantic" restaurants sound like to me too. Everything is at max volume competing for my attention. Most days I have enough spoons to power through or hyperfocus on the conversation I want to have but others its like this, then I feel everything fade like i'm sinking in a pool and I know I've completely shut down.

[@seroberts]

My parents refuse to get me diagnosed but I've been very much peer-reviewed that I'm very autistic, and this video captures exactly what my experiences with crowded rooms are

[@ceasinghornet40d40]

omg "peer-reviewed" that's exactly how i am, every day i mention something i used to do as a little kid (or that i still do now) around some of my diagnosed autistic friends and they're like "...dude". every day i also become more and more confused as to how my parents never even thought to seek out a diagnosis for me when i was little.

[@sleepysnjomen707]

@@ceasinghornet40d40LITERALLY oh my god exactly the same !!!

[@summervibes5253]

Oh my gosh same and it’s frustrating because my brother has autism but just because I (female) present differently they won’t take me seriously

[@sleepysnjomen707]

@@summervibes5253 I relate loads, my brother is not autistic but they take him way more seriously for anything regarding mental health and stuff ;-; Also I love your pfp, adorable :)

[@saintsea-hat7891]

When I was a little kid I was almost diagnosed and my parents vetoed the psychologists because they wanted me to have “a normal childhood”… but they still made me do ABA.

[@Emma_bensonsversion]

Scott, I’m autistic and this is perfect. I can never focus on one conversation when surrounded with people. I would be talking to my pa and if my Nan and my sister are talking, I can’t even focus. It’s tough because some people just don’t understand.

[@desireer6915]

Yes! Exactly.

[@HannahRainbow88]

It's like the higher pitch cuts through me, while lower pitched sounds are more comfortable. I have to really focus on my husband's voice to hear actual words as it's so low. Wondering if that's the case for you too?

[@RMX-ART]

Agreed

[@sorbunn]

I can totally relate! I think my ADHD can hide my overwhelm sometimes, because I'll jump into/out of the conversations around me when it's with family. But gosh it can be taxxing!

[@pokelover02]

I’m AuDHD and you nailed it! As a fellow Assyrian, I really appreciate you taking the time to make this example to explain to friends and family who don’t understand. It seems like a lot of Assyrians still heavily stigmatize mental health related issues. Any tips on how to open up to them about it? I’m afraid of being called “shidunta” (crazy). Thank you!! ❤🙏

[@ssavaart]

Thank you. What really helped me in dealing with my Assyrian family (who all said I was faking it) is reminding them of times in the past (before I was diagnosed) where I "acted strange". So, that time where we were at a funeral and I couldn't be around all of the people and sat in the car where it was quiet. Or the time where it rained and I was miserable because my clothes were stuck to me and no one could understand why it bothered me so much. Remind them of the times and they will see the signs were there all along.

[@pokelover02]

@@ssavaart That’s great advice! The huge weddings we went to always sent me into meltdowns, and there are so many other examples like that. Thank you so much for replying! Wishing you a new year filled with peace and love! 💖

[@PerseusJacksonn]

Aw cool! I have ADHD and Autism too. Not that those are cool. Those freaking suck. But it's cool that I met another AuDHDer!

[@MelijahVicente]

ADHD gang Also I absolutely love your art, and thank you so much for sharing this aspect of our world 🫶

[@C-Jay_A113]

Thank you so much for showing us this! I’m not autistic, so I’ll never understand how you guys process the world, but this definitely helped me visualize how much more different it could be for you guys. Thank you!

[@baggelissonic]

Yeah, the video doesn't really help illustrate what it's like to have this. As a neurotypical person my brain just sibconsiously filters out the various noises in the 2nd example as well.

[@indiand6460]

@@baggelissonicwow for real?! That’s so interesting. I’m autistic and can’t fathom being able to automatically filter out the ‘background’ noises

[@juliadesouza6674]

Is this... Not how everyone perceives sounds in a place?.... Yeah I wish I had a way to know this when I was a kid in school. I had so many problems with communication because of not understanding or hearing what anyone said in a group conversation.

[@veryconfusedcreature]

As somone with both autism and ADHD, this is pretty accurate! I hope people can use this as a resource to help neurotypical people understand us a little better :)

[@andyv2209]

Its accurate because the autistic version is pretty much the same as normal life, just normal people choose not to pay undue attention to the things that aren't actively important to their current situation. Normal people don't have a volume button to turn the rest of the world down, we just don't care that its happening.

[@SimpyWimpy_]

Scott has diagnosed autism 💗

[@robbiebobbin2649]

​@@andyv2209 Not sure if it was your intention, but this comment feels very dismissive. The use of "normal" rather than neurotypical aside, people with ADHD/autism aren't CHOOSING to pay undue attention to those other stimuli. We have a reduced ability to tune them out, and whatever is most intriguing or loud or painful to our senses is generally what is at the forefront of our brains, whether we want it there or not. And that can often be many stimuli at the same time.

