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195469 tn?1388322888

Sensory Overload...

Dr. Kantor,

I have heard many people with MS or other diseases of the Central Nervous System (including myself) talk about our senses seeming to "overload" from external causes, such as loud music, too many people talking at one time, crowded rooms, etc.  It may be called "sensory overload;" at least that's what I call it.

In this situtation, I have noticed in the last month or so, that I get confused and seek somewhere quiet, to try to recover from too many sounds at one time.  Overwhelming confusion is a good way to describe it.

I have been diagnosed with MS for 13 years.  Most of my lesion load is in the area of the corpus callosum near the ventricles, one lesion in the parietal lobe and another in the cerebellum.  I thought that the Temporal Lobe, Parietal Lobe and the Hippocampus were responsible for sorting out this outside stimuli.  I also believed it to be directly related to the vestibular system.

Can you tell me what area of the brain causes this sense of 'noise overload' and confusion and am I correct in thinking that this is a common complaint in someone with MS?  I have trouble "getting back on track" with what I was doing, before this interruption occured.

I appreciate your time, Dr. Kantor.  Thank you for taking my question.

Heather
7 Responses
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152264 tn?1280354657
I'm not sure, but she MIGHT have been talking about the 7th cranial nerve, which, if I remember correctly, controls facial muscles, sensation to part of the tongue, and the stapedius muscle in your middle ear, which reacts to dampen overly loud sounds.

About three months after my sudden hearing loss in my left ear, one day I put a plate down on the kitchen counter and thought it was the loudest sound I ever heard! (In my good ear.) All of a sudden, any loud noise, especially high-pitched ones, or ones such as tape ripping or people coughing near me, were unbearably loud. For many months, I could not go to concerts without carefully watching the trumpet and cymbal players--when they raised their instruments, I raised my finger to plug my good ear! This is called hyperacusis, or at least a mild form of it, I guess. It did settle down, in fits and starts, over a period of years. At times I also had a very strong startle reaction. Some moderately loud, sudden noise in a grocery store would make me jump a foot off the ground, while no one around me reacted.

I know what you mean about the sensory overload--for years, I could not get through a family gathering or other busy situation without retreating to a bedroom or outdoors for a closed-eye, head-still period. I still take short naps, which will "reset" my head for the rest of the day. This may be connected to my vestibular problem (whatever it is).

Your solution of taking breaks is a good one. I never apologize for them, I just take them when I need to and plan my day to include one. Good luck to you!

Nancy T. (not diagnosed with anything except "cranial neuropathy")

Helpful - 1
195469 tn?1388322888
Thank you very much for your response.  I do have an appointment with my Neurologist on the 13th, but will call the office and leave a message for her.

Thank you again,
Heather
Helpful - 1
669758 tn?1242330751
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Confusion sounds like an important symptom that you would want to discuss with your neurologist immediately.

You have to make sure that you are not having seizures (like 10% of the MS population).

Confusion could be coming from the grey matter.
Helpful - 1
152264 tn?1280354657
You are welcome. Thanks for the kind words. :)

I, too, have learned a lot not only from doctors' postings but from reading a lot of patient experiences. More than anything, I think, it gives you a sense of perspective on your own situation and helps you understand what your doctor is (and isn't) doing and saying. A lot of reassurance here. Also I think it saves people needless trips to the doctor when you find out that some symptom is almost certainly a common, harmless thing, and what are warning signs that you need to see the doctor. (I'm not just talking about neurology, but other stuff too.)

Nancy
Helpful - 0
195469 tn?1388322888
By your response, you show what these Forums are truly for...to share our experiences with each other and learn; not only from Dr. Kantor but from members of the Forums.

Thank you for your input.  There is power in knowledge.

Many thanks,
Heather
Helpful - 0
669758 tn?1242330751
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Thank you for enlightening the entire community.

Your post was also appreciated because it gives hope to others on this site that they don't have to hesitate to ask their neurologists their questions.
Helpful - 0
195469 tn?1388322888
I wanted to follow up with you about my question, since I saw my Neurologist today.  She tried to explain this in laymen's terms so I could understand it.  She said the "sensory overload" as I call it, is seen very often in MS patients.  She said that there is a system in the auditory area of the ear (don't remember what nerve she called it) that is suppose to "dampen" noises, so they do not reach the brain as overly-loud.  When this is not working properly, common sounds are perceived as being too loud.  Hence the feeling of sensory over-load.

She said as with any MS symptom, that this can come and go, or happen once, never to occur again.  She also told me that there is no specidic treatment for this.  

Heather
Helpful - 0

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