Hypersensitivity issues in public

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This is becoming a major problem for me. To the extent that when police sirens were going off last week, I had to try and run with my hands over my ears.

I am hypersensitive to noise and light. It's now getting to the stage where I have to wear earphones in order to block out noise around me. I think this is part of the reason why I ended up with blocked ears.

Light has always been an issue for me (I almost screamed at someone last year for using the flash on their camera )

Due to being visually impaired, I have no choice but to use my ears (I can see enough to get around; but am colourblind, see things move, see things that aren't really there and my vision is too severe for me to drive) when out in public.

I now have to wear earplugs at night because the clock ticking is far too noisy.

Any advice please? I do wear a cap in public; but that doesn't help much.

I have exactly the same issues as you. Loud sirens? I cover my ears and grit my teeth - and I just ignore the looks. Bright lights and camera flashes? ouch. I wear a cap on bright days (sun out or not) and my glasses have a transition coating. I use ear plugs too - especially if its loud at night or i'm in a big noisy crowd.

Not much you can do other than mitigate the issues as you are doing and ignore the looks of the NT's around you.

Don't think I've had odd looks from NTs. I think some just accept that I am hypersensitive and leave it. I now have to wear a cap all the time.

You're lucky . I've had some strange looks. I mostly get them from people I work with too - especially when I am in a new job.

If you don't mind me asking, but I noticed you said you are colorblind and visually impaird, do you have achromatopsia.

I am lucky that I don't have any hypersensitivity issues, so I can't help there.

No worries. Not heard of that. I have Optic Atrophy, which means part of my optic nerve is missing and Nystagmus as a result of that.

I remember once washing my cap in winter and got a very strange look off my dad for doing so.

Ah, I believe Photophobia (Sensitivity to Light) is in fact common in Optic Atrophy, so I wonder if compounding your hyper sensitivity to light.

Yeah it's common in Optic Atrophy and apparently Nystagmus too. I was told 5 years ago that some have it for no reason at all.

Be careful to not wear your earplugs too much. Wear them about half of the day, and take them off for the other half. Your ears can become more sensitive if you wear earplugs too much.