[@andyv2209]

@@robbiebobbin2649 i didn't say they were choosing to pay attention to unnecessary stuff, i said neurotypical/non autistic people are choosing not to, but that they still sense it to the same degree, and by that i mean things aren't different volumes or anything. And i only used normal because my phone didn't recognize me using swype for the word neurotypical, which to me means normal, and i have adhd. Don't get too hung up on semantics, itll make ya miserable.

[@IloveGardensandteaparties]

@@andyv2209 If you have ADHD, how can you speak on behalf of neurotypical people? You do know that, not just autism but a variety of conditions such as ADHD, ADD, HSP etc, fall under neurodivergence. Also you are a neurodivergent individual too, if you have ADHD.

[@kashew1985]

i have adhd and this is EXACTLY how it feels to try and focus on one conversation in a crowded room. i had to close my eyes to be able to hear the “main” conversation in this video!

[@weebbbop]

I've been questioning if I am or on some kind of spectrum and this brings me to tears at how painfully accurate, I always worry people think i have hearing problems when I don't, I hear things better than most people around me but they just don't understand what's the problem. I wish subtitles were in real life too

[@RobertUnderdunkTerwilliger]

That's amazing Scott! I'm neurotypical and that's how a restaurant sounds to me. My neice has autism and this totally helps me understand what it's like for her, or anyone else with autism. Thank you.

[@lovelysakurapetalsyt]

Treat your niece well! Autism can be super hard to live with, even if it's been your whole life. Always be there to support her!

[@NuNaKri]

It is really great you want to understand your niece better 😊

[@kylefriesen8607]

I’m blown away. You’re telling me that there are people who experience the world like the first one of those?!?

[@Hyper_Fixation]

I'm not autistic but I do have a processing disorder and this hits the nail on the head!

[@ravishmered3062]

Hey Scott. This is an excellent demonstrative video you've put together. I myself don't have autism (that I'm aware of) but I do have a hearing condition known as hyperacusis. Ordinary or background sounds to me are incredibly sensitive and I have an extremely low tolerance for them, sometimes causing pain (like nails on a blackboard). This video is amazing and as an artist myself I never considered the possibility of creating a physical representation of what it's like - to voice to my friends, family, boyfriend. This really struck a chord within me, so thank you for you being you and sharing.

[@harvey5534]

Thanks for sharing this. It shows how it's not just overwhelming to be in environments like that, but it's exhausting too. If we have to filter and focus constantly there are only so many spoons in the drawer. It's hard to explain to NTs why we get so burnt-out so easily. I will share your video with friends, family and colleagues. More understanding is never a bad thing.

[@maxwelloliver-machuca9069]

I don’t think I have autism, at least I have not been diagnosed or anything, but this is exactly how I process sound. I’ve tried to explain it to people but normally they don’t understand. You did a great job showing that it’s like you can hear everything at once!

[@lovelysakurapetalsyt]

You could be ADHD, they have tons of overlap, since they're like sister disorders

[@PERRIERTASTESLIKEPISS]

Overstimulation isn’t always connected to autism or adhd, could just be an anxiety disorder.

[@seawingdragon5098]

I completely agree, I don't have trouble focusing most of the time (because I've practiced it a lot) but in a crowded room such as the highschool cafeteria I can't hold a conversation most days, I just listen and try to grab as much as I can, but every conversation happens at once so I miss a lot.

[@kiwidoesstuff]

It could also be a sensory processing disorder

[@Annabeth_Chase68]

Same

[@Crxyptid]

As an autistic kid, this explains it really well, it gets really stressful and irritating and when i get stressed i start to break down, im glad theres people out there who can relate, especially those who inspire me.

[@Luvvbitezz]

Same oml

[@andyv2209]

Learning the skill to identify the stimuli then making the active decision to not allow each individual thing to get on your nerves could help you go through life with far less stress.

[@namihosokawa1776]

I'm really impressed by how well put together this is. I'm neurotypical, and I can confirm that at least for me, that's pretty much how I process sound in a crowded room. The "autistic version" was great at communicating how overwhelming it feels for you because I literally started breathing fast and almost had to rip off my headphones.

[@TheWonderlandWitch]

This is EXACTLY how I process the world around me. This perfectly describes how I live and deal with crowds and I’m grateful to be able to show my neurotypical friends this and show them this is how I work. Also the term “neuro-spicy” is hilarious and I have to use it now!

[@meganofsuburbia29]

as someone who might be autistic (or someone who is undiagnosed, but has a lot of the “symptoms” or traits) this definitely explains what it’s like when i go in public, or anywhere, really. maybe now when i explain how i feel in environments like this, i can use this video to explain better. thanks, scott.

