This post is about how neurodivergent people, specifically autistic people, can hear the sound of electricity. The lights have sound. Electronics have sound. Appliances have sound. If electricity runs through it, it has sound.
Can you relate to this? Do you constantly hear the sound of electricity? Let us know your experiences in the comments below!
Absolutely I do; always have. And yes, I’m autistic. I’ve often been amazed by the fact that others can’t hear or feel it. I’m also a general synaesthete (I see colours when I hear music), and for a considerable period of time I’d wondered if the ability to hear electricity was somehow a part of my synaesthesia. But the fact that it’s a part of my autistic nature makes sense, and doesn’t surprise me in the least.
Most electronics and such do have a hum or buzz. It often comes from the 60hz alternating current frequency. Most electronic devices take in 60hz 120 volt supply and convert it to various dc currents. Dc does not make near so much noise because it’s not switching direction 60 times a second (60hz). You also get a number of cross talks and interference from different devices doing their own thing in proximity to other devices. If you want to talk all day about hums and buzzes and feedback talk with audio technicians and stage hands. They spend a decent part of their life trying to minimize the buzz.
Someone with good ears can hear electrical devices. However, most people end up tuning it out and do not become hyper focused on it. An individual with perfect pitch might even be able to tell you what frequency it is from memory.
Subtitles are required bc hearing everything means you can’t hear a damn thing!
I don’t hear it all the time, but when I do…. I was in college, having a little class session in a room full of TV carts (IYKYK, and how long ago). I could hear that one was turned on, black screen, and it was so distracting I had to turn it off. Nobody else had any clue what I was doing.
Ok, I don’t know of I’m autistic or anything like that but…I could always trek when the TV was turned on in the livingroom from my bedroom. Not because of the volume, I could hear what I thought was the static electricity of a good now old fashioned television. It was almost like I could hear and feel it. I ALWAYS new when my brother beat me to Saturday morning cartoons. I never really told anyone because I thought everyone could hear it. Man, so much makes sense now! Like when people think I’m sitting in utter silence at home and to me, there’s all sorts of noise happening. They look at me like I’m nuts and I look at them the same. My refrigerator kicking in drives me nuts! I think it’s so loud!
I’m currently seeking an assessment, and can I just say… is that what that’s about??? There was a persistent highly-pitched sound that I think must have been the heating system because it’s summer now and it’s gone. I thought I was the only one to hear it because my parents are maybe losing a little hearing, you’re telling me it’s this?
This is why I am glad I have naturally bad hearing + hearing loss in my left ear. Even if I pick something up I can typically move away from the source easily enough to not be able to hear it anymore.
I was always under the impression it was a case of tinnitus. But yea, it is a ridiculously high pitched noise I hear 24/7 365. I think I have always heard it, but when I was younger it was certainly less. Maybe as the world has more and more electric current in it via devices and power lines, maybe it has gotten worse?