Why the senses? | ADHD Information

No clue but its sure funky to have heightened senses. heh I used to think I was the only person like that.

Can you explain what happens in terms of your senses?

Thanks, Amelia

 

well things smell stronger, see things others overlook/recognize an object far away, hear things others tune out (even though people talking to me have to repeat themselves)For me, my strongest senses are smell and taste. (Things taste SO good!.  I do seem to hear mumbling at times when I listen to people, but then other sounds really sound abrasive to me, where they may be nearly unnoticable to someone else.  My sight stinks... but that's probably a genetic thing.  My sense of touch seems sensitive too.  I have a very hard time touching hot dish water for example.  Other people can dive right in, and wash dishes under water that borders on steaming, and I cannot.  I knew these things about myself before but never realized there was anything to it until coming to this board.  Some people have mentioned it, but I don't really know where they found the connection to ADD.  It must've been written somewhere.  I just can't figure out how ADD and these strong senses connect or why.  I just assumed that there may more information on this out there somewhere.  I am newly diagnosed so I'm still pretty uneducated on most of the symptoms and traits of this disorder.

This has probably been posted a millon times but I was wondering exactly why our senses are affected by ADD/ADHD?

I've actually had my ears block up from overproducing wax.  Then on occasion I'll go into my Dr and have my ears cleaned, and when I leave the office I can hear all sorts of birds chirpping and bug sounds, wind through the trees... it's like the first time you put on glasses, everything sharpens.

Sometimes I get fluid behind my eardrum and things will muffle, and I'll take a decongestant, and that does wonders too!

On the other hand, since I started Strattera I've frequently had a weird feeling like my ears a blocked. My voice is ringing in my head and other people sound muffled. 

Weird. No amount of swallowing or standing on my head seems to work!

Dear MicheleRW222,

Thank you for your detailed post. I am newly diagnosed also and I've always had problems with certain senses. Sometimes, my friend will be cooking something and the smell is so powerful to me and makes me feel sick. And I realize more and more that I smell things that others cannot. I cannot use very hot water. I shower with cool water and even have to remind my hair stylist to turn down the hot water when she shampoos my hair.

Noise bothers me a lot. I cannot stand the sound of a neighbor's dog barking more than a few times. It drives me absolutely crazy, even though others don't even hear it or aren't bothered by it. If I'm in a public place that becomes noisy, I have to leave. It makes me panic and I can't stand it.

Thanks again and good luck to you. I'm going to write down what other senses I feel that are bothersome or different.

Amelia

You're very welcome Amelia!

Wow!  I didn't realize hypersensitiviy of the senses with ADHD.   My fiance (who has been diagnosed with ADHD most of his life) is sooooo sound sensitive it drives me nuts!  I mean, chewing, forks scraping the plates, people chewing popcorn in the movie theater.... I could go on and on...

Me, on the other hand, being newly diagnosed.... am sound sensitive, but not necessarily in a bad way... I can focus on good sounds too (but must admit that a clock ticking in a classroom drives me up a wall, or people marking on paper using pencils/pens).   He is definitely more so than I am in that respect.

I am super sensitive to cold/heat too.  I can't stand cold weather, water, rain.... nothing.  I have to have my shower nice and steamy (almost burning)  whereas my fiance is the complete opposite.  Talk about a tug of war with the thermostats!

Since being newly diagnosed, this forum is awesome at answering soooo many questions, fears, and concerns I have had!

[QUOTE=eliza]

On the other hand, since I started Strattera I've frequently had a weird feeling like my ears a blocked. My voice is ringing in my head and other people sound muffled.

Weird. No amount of swallowing or standing on my head seems to work!

[/QUOTE]

Actually, eliza, I've had the same 'weird' feeling in my ears also since I began Concerta. It's not all the time, tho.   I'd ask your pharmacist if there's any connection with this and Strattera. I really cherish the advise of pharmacists, sometimes even over doctors'.