[@MaybeOrangeJuice]

Please get professionally diagnosed (if you have the means available to you). It can be very unhealthy to go around thinking you have a neurological disorder if you don't. There's tonnes of disinformation going around about the likes of autism, adhd, ocd and the likes.

[@Ghostly_Gay]

Me too I have sensory issues especially with sounds and smells so going out is tough for me

[@meganofsuburbia29]

@@MaybeOrangeJuice my mother refuses to let me get diagnosed, she swears i don’t have anything and that i’m just a weirdo. adhd and ocd do run in my family though. i’m not claiming that i am autistic, just saying i have some of those traits, and that people don’t understand since i’m not diagnosed. i will eventually get tested or do whatever you do to find out if you have something like that. but please don’t think that i’m running around telling people i’m autistic just because of some minor things.

[@hongsonnguyen8204]

​@@meganofsuburbia29 it might be true if you didn't have it, people's brain is quite strong in making whatever we believe become real

[@kyungraeist]

diagnosis can be very expensive and it can take forever just to get a consideration for a diagnosis. also, most people who "believe" they have a disorder are more likely to be right than wrong. i, for example, thought i had adhd, autism, a learning disability and ocd, before i got professionally diagnosed. it can just be too hard for financial, medical, or because of the people or societies stigma around being neurodivergent. also, many "professionals" have preconceived notions about what these disorders are like, and often take the symptoms most often seen in white boys/men/biological males (since theyre the ones studied most often) and dont consider the nuance and spectrum of autism. and for women or poc it can lead to them being unable to get a diagnosis since the people in charge dont consider or care about us. my aunt was told not to get an autism diagnosis because shes "too old", but that doesnt mean she cant have autism. @@MaybeOrangeJuice

[@catdog-sl5jw]

I haven’t been diagnosed with anything, but I do get overstimulated at family gatherings and it sucks because nobody knows what it’s like to be overstimulated until it happens to them. They normally happen to me when my social battery runs low or when a lot is going on. I’ve had to end friendships over this and it sucks but It feels better knowing others have felt this before. Edit: I got diagnosed with adhd and autism 😅

[@mayaraqueiroz1849]

It's EXACTLY this way. You had me in tears now. I feel less alone.❤

[@XZiroGen]

As someone with autism, I think it captures it amazingly❤

[@UnicornakaLauren]

As an ADHDer this felt ery accurate, I know there are things that are different between ADHD and Autism, but I have to say this is one of those great similarities Sometimes it's like I can hear other people talking better than I can hear and follow my on conversation

[@digitalglitch361]

I have always wondered what overstimulation was like and always felt bad I could never understand what others were going through and this video was a massive eye opener. I was getting anxious just from what you played and I can only imagine what that can be like all the time, thanks for helping people like me to understand. Also big fan of your content by the way, easily the person on KZbin I share the content of the most with others!

[@Clover_knows_pets]

Wait, So that's actually how neurtypicals hear stuff in the first bit? (This is a genuine question, I am autistic an so I'm curious if yall actually hear it like that)

[@digitalglitch361]

Usually! People in the background are a little louder but you can almost always distinguish what the person you are talking to is saying compared to everything else around it very clearly unless they are quiet or mumbling or something around the lines of that. How Scott kinda fades everything a little and darkens it around the speaker is the best example, everything is still there but it's almost filtered out entirely and softened unless you decide to try to pay attention @@Clover_knows_pets

[@jaydinnaidoo]

⁠@@Clover_knows_petsdepends on the person i guess, i’m neurotypical and only sometimes i hear it like in the first bit

[@Clover_knows_pets]

Hmm, interesting. Thanks! @@jaydinnaidoo @digitalglitch361

[@B3lph3g0r]

So basically it is that you can't focus at only one thing and instead you focus on everything at once and can't "ignore" the unimportant stuff? Or..

[@loganturner2061]

It's wild to me that people dont hear all this. Its just been this way my whole life

[@Alster26]

This is so accurate! I just get so overwhelmed by all the sounds in my environment sometimes that I can register that someone has said something to me but I have no idea what it was.

[@emmarina3525]

In a way, yes, extremely accurate for neurotypicals. Oddly though rather than soft, background conversations tend to be 'far' and sometimes the brain will tune them out so much that they disappear in a sense

[@Saphia_]

How lucky. I might've learnt to "ignore" the noise but I still hear it loud and clear. It's extremely annoying. P.s. IDK if I'm autistic.

[@saragoltz1191]

Really? This is crazy to me. I have strain to hear anything in this environment. No wonder neurotypicals like to go out to eat or drink at bars and restaurants.

[@miau5878]

@_ same, havent been tested for anything but ive noticed im completely unable to tune people out and focus on one conversation without hearing others.

