# I think I have auditory paranoia. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 21, 2005, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-have-auditory-paranoia/332011 "2005-11-21T01:39:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-have-auditory-paranoia/332011/1 "2005-11-21T01:39:22Z")
Anyone else find it impossible to wear headphones or earphones in public places for fear of not hearing something important? For my whole life I have felt paranoid the instant I put headphones on that I will miss some vital life-changing sound cue, such as a car screeching to avoid me or a person in danger that had my external hearing been intact I would be in a position to save. I am wearing earphones right now as I sit here typing this, but I am sat alone, at twenty to two in the morning in my bedroom at my computer, yet I still feel the need to remove my earphones every now and then in case I am missing a phone ringing or someone shouting to get my attention. ---
**Author:** ![Strinka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/strinka/32/512_2.png) [@Strinka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strinka)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-have-auditory-paranoia/332011/2 "2005-11-21T04:35:24Z")
I most definitely don’t have this. I still wear headphones without worrying about missing noises even after not hearing a fire alarm because of them. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-have-auditory-paranoia/332011/3 "2005-11-21T04:51:32Z")
Hm, I more have a reverse version of it … if I am alone at home and it is late at night I hate wearing headphones because I wouldn’t be able to hear the outside critters [dog and chickens] letting me know somebody was mucking about outside, possibly breaking in [there was a series of nasty break ins with people at home being injured in a sort of smash and grab terror CLockwork orange thang when we first moved here, and previous to moving in with mrAru I had lived in a slum section of Norfolk and had some seriously skeevy neighbors] I was never afraid of the dark growing up, but I do remember periods of time when I either had to have a night light to get to sleep, or I needed total darkness to get to sleep - anybody else had anything like that? Ever since spending some quality time residing in intensive care, I can now get to sleep in an emergency room full of emergencies going on, complete with lights, crash carts and people screaming… And tangenting yet again, why in the name of all that is holy do they freaking WAKE you from a sound sleep to give you a sedative to help you sleep?! ---
**Author:** ![Good\_Egg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/96bed5/32.png) [@Good\_Egg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Good_Egg)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-have-auditory-paranoia/332011/4 "2005-11-21T04:53:30Z")
I always hear things, or so I think, while blow drying. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-have-auditory-paranoia/332011/5 "2005-11-21T12:56:33Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > Anyone else find it impossible to wear headphones or earphones in public places for fear of not hearing something important? For my whole life I have felt paranoid the instant I put headphones on that I will miss some vital life-changing sound cue, such as a car screeching to avoid me or a person in danger that had my external hearing been intact I would be in a position to save. I certainly understand that feeling. I use headphones while out in public sometimes, but I keep the volume pretty low, for the very reasons you mentioned. I can’t understand the people who have it blaring away, completely wrapped up in the music. I wouldn’t want to be that oblivious to my surroundings. ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-have-auditory-paranoia/332011/6 "2005-11-21T19:43:48Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > Anyone else find it impossible to wear headphones or earphones in public places for fear of not hearing something important? … Oh yes indeedy! However, as a nerous pedestrian, I’m not sure that this is paranoia as much as self-preservation. Nor do I understand people who wander along the street engrossed in the mobile phone conversations. ---
**Author:** ![Strinka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/strinka/32/512_2.png) [@Strinka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strinka)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-have-auditory-paranoia/332011/7 "2005-11-22T03:20:38Z")
> [@BiblioCat](#): > > I wouldn’t want to be that oblivious to my surroundings. I don’t _want_ to be oblivious to my surroundings. I just think it’s worth it. I’m a very auditory person, and music is probably the most beautiful form of expression to me. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-have-auditory-paranoia/332011/8 "2005-11-22T03:44:48Z")
Stop reading my mind! If I put on headphones, invariably, EVERYONE will have to ask me a question. I could be sitting here all freakin’ day and the second I put on headphones, someone will suddenly appear out of nowhere (like in a Looney Tunes cartoon) to talk to me.