I think we're just plain more sensitive. Noise, light, heat, cold, rough fabric..you name it, we're sensitive to it! Hubby wears wireless headphones when I ask him to.

People with ME/CFS often complain of sensitivity to loud noises, odors, rough textured apparel, etc.

Many assume that if their symptoms aren't part of the early case definition of CFS, it's not connected to their illness. But those early criteria, the Fukuda criteria, were arbitrarily selected at random from a long list of symptoms.

ME/CFS is a neuro-endocrine-immune disorder, so it definitely produces strange neurological abnormalities.

I would agree that noise sensitivity is definitely a symptom of CFS. When any of my senses, especially hearing, sight, and smell, are turned up a level or more, I know I am in a crash/flare up. It is especially hard when you are sensitive to sound and your significant other is hard of hearing and needs to radio or TV turned up loud. Been there, done that!

Yes, it is. I used to have to wear ear plugs because I was so sensitive. Even a ticking clock would hurt my brain.

Thanks...and yep I am extremely sensitive to smell as well. That one really drives my husband crazy as many of his work clothes have to live in the shop!

Yes, I'm extremely sensitive to noise, light, heat, cold, pain--basically, I'm a never ending nerve ending. Many blessings.

I have times when I am especially sensitive to noise or too much light or other visual input. I've just called it sensory overload and figured it was part of the cognitive dysfunction (took me a few minutes to remember those two words!).