[@Me-hf4ii]

Wow. That is absolutely amazing. I had no idea my experience could be that different from NTs. The only way I can ever tune anything out like that is with earplugs… and that’s no way to try to listen to my friend reciting Jane Austen.

[@robynwoods8998]

i have ADHD and this is almost exactly how i experience crowded rooms i have very sensitive ears, so typically all the noises are much louder than that, but you captured the overwhelming background noise perfectly

[@movielogic9078]

Exactly it’s like with ADHD idk if it’s like this for everyone else but when there’s so much going on I find myself just staring and thinking about every little thing that’s going on in that crowded area making it hard for me to have conversations and focus on the person talking to me

[@whatislife281]

This is very accurate. Depending on how loud the people in the background are, I can't process the conversation in front of me. When I first got my diagnosis at age 12, I already had some strategies. I am 16 now and still wear my headphones/cover my ears when the sounds get to overwhelming. I always wear my hood when I'm not in my safe areas. I tend to get aggressive when I'm overwhelmed but I don't want to draw attention to myself, so I start biting things. Until I was 7, I would bite holes in my shirts. Then I started biting tissue packs or my hand. Recently I got a chewing ring for babies and a necklace to chew on for Christmas. I went to therapy for a while and it was very helpful for me. I learned what could help me and how to explain what an overload was like. The therapist explained it as standing in a dark room with many flashing lights in different colours and different noises coming from every direction. That's how she would explain it to a neurotypical person. It took a long time for me to learn how to deal with autism, with my mother wanting me to be normal until we got the diagnosis. We argued a lot, but I also copied her. Turns out, she might have autism too. We have a great relationship now. School was also a mess. The teachers said, I was stupid until I got that diagnosis. And we had another autistic kid there as well. His parents thought that I had autism. So the signs were there. Then there was my 9th grade homeroom teacher. The oldest teacher at our school. Three years after we found out and the first thing she told my mother was, that autism wasn't real. I did not like her and at the end of the year she was gone, because of health issues. I needed to get this of my chest.

[@bronwynknight1330]

This honestly feels a lot like it does when I sit somewhere noisy whilst listening (or trying to listen) to someone. I wish I could show this to everyone I meet before they talk to me, it would make it so much easier for them to understand!

[@thewofgeek]

This was so accurate that it brought out the same sense of fear I have in public spaces because of all the sounds. Truly accurate portrayal.

[@GaiaCarney]

Me, too 😓 with the the smells and proximity of other people, I would avoid this scenario

[@3ggn0g]

As someone with sensory issues who is possibly autistic (not diagnosed, but suspected and can’t see a psychiatrist), and this is exactly it, you captured it nearly perfectly. It’s very nice to know that one of my favorite creators is like me:)

[@mh8162]

Same situation as me, nice to see that experience so well shown here. It’s the same issue when people leave a tv on and say “oh it’s fine, leave it on” when I ask if it can be turned off as no one watching it… so so difficult so process anything and frustrating plus no one is watching it please let me turn it off lol fail

[@clutterbot7279]

@@mh8162I’ve had this issue before - they don’t realise it’s a problem because the reasoning to turn it off is “no one is watching” but ideally you need to say something more accurate like “I can’t hear myself think” or “I’m struggling to focus on what you’re saying”. Even if it might feel embarrassing in the moment, it makes a real difference.

[@kimberlykinsinger2612]

Hi there! Might be different in your region but likely as not you CAN get also diagnosed by either a family doctor (MD) or a Psychologist. This applies at least to Canada/North America for sure. Say this as a Psych grad who was taught by Clinical Psychologist’s the legal guidelines. Hope this helps! All the best. :)

[@shinyjules8088]

This is exactly how it goes for me, thank you so much for portraying this Scott!!

[@garywatson3778]

Now when someone asks why I need everyone to repeat everything they say to me, I'll just show them this. Thank you!

[@TheDog2137]

I was diagnosed with ADHD one year ago and before I thought that’s how everyone hear their environment… Got tears in my eyes, it’s nice being seen and knowing that i’m not the only one struggling

[@Hello_Luckitty]

1:22 as someone with ADHD and anxiety,this actually sounds like it usually does. Even if it doesn’t sound as much it distracts me and sometimes I could be hearing you very clearly but if someone is talking in the background it would most likely distract me and I won’t understand you. It’s also pretty difficult to focus in class but I rly try to! I rly love this video and the accurate representation.

[@Firefoxes85]

I also have adhd and anxiety and I 100% agree!

[@gingy3778]

It’s pretty incredible. To my knowledge, I’m not autistic or have adhd, and so even with the crowded loud version to represent autistic peoples senses, I could still easily blur everything out of focus in order to just listen to the girl talking. But allowing myself not to do that I suppose helps give me some insight into how you view the world. Very fascinating!

[@ariamelody5560]

This is accurate for myself as well, being ADHD, great way to explain and show it!