And, Michele, my doctor check, and my ears are clean as a whistle! You all might want to check out Sensory Integration Disorder.  It is common for kids with ADHD to have SI as well, why not adults?  The symptoms are so similar and SI is not as well known as ADHD.    I never knew this could be linked to ADD. I am constantly complaining about the feel of fabrics against my skin, seams in my socks, and things like water that is too hot. I can also  smell things long before anyone else. For example, my boyfriend will go into the kitchen, and within seconds I will start to smell peanut butter. I will tell him that I smell peanut butter, and he will come around the corner, astounded, and ask me how the hell I could smell it from there. My hearing has also been tested above average, even though I have to ask people to repeat themselves often. LOL. Crowded, noisy areas really overwhelm me.

I looked up SI disorder, and I don't know if it could apply to me because I have signs of both overstimulation, and under-stimulation. A lot of it really rings true though. Is it possible to have a combined type?
I found this: "Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) is a complex disorder of the brain. People with SPD misinterpret everyday sensory information, such as touch, sound, and movement. This can lead to behavioral problems, difficulties with coordination, and many other issues."

I don't believe what we have been describing is misinterpetation of everyday sensory information...just sensitivity to those senses. Don't you agree? The only behavioral problem I see, is if that tab on your shirt is bothering you, you may be seen squirming because it's bothering the h*ll out of ya!    I'm like the Princess and the Pea....can feel the slighted lump or fold in a sheet....it's isn't going to create difficulties in coordination, etc., just annoy the heck out of me. Thanks Gypsy, that makes more sense.

I don't feel I misinterpret sensory information, I'm just highly sensitive to it.


In my search of Adult AD/HD, sensitivity to touch, clothes, noise and light is always llisted as a symptom. I'm assuming to smell is also included. My counselor told me we (AD/HDers) are likely to be highly sensitive to all the five senses....touch, sight, smell, hearing, taste. Now, why? I haven't a clue. I don't think it's necessarily due to any other disorders, just one of those things we are either gifted with or tormented by. I find it's both. In Delivered from Distraction, about ADD, he says there're analgies to SI, which is Sensory Integration Disfunction.  That is written about in TOo Loud Too Bright  Too Fast Too Tight,  and in The Out Of Sync Child. martindale38453.9597106481We're like super hero's .  Except  our super senses are super annoying lol

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Read "The Out-of-Sync Child".  There seem to be a number of silimarities between SI and some common ADD complaints: difficulty writing and difficulty in interpreting non-verbal cues jump out at me immediately.  This comes from the website:

"What are some signs of Sensory Integrative Dysfunction?

Overly sensitive to touch, movement, sights, or sounds
Under reactive to touch, movement, sights, or sounds
Easily distracted
Social and/or emotional problems
Activity level that is unusually high or unusually low
Physical clumsiness or apparent carelessness
Impulsive, lacking in self control
Difficulty making transitions from one situation to another
Inability to unwind or calm self
Poor self concept
Delays in speech, language, or motor skills
Delays in academic achievement "

There is a combined type.  You can even by very sensitive to small noises, but relatively insensitive to loud music.  There just seem to be alot of symptoms in common between SI and ADD.  I read that SI kids are often the ones who hang back and don't participate with the other kids in group activities, this describes me and my son to "a T".

i have a heighten sence of smell and hearing.  Weird things get to me, someone said earlier forks hitting peoples teeth, someone smacking gum or food. I can hear the ringing of a tv or computer a mile away.  I also have a 6th sense, like I can feel if there is a bug (spider) in the room or near me, only if we are inside though.  I get the creeps and I can feel the hair standing up on my neck.  My mom says it is because I was bitten by a black widow as a child.  So I have spider senses.  But really, sometimes I can actually hear a pin drop.

Weird, Huh? I am aracnophobia, which makes it the extra sense worth it.

[quote=boggled]I read that SI kids are often the ones who hang back and don't participate with the other kids in group activities, this describes me and my son to "a T".[/quote]

Boggled....we're glad you at least don't 'hang back' in this group. You always have something to contribute and it's good to have you around. Thanks! [QUOTE=lee03]..... My mom says it is because I was bitten by a black widow as a child.  So I have spider senses. ..... [/QUOTE]

Oh, Lee, I missed your post from yesterday.....that is so ....well, just plain ... Twilight Zoney! GypsyWomyn38450.6369212963Just call me Spider girl, the newest Incredible....