The noise and constant talking maxed me out

What to do right now

Your auditory processing is overloaded. The narration, the sound effects, the volume. Your ADHD sensory system is full and the input is still coming. This is not them being too much. It is you reaching capacity. Name it without blame. 'I need five minutes of quiet. My ears are full.' Then actually take the five minutes.

What your brain just did

Your body

Your auditory system is saturated. The constant narration, the sound effects, the volume. Your ADHD sensory processing cannot filter it and your regulatory capacity is spent.

Your brain

ADHD parents with sensory sensitivities are especially vulnerable to auditory overload from their children. The child's noise output is their nervous system's baseline stimulation need. Your silence need and their noise need are in direct conflict.

What this did

Name the conflict without blame. Noise-reducing earplugs that allow conversation but lower volume. Designated loud and quiet spaces. The goal is coexistence of two different sensory needs, not suppression of one.

What your child is experiencing

Their body

The noise they are making is their nervous system's baseline stimulation need. They are not choosing to be loud. The narration, sound effects, and constant talking are self-regulatory output.

Their brain

The ADHD nervous system requires more stimulation to maintain optimal arousal. Vocal output generates proprioceptive and auditory input that helps them regulate. Asking for silence removes a regulation tool.

What they need

Redirect rather than suppress. Headphones with music, a designated loud space, a time for noise and a time for quiet. Their need for output and your need for quiet can coexist with structure.