[@tombryan63]

I’ve always wondered why people ask me to speak up when on Teams/Zooms meetings when I thought I was at a normal voice level. This video has made me realise it’s probably because I’m so used to being over stimulated that my base line is a lot quieter than others. Thank you Scott.

[@chocolatecurls94]

As a person with CPTSD, this is also how overstimulation feels like for me! That and the feeling of everything touching your skin (like clothing or the chair you’re sitting on) is all of the sudden way too much. Thanks for this video!❤️

[@danika9411]

You could look at the vagus nerve. I have c-ptsd and also SPD. I have the same problem with overstimulation and thing suddenly being too much for me. I can't say how much it will help yet, but vagus nerve theory and somatic experiencing is something I'm looking into right now.

[@nikolinelund4866]

Im autistic and we are trying to find out if i may also have cptsd, but its really hard since its so alike, especially since it probably came from just living undiagnosed with autism😅 So therefor i get triggered by the same things my autism gets triggered by😭😭 I have been talking to a professionel tho, and we still dont know😭😭

[@daddytabasco2217]

Same, this triggered a panic attack for me

[@A_Guy_Named_Jeronimo]

Is overstimulation also a symptom of cptsd? I know there's a ton of overlap in symptoms between cptsd and adhd, but I didn't realise that was one of them :0 A lot of people I know say I should get checked for neurodivergency, but tbh i think it's my ptsd instead. I do experience stuff like the video and randomly get triggered by the feeling of certain clothing

[@St3rnbergStudi0z]

ME TOOOOO!!! I have CPTSD as well 😭

[@mont_is_cool]

Thank you so much for this Scott. I showed this video to my mum, and now she knows what I may be going through when overstimulated. I also just want to say you are a massive inspiration for me, and you have helped me find my passion of art which has effectively improved life as an autistic person. Thank you.

[@theodorelee7776]

this is so excellent! thanks scott, this is such a good representation

[@artzzcool173]

Im not autistic but definitely not neurotypical. I cant say its the same with my adhd but it’s similar. I love my ceramics teacher and her class so much but every single time i was in her class i got overstimulated and wanted to cry. Anyways the point is you demonstrated overstimulation very well and now that i read some of the comments @frankiebgoode told the adhd story so well. Thank you for explaining this to the neurotypicals 😊😊

[@lovelysakurapetalsyt]

ADHD and autism both have a ton of overlap, so you can have symptoms of one and not actually have it! Like I have autism, but I also have ADHD symptoms, yet I don't really have ADHD

[@artzzcool173]

@@lovelysakurapetalsyt oh ok thank you !!

[@Aki-vi3ot]

“Neuro-Spicy” Scott I love you please never change 😭. Also, although I’m not autistic (atleast I don’t think) this video really helped capture how I experience the world in a crowded room. Thank u Scott

[@logosprague]

Thank you so much for posting this. It was a good starting point for a discussion with my wife, who is autistic. I am going to try to have more empathy for her now that I understand a bit better. Please keep making your videos. My wife and I love them!

[@StillthatguyJake]

This is a great way to describe this situation. I've tried to explain it to people but this will forever be a simple illustration I can share for those who care to understand why I might not be as able to focus in noisy situations. Thank you for taking the time to share this...both your art and your perspective!

[@ClownlyChuckles]

Took me a long time to realize this wasn't normal, but you nailed it.

[@bred_toste_629]

this is precisely how it is for me!! when i learned that neurotypicals could actually narrow down their focus to stimulus they wanted to focus on, i was so confused, like people could actually do that? it wasn’t just loud all the time for them? it was insane learning that for the first time, but i had to teach myself a lot about my disabilities bc the people around me as a kid never did it for me.

[@jordandubin]

Wow this was really informative and (appropriately for an artist) illustrative! I really appreciate any opportunity to be able to better understand and empathize with the experience of people from every walk of life. Did you know that this overwhelming scenario is also true of people experiencing hearing loss especially associated with aging? In that case it's called "the cocktail party effect" and it can lead to withdrawal from social situations, loneliness from isolation and even accelerated cognitive decline 😢 we need to find compassion and figure out ways to accommodate and include everyone in all the different aspects of our daily lives!! Thank you so much ❤

[@Jamnj1]

This audio is a spot on example of the extra effort required to communicate in background noise for me. Interestingly, auditory processing disorder is not just an autism thing. Though Google estimates that more than 80% of people with autism do have it... as well as 70% of people with dyslexia, 50% with ADHD, and, heck, lots of other people too! Anyway, thanks for making video to show your perspective on this! This is so much better than trying to explain it to someone with no context for understanding a reality that's not their own.

