wow~! one of the things i lost when i "acquired" my brain damage, was the "ability to screen out sensory input",, it sounds so innocuous, but a barking dog is like being beaten in the head,, a ringing phone sends me Boing, to the ceiling,, loud voices hurt me, physically, and sudden noises banging will make me twitch like i've been electrocuted. people always tell me to just calm down, like,,, DUH, if i could , don't you think i would have by now ???? thanks for helping me not feel so all alone,, Gus