Need help with finding solution to sensory issues at new job

[rusty577]

I started working at an office for the first time in my life. I have worked in different forms of health care for over 20yrs. This job is great but my group works close together and we make lot of phone calls. They are renovating our new office space so it's not an ideal working situation because if one or more people are loud it can be hard to work. One of my coworkers she sings and for the love of God it's like nails on a chalk board I cannot concentrate and it doesn't help that she sounds like she is sleeping at her desk she sounds like she is snoring. I can't say anything to her because I know it will come across wrong and my supervisor is trying to accommodate me but she says that my coworker means well. I'm not bashing on anyone I know this is my issue I can't tune her out and I can't move. They have bought me two different headphone that I can use to answer the phone and not hear her but it doesn't work when I'm not on the phone. I need help finding a solution I do need to hear the phone ring. I really like my job and I do not know how to find the resources to help me find a solution without buying a bunch of stuff. I need suggestions from others who have dealt with the same.

[daverussell]

This has been, and can still be a huge barrier, especially in my previous job. I went for a career change (I found the office environment frustrating) if only the sentry nature of the job. I'm now a teacher and I have to be extra-prepared in my lessons, as incessant noise and hyperacusis makes it difficult to judge whether noise is too much. It can affect my ability to think. Working in the office especially when it's noisy distracts my ability to work. So I block-book a meeting room or get in extra-early/work from home where I can (my boss authorised this). The further downside to this is being isolated from collaeges.In terms of advise, I'm taking ADs that at least keep my anxiety from noise down. I use my anxiety/lack of sleep as a guage...

I quote from a recent article...

"Tinnitus can work as an ‘emotional barometer’ – it is often more intrusive when there is stress or worry around. If there is something else on your mind, try to resolve the matter. If it can’t be sorted out, acknowledge this and note to yourself that worrying will not help. " - tinnitus.org.uk/understandi...

Wishing you all the best.

[NYCmom2]

LOOP ear plugs dampens sound slightly but you can still hear what people are saying.

Can you ask to move to a different area of the office? When working in cubicles in my 20s I did really well in tucked away, against the wall cubicles. And I did so poorly in high traffic, near the elevator or break room.

[Olderbutmaybewiser]

I use a full over-ear headset when I need to focus and there is noise around me. I play brown noise from YouTube or Spotify (had to find the right frequency that didn’t irritate me). Works well!

[STEM_Dad in reply to Olderbutmaybewiser]

Good point about the headset. Many modern desk phones enable a corded or wireless (Bluetooth or DECT) connection to a headset.

Some phone systems allow for use of a "softphone" (software-telephone), instead of a desk phone. This enables use of a computer headset, like a gaming headset, which might have even better noise blocking capabilities, maybe even active noise cancelling.

(A computer headset would also make it even easier to listen to the white noise/brown noise/work music tracks of your preference, without disturbing coworkers nearby.)

[Olderbutmaybewiser]

yeah, my headset has ANC, but I keep forgetting to charge it so it can function. I can’t charge and listen at the same time due to electrical noises when charging. Brown noise works just as well.

And yeah, our work phone system is purely through teams now. But no one calls me; just chat or email anyway.