[@frillability]

Thank you, Scott. Very Accurate. I'm Autistic, and this is very relatable to my experience as well. I'm definitely sharing this! 💜

[@SxKitty91]

Omg this actually brought me to tears...I have never been able to describe this experience to anyone but this helps explain it PERFECTLY! I've only just recently discovered that I might be autistic after extensive research, and getting a professional assessment is unfortunately not as quick and easy as I'd hoped with my current insurance (I have to drive almost 3hrs to the only place that does the assessment). And when I first mentioned the possibility to my therapist she brushed it off, but I honestly might just show her this and tell her that this is just a fraction of what I experience every single day. Thank you for making this ❤

[@ash-ton5592]

I love that your so high functioning just like me, you don’t get many people with high functioning autism that are open to do something like this. I’m lucky my adhd allows me to hyper focus in this situation on the person I’m speaking to but if I’m overwhelmed this is veryyyyy accurate We were at a Christmas market and all of a sudden my processing was very slow which is unusual for me, I couldn’t answer questions on what food looked nice, what cheese I wanted or if a scarf looked good as each stall had their own music playing, it was a small market, it was so loud and crowded, all the light, smells and the feeling of the cobbles under my feet made it so much harder to not get overwhelmed. I ended up almost having a meltdown but fortunately I brought it back as meltdowns end in seizures for me because of other conditions I have. Overall I’m so happy I have another high functioning neuro spicy role model to look up to now who is showing neurotypical people a glimpse of our world so it’s easier to help and support us

[@Wolf_Kat_Fox]

Scott, I thank you SO much for this! Your videos bring me so much joy, and as a fellow autistic person, this is accurate. Now I can show my fam what I’ve been dealing with, so thank you!

[@dharrius_archive]

I’ve been unsure if I have some sort of autism for around 6 years now. My parents are pretty negligent about it, due to my older brother having diagnosed autism and ADHD. But this was so real for me. Even just listening to the second conversation I became uncomfortable and slightly anxious.

[@search..engine]

same with my parents :(

[@danika9411]

If you don't have the other symptoms needed for an aurism diagnosis you might want to look up SPD sensory processing disorder.

[@misszangz499]

I haven’t been diagnosed but this feels very real to me. I couldn’t even sit at a public table because there was gum unfortunately under it and that sent me into a sensory overload of feeling so grossed out and I ended up crying and not knowing how to express how I felt.. my partner definitely was wonderful and knew I didn’t like it and took me away from the situation.. I still felt terrible that k couldn’t handle it like others. But these sounds you did irritates me because it’s exactly how it is! I will over hear so many people and I get frowned upon for “eves dropping” even though I just can’t help it and zone them out! 😔I also get this way when playing games or even reading books (I will have to read the same line over and over if interrupted)I have to have absolute silence otherwise I can’t immerse myself at all and I take it out on others around me and I know it’s not their fault 😔

[@tea_funz]

Real. I'm not diagnosed either and with full honestly I don't hear the environment like this always. But when it happens it's so horrifying, it seems like i'm not capable to hear anyone again and it's really exhausting. Plus, when this happens i get really anxious so I feel like I want to seriously run away and hide from everyone. It's a relief to finally have a name for this experience

[@007chicken11]

you should get tested. self speculating is a good thing to be interested in, like wanting to know ab yourself and why you are the way you are (as long as it doesn’t cross to full blown self diagnosis), but a concrete diagnosis Is a very good thing to have and is necessary for working on ur quirks! :)

[@Blewlongmun]

@@007chicken11 Unfortunately a diagnosis can be a lot of money depending on the situation, definitely not a bad thing but for stuff like Autism especially there's no harm in self-identifying symptoms. Worst case they're wrong and find some coping mechanisms, It's not like there's anti-autism medications anyway. Antisms?

[@SyndroOmCani]

@@BlewlongmunI agree - getting diagnosed is really hard, especially as an adult. Finding an unbiased provider isn’t easy.

[@_SpreadingLove_]

This is amazing! I'm showing this to my close friends and family. Thank you for sharing your experience, Scott!

[@SiaCherry]

god this was sooo overwhelming. you did it. you got it. that's literally what it feels like. I need to show everyone in my life this so they can finally understand

[@CollieCalamari]

I'm autistic too! Honestly I was shocked the moment I found out neurotypicals can actually filter sounds to pay attention to conversations like such, but autism can really feel like you have every little sound around you turned up to 100%, it gets even harder if you have auditory processing issues and/or ADHD ( which I have both), I can manage with friends but by the end of any outing I'm incredibly stressed, NOT TO MENTION how feelings like back, leg and foot pain add up to that stress! There's also the weather, the smells, the lights, the multiple things happening at once, hell just waking up a little peeeved for no reason can make things worse! I still wouldn't choose to be anyone else but me, but it's really hard to just exist outside sometimes lol

[@YourFavouriteKandra]

Fellow Neuro-Spicy friend here. This is almost EXACTLY what I experience. Great job, Scott. I get overstimulated easily. Whether it's sound, sight, or touch. (Those are the ones I usually experience overstimulation with.) This was a great example.

