Read about my own experience and a very simple solution to manage symptoms. (written 07/08/2024)

Noise sensitivity is one of the over 200 symptoms reported by some people experiencing Long COVID. This can mean that your symptoms are worse after exposure to very loud noises. It can also mean that you end up limiting activity to avoid exposure to certain noises. 

Limiting your exposure to stimuli, like noise, is a sensible adaptation that helps to manage Long COVID symptoms, and can be part of an approach to Pacing. As always, the trick is to blend steps that help minimize exposure to things that trigger symptoms with steps that help reduce underlying symptoms and build physical resilience.   

In my own experience, I had a sensitivity to noise and constant ringing in the ears that was very distracting. The noise sensitivity I experienced meant that it was tricky to enjoy things like live music or fireworks in the way I used to. For a time, my Long COVID symptoms meant I didn’t feel like going out much anyway. As my symptoms started to fade and I felt better, I began to venture back out to doing things I enjoyed before Long COVID. 

The first time I went to see live music I had a great night, but woke up the next morning feeling awful - it was a full blown Post Exertional Malaise (PEM) crash. My body ached, I had a headache, the brain fog had returned. It was an important lesson for me about Pacing. I hadn’t done any challenging physical or mental activity, but had experienced stimuli that acted as a stressor. It led me to look at Pacing with a much wider lens and realize that there was a lot more in my life and environment that could contribute to symptoms, and that could be controlled to help manage them. This, in turn, created more ability to control symptoms and capacity for the things I really wanted and needed to do. Further, the effort to make the changes was often quite small and hugely outweighed by the energy I got back.    

As an example of how simple changes can be, I saw an audiologist who recommended using a pair of high-fidelity earplugs when I knew I would be exposed to loud noises. These were, and are, fantastic. They keep all the sound quality while limiting the volume. Most of the time, I don’t need them and don’t notice my noise sensitivity day-to-day, but when I go to a loud concert or fireworks displays, I benefit from using earplugs. Given that hearing damage can start from noises at 80 decibels, which is well below a typical concert’s levels, other people you are with may benefit from some of these adaptations as well! 😀     

If you are tempted to get out and enjoy some music or open air concerts this summer, but are wary about noise exposure, you may want to try some ear plugs to help limit exposure to stimuli without impacting your enjoyment. It is all part of Pacing, and helping you get back to feeling more like yourself while still managing your symptoms. 

Warmly,  
Katie 

P.S. Long COVID symptoms can worsen through many different stressors as well as specific stimuli. Reducing those can help manage symptoms, while ignoring them makes them feel worse. Identifying what some of those stressors are and taking simple steps to control what you can to limit them can make a big difference. Some of these steps can be as simple as using high-fidelity earplugs to limit the impacts of noise sensitivity. One element of our program, Pacing Essentials, guides you in identifying your own big and small stressors.