There were a lot of sounds. The parking garage elevator said “Eeerrrrr! Eeerrrrr! Eeerrrrr!” in a terribly grating voice. The cars whooshed and honked. The crowds of strangers shouted to each other. It was all horribly chaotic and unfamiliar. I could feel myself closing off internally, contracting as though preparing to huddle down into a ball on the floor in some concrete corner.
I’m sure you’ve thought of this already, but nevertheless, my brain suggests using earplugs. I keep a supply in my backpack, and use them at louder parties and mass transit; the brand I use is flesh-colored, so people are unlikely to notice them (although I don’t think I’d care if they did). I can generally hear speech well enough through them to have a conversation, although my hearing may be unusually good; if that weren’t the case, then I think I’d try reducing their strength by (a) putting them in only partway, (b) cutting them or poking holes in them, or (c) finding a low-strength brand.
I suspect that having them in your pocket, as an option, provides reassurance even when you don’t end up using them.
I’m sure you’ve thought of this already, but nevertheless, my brain suggests using earplugs. I keep a supply in my backpack, and use them at louder parties and mass transit; the brand I use is flesh-colored, so people are unlikely to notice them (although I don’t think I’d care if they did). I can generally hear speech well enough through them to have a conversation, although my hearing may be unusually good; if that weren’t the case, then I think I’d try reducing their strength by (a) putting them in only partway, (b) cutting them or poking holes in them, or (c) finding a low-strength brand.
I suspect that having them in your pocket, as an option, provides reassurance even when you don’t end up using them.
They’ve actually got them on a tiny little holster on their belt.
I was wearing them at the time in fact.