[@cinnamonrosee9842]

I would totally love more content like this, I feel so seen and like I can show my own mother. I love your videos and didn’t even realize you had longer form content. Don’t let statistics get you down you’re very appreciated. 😊

[@rukiakuckiki3980]

I'm autistic and this is perfect! I always try to explain it to my friends saying that it's like when you bass boost a song. But instead of bass boosting a song, you're boosting all the background noise. This is how I feel for everything. It was always so hard for me to take notes out of textbooks in school because that same "filter" for noise was just broken for everything. It was really hard for me to filter out what the important details were in those history textbooks. Because I thought everything was important. Because if it wasn't important, then why would they even bother printing it in the textbook anyway. It's sometimes pretty hard not having that filter and always trying to pick through what to listen to, what to remember, what to retain, all while finding soft clothes. Thank you for doing this and sharing your experience.

[@sylpherstorm]

Oh my god this is so important! Thank you so much for helping visualize what overstimulation can be like for us 💙

[@ssavaart]

You're so welcome! I'm just so happy it helps.

[@mayug.2732]

You really were spot-on with this! I recently got myself noise canceling headphones and it's been so much easier for me to navigate public spaces as noisy or noisier than scenes such as this one. Very nice video! ❤

[@talk2myself315]

Indeed, it makes a world of difference!

[@SarafinaSummers]

OMG! Yes! My Bose noise, canceling headphones have literally saved my ass on more than one occasion. My dad kept telling me I did not need them, but did not understand that without them, I could physically go into a seizure from certain sounds.

[@kurtoogle4576]

I am not on the spectrum & have no ADHD, but I have quirks, and I deeply appreciate videos like this that understand my experience. In crowded places, it often feels like everyone is talking to me directly - all at once, and it affects me emotionally as tension. When I tpause music to have conversations, it is hard to explain that I can hear everyone but I feel bombarded by the layers. When your crowded room scenario came on, tension suddenly shot up my back and through my body. Agh!

[@MustBeTuesday]

Weirdly, for me, the example of how it sounds to you is easier to understand than such a noisy room usually is to me. In your example, the other voices were unclear, compared with the friend's voice, which stood out a bit (not in volume but in clarity). In real life, the problem is often that other voices are equally clear as the person sitting near me. I hope that makes sense. Great work though and I'm glad to see from the other comments that this is helpful to people! Beautiful artwork!

[@WitchKing-Of-Angmar]

I know what you're saying, I'll put it into words for you. When quiet, lower volume voices are easier to make out as they aren't on the same level as the person in front of you, just like how when you push carts in a parking lot you can work alot faster when there's a ton of cars around you and everyone in a rush, compared to when there's just a few and you have to wait for everyone to pass you because there's no hurry at that moment and you'd come across as a dick if you cut off a car in a no stressful situation; taking advantage of the stressfull moment to take your leave through the mass of cars. It's called doing something at the right time versus when it's inappropriate. Now that analogy applies to the conversation, because now, the voices are at the same level as the person in front of you, making everyone blend in to one volume pitch, with this chaos, you're brain can now work to pay attention to what someone in front of you is saying.

[@user-ls5cy4iv1k]

Thank you Scott, this is amazing! I’m a Mum of two adults with Autism and I never stop learning about how my children experience the world. Thank you for taking the time to create awareness with your wonderful illustrations. You are an inspiration! Love your work!

[@ssavaart]

Absolutely My Pleasure ♥

[@AppleProGamer74]

As someone who is not diagnosed with anything except anxiety I relate to this extremely well. It’s literally like it’s easier to listen to the people across the room then the one across the table actually talking to me

[@ViviHayashi]

I know I'm not autistic, mostly through family having autism and not showing many signs, but my ADHD has a similar effect; Pretty much, I can hear what the main conversation is saying, but I'm also picking up on smaller parts of the other conversations which takes my focus away from the one I'm currently having. Mixing it with the sounds outside and and music I can hear so many different things all at once and it can be to the same effect as overstimulating for autism and CAN be hard for me. I feel like, despite this video being made for people to understand autism, this could be an amazing video for people to also somewhat understand ADHD and several other mental conditions that aren't neurotypical! Amazing content and I hope to new year is treating everyone well!

