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A MyLupusTeam Member asked a question 💭
Palm Bay, FL

For instance do you find it hard to have a full conversation while the TV is playing or theirs a secondary or more sounds and noise in the background. Does it all begin to sound like the horrible static buzz from the tv's back in the day when it lost connection? Do you loose focus and sense of conversation, or get quickly irritated and have mute, stop or change your area to try and focus again.?

November 10, 2025
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MyLupusTeam

Do you struggle with multitasking when it comes to hearing, especially with background noise during conversations?

Yes, many people with lupus experience difficulty processing multiple sounds at once, which is part of lupus-related brain fog. This cognitive symptom can make it hard to focus on conversations when there's Show Full Answer

Do you struggle with multitasking when it comes to hearing, especially with background noise during conversations?

Yes, many people with lupus experience difficulty processing multiple sounds at once, which is part of lupus-related brain fog. This cognitive symptom can make it hard to focus on conversations when there's background noise like a TV or other sounds competing for your attention.

Brain fog affects your ability to concentrate and can lead to:
* Difficulty filtering out background noise
* Loss of focus during conversations
* Quick irritability when overwhelmed by multiple sounds
* Needing to remove yourself from noisy environments to refocus

A MyLupusTeam member shared similar experiences: "One minute, I'm talking and forming sentences just fine, and the next, I'm forgetting or stumbling over my words."

The mental overload from trying to process multiple auditory inputs at once can be exhausting and frustrating. It's not unusual to need to mute the TV, leave the room, or ask others to reduce background noise so you can maintain focus.

This is a real symptom of lupus fog, and tracking when these difficulties occur most often can help you discuss it with your rheumatologist. Fatigue often makes these symptoms worse, so managing your energy levels and rest may help improve your ability to handle multiple sounds.

November 10, 2025
A MyLupusTeam Member

OMG! Yes! You described it a tee. I usually start crying because it's so overwhelming, and if I don't calm down I end up having seizure like events. 😫

November 10, 2025
A MyLupusTeam Member

Has anyone ever experienced severe headaches and been told it was optic neuritis? if so what was your treatment?

November 11, 2025
A MyLupusTeam Member

Yes, I find over-stimulation fatigues me, too.

November 11, 2025
A MyLupusTeam Member

@A MyLupusTeam Member Yes, I can’t focus well if there’s lots of background noise. It’s to much mental overload for me, so I head on over to a quiet place and gather my thoughts and try to refocus again. Brain fog can be overwhelming, but it can be manageable, especially if I get sufficient rest.

November 10, 2025

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A MyLupusTeam Member asked a question 💭

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Miami, FL