Do you struggle to focus on the person talking across from you when in crowds, surrounded by background noises, or simply distracted by other stimuli? Well, I do, too. I was recently introduced to Loops (not the cereal "Fruity Loops", but just Loops) to help combat this noise sensitivity and it has helped my brain from being overstimulated and thus, has avoided becoming easily exhausted.
As I have mentioned before, healing is a long journey. Not every day is a step in a more positive direction with less pain, more clarity, and reassurance. I am constantly in search of healing modalities that help my brain pain, reduce my concentration fatigue, and help my overall symptoms. I hope to share each modality and product that I try with you, in hopes that at least one of them will help you, too.
My husband and I noticed my noise sensitivity when we were watching a movie and the subwoofer rumbled and shook the floor around us as the sound reverberated the room. The low grumble of the subwoofer caused my head pain to soar and felt like I was receiving TMS all over again. My head pain soared so much it almost felt like how Harry Potter looks when Voldemort is nearby or has an increase in power. I winced from the sharp, shooting pain in my head.
During one of my therapy appointments, my craniosacral therapist/acupuncturist recommended that I check out Loops after sharing my recent movie experience. My craniosacral therapist has experienced brain trauma from an accident and suffers from tinnitus himself, so Loops are essential in his day-to-day. And ever since he mentioned the product, they have become a go-to for mine, as well.
“Blindness cuts us off from things, but deafness cuts us off from people”. - Helen Keller
We all know that hearing connects us to the world around us and clues us into how to react to those sounds. The sounds of birds singing by your bedside window in the morning, clue you into the sun rising and the day beginning. The honking sounds of cars driving by on the highway during your commute, clues you into being more alert and reactive, if need be. The knock at your door, the low demanding bark or meow of your hungry or bored pet, or a grunt from your spouse when they receive a work-text after hours, all clue you into the energy of your immediate circle.
All of these sounds provides us with information. We don't even need to look up to understand what we are hearing. But, what happens when our hearing is lessened or we have trouble concentrating on the important sounds and our brain becomes fatigued trying to dull the background noises in order to focus on that information? The loss or sensitivity to sounds can be scary.
Put simply, if our hearing is lessened, we are disconnected from our environment. We are unable to communicate and connect with other people. We are unable to tune into the subtle sounds of our surroundings to alert us of danger or what is happening. And, we are unable to fully relax. It is not what we are accustom to if we were born hearing.
Did you know, the average person hears 70,000 words per day?
So, being disconnected from our world is the downside of a loss or lessened hearing, but what are the positives of hearing?
Keeps our brain healthy and active, which reduces the risk of Alzheimer's and dementia.
Connects us to people, which improves our mood.
Lowers risk of depression.
Creates independence and security.
Since hearing is one of our five senses, we are reliant on hearing. But we often take this sense for granted as it is almost as innate as breathing - we don't have to think, we just do. Ever since my brain trauma experience from TMS, I have grown to appreciate each one of my senses more than I ever thought possible. As a result of facing the possible loss or degradation of my hearing, I am vowing to preserve what I have for my own health and sanity as well as my family's.
The Loops that I use to Protect my Hearing: I have mentioned "fruity loops" and if this helps you remember the company Loops, then so be it. Just like the name implies, the ear plug is a circle shape that fits into the ear canal and the acoustic channel and filter helps silence background noises, so that you can focus, sleep, and/or protect your ears wherever you are. The ear plug still allows you to hear without feeling like you are under water while reducing noise sensitivity.
Quiet Solstice - Sleep, Focus, Noise Sensitivity, and Travel. These ear plugs are a flexible silicone and offer 26 dB of noise reduction.
Experience Plus - Music and Events, Noise Sensitivity, Focus, and Motorcycling. These ear plugs are a hypoallergenic ABS plastic and offer 18 dB of noise reduction, and come with foam ear tips and a silicone center insert that can block out an additional 5 dB.
Engage - Conversations, Noise Sensitivity, and Social Gatherings. These ear plugs are glass-like design and offer 16 dB of noise reduction. You are able to hear yourself undistorted and clearer than the ear plugs that block out more sound.
I use all of these Loops for various activities from watching movies and traveling in the car to sitting at my desk and working on video and blog editing. I have found a tremendous amount of calmness in my day when I where my Loops. My mind does not fatigue as easily, I can focus on my husband's voice over the outside noises, and I can drown out other sounds that are distracting or prevent my mind to rest.
I truly hope that you explore Loops for yourself and you are able to find the benefits in wearing them. As always, please let me know what you think! What are some other ways that you have found helpful in enabling better focus, sleep, and less distraction? What ways do you protect your ears?
If you are interested in continuing to follow along on my journey to heal from TMS, please keep an eye out on my blog as I plan to post more updates as I can. Thank you for following along thus far.
All my light. All my love. Namaste.
Jordan
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