Hearing Infographic

Explores how neurodivergent people process auditory information, including hypersensitivity to sound and strategies for creating calmer sound environments.

Auditory processing differences affect how the brain interprets sounds. Neurodivergent people may experience sounds as louder, more overwhelming, or harder to filter - or may have difficulty distinguishing speech from background noise.

Common experiences

• Hypersensitivity to sudden, loud or high-pitched sounds
• Difficulty processing speech in noisy environments
• Auditory processing disorder (APD) - hearing sounds but struggling to interpret them
• Finding certain sounds deeply calming or regulating
• Misophonia - strong emotional responses to specific sounds

Practical adjustments

Noise-cancelling headphones, quiet spaces for focused work, advance warning of fire alarms, and written instructions alongside verbal ones can all make a significant difference.

Who is this for?

Employers, educators, healthcare professionals, parents and carers, and anyone supporting neurodivergent people in daily life.