[@marianachemindossantos6933]

This is so perfect I always drop some tears when someone can picture (in this case literally) things that are so hard to put in words, bc people without autism just dont feel the same way that we do My fiancè and my brother are always suportive and make sure I'm confortable and able to experience the world in an amazing way When I say its too much they dont quenstion and just respect my time to process When I have meltdowns they carry me to a safe space Just a bit oversharing because things like this make me feel like i have a place in this world, something i didnt think i would ever be able to have

[@AnariWeiden]

For me, you hit it exactly. I'm not autistic but ADHD/oversensitivity is close to it. It is interesting though, that at good days I lean towards the neurotypical focus but on the bad days I sometimes even can't filter out what the person in front of me is saying. Thanks for visualising this in such a beautiful and comprehensive way! You are amazing. ❤

[@ShelleyAlkov]

My family knows when I say “Too much input” that I’m overstimulated. ::hugs::

[@YoAuntyMihkoh]

YES. Thank you for this. I absolutely due process sound this way and i can now share this with my partner to help him understand! Thank you so much. ❤

[@euthymialy]

The simulation was immediately triggering because of how well you simulated my lived experience in a loud environment with a lot of sound complexity 😂 Saving this for later when I need to explain it, thanks!

[@raye48]

This is an amazing demonstration! As a neuro-typical person, your first example was perfect. This really helps me understand overstimulation and such much better, and I understand why it can be so overwhelming and difficult. Plus, amazing art as always!

[@BronzeDragon133]

I find the second to be sort-of-closer, but a compromise between one and two to be more accurate as...well, I always thought I was neurotypical. I can pick up any conversation in a crowded room I want to but they don't fade into the background that severely. And I'll have trouble if two speakers of the same pitch and timbre are speaking at the same volume close to each other as I can't differentiate easily.

[@eli_h309]

Fun fact: did you know you can get overstimulated by your own emotions? That’s some thing my therapist told me and I found it quite shocking bc that explains so much of my life and personal experience ❤❤❤

[@Asbjern_Longfellow]

I never learned if I´m autistic or not and I never really cared to find out. I totally share that lack of filter, it´s pretty much the same with me. Though somehow, it´s gotten better over the years. Sometimes there are people around whom keeping a focus is way easier than usual. It´s quite fascinate thinking about ist, like what is it? But the acceptance grew and grew and still I´m not eager to find out more, I´m doing my best to just be comfortable with myself. Videos like these sure do help a lot, and I appreciate your work and your art. You´re a fine creator, keep it up, mate :) Edit: Sorry for the long text, here´s a tater: 🥔

[@madisonsheppard850]

This does a great job! Its very important for people to watch to the end because he factors in the temperature and clothing feel! If i'm eating too, that also factors in for me!

[@IrisDew]

This is very accurate, thank you! Personally I’ve always been EXTREMELY sensitive to smells, tastes, and feelings, everything from my clothes to what the person on the sidewalk is feeling while in a bad argument on the phone. I’ve always been told I’m just faking so knowing there’s other people like me really helps!

[@TiredOcto]

I’m autistic and I’m so happy to know that this also what other people hear, this is what all my classes at school sound like to me and it’s exhausting to know other people can just kind of not hear the background noise. Thank you for making this video!

[@ssavaart]

Absolutely My Pleasure ♥

[@eli_h309]

As someone who’s probably autistic and has diagnosed hypercusis, I didn’t realize that the world didn’t sound this way to your average person. I’ve gotten good at accommodating for myself and wearing my headphones when needed to cancel out noise, school is absolutely exhausting tho, some classes are terrible, like I cant function in them without my headphones, or without going to work in the hall

[@matchaeylle]

@@eli_h309eyy fellow autistic with hyperacusis. tho tbh I think anyone diagnosed with hyperacusis should be seeking autism diagnosis

[@ettecolllove6313]

This is so accurate, thank you for sharing this😊

[@user-ix1uv8ts8l]

This is so accurate! Thank you so much for spreading awareness about overstimulation! 💜

[@izu1600]

This is a really accurate depiction, I'm autistic but I also have adhd, and whenever I'm outside or in a crowded room I can't focus in one conversation, especially when I hear an interesting word in another conversation, and I even get a sensory overload/meltdown. I loved this video, greetings from South America 💕

[@deborahcorreale352]

Very good representation and helping others understand. For someone who doesn’t have autism and is not Neuro sensitive, there are times in restaurants in public places that it is just so loud and so overwhelming it’s uncomfortable you don’t like it you don’t enjoy yourself you can’t focus on the conversation because you can barely hear it and I would like to leave. I cannot even imagine what it feels like for people with autism, ADHD Neurosensitive people because me without those conditions if I wanna leave an area cause it’s just too much I my heart goes out to you guys for going out and trying and doing as well as you all do. You have my love and my support and again thank you for this video.

[@ellebannana]

Thank you for talking about this from yet another autistic and ADHD person. It helps to feel a bit lighter and less alone seeing shared experiences 💛 Also while I'm aware it's geared towards young adults and teens, Heartbreak High has great representation of this experience at a restaurant through the character of Quinni, played by an autistic actress.

[@Discreetkilla9]

I find this so relatable I hear every conversation around me every where I go it drives me insane but art is my only escape