<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.6000.16608" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY> <DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=872313712-24022008><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>Ah the blessings of hearing aids...........  I can turn off about a third of the world if I want to!   Diane H would have to tell the downside.  There are losses there. Everyone pays in one way or another, i guess.</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=872313712-24022008><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>les b</FONT></SPAN></DIV><BR> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader lang=en-us dir=ltr align=left> <HR tabIndex=-1> <FONT face=Tahoma size=2><B>From:</B> pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] <B>On Behalf Of </B>Willem Blees<BR><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, February 23, 2008 11:23 PM<BR><B>To:</B> pianotech@ptg.org<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: OT - Sensory Overload<BR></FONT><BR></DIV> <DIV></DIV><WBR>I can't stand noisy places. I have left restaurants that are too noisy. When we go to a party with a lot of people, I either leave, or find a quiet room somewhere. I leave loud concerts, even classical. Rock concerts are completely out. I've been like this for about 20 years. (I'm 62 now). But I'm not sure if it's realted to being a piano tuner, because ever since I can remember, my mom was like this, too.  <BR><BR> <DIV style="CLEAR: both">Willem (Wim) Blees, RPT<BR>Piano Tuner/Technician<BR>Honolulu, HI<BR>Author of <BR>The Business of Piano Tuning<BR>available from Potter Press<BR>www.pianotuning.com</DIV><BR><BR>-----Original Message-----<BR>From: Michelle Smith <michelle@smithpianoservice.com><BR>To: 'Pianotech List' <pianotech@ptg.org><BR>Sent: Sat, 23 Feb 2008 5:35 pm<BR>Subject: OT - Sensory Overload<BR><BR> <DIV id=AOLMsgPart_2_b1281c8a-4506-46fe-bb41-df2925c720ae> <STYLE></STYLE> <DIV class=Section1> <DIV class=MsoNormal>Hi all.  My son started school this year and is being tested for some sensory issues.  He’s always been extremely sensitive to sounds, busy environments, textures, etc.  I think he got it from me.  My husband says I’m ridiculously sensitive to noise, certain clothing, crowded places, etc.  Loud parties/restaurants stress me out.  The grasshopper-type creatures outside our house this time of year severely hurt my ears.</DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal> </DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal>I started thinking about our group of piano technicians and wondering if our sensitive ears are a blessing as well as a curse.  Do any of you fall into the sensory overload category?  </DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal> </DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'">Michelle Smith</SPAN></DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'">Smith Piano Service</SPAN></DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'">Bastrop, Texas</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"></SPAN></DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal> </DIV></DIV></DIV> <DIV class=AOLPromoFooter> <HR style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px"> More new features than ever. Check out the new <A href="http://o.aolcdn.com/cdn.webmail.aol.com/mailtour/aol/en-us/text.htm?ncid=aolcmp00050000000003" target=_blank>AOL Mail</A>!<BR></DIV><BR> <P><FONT size=2>No virus found in this incoming message.<BR>Checked by AVG Free Edition.<BR>Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.20.9/1294 - Release Date: 02/22/2008 6:39 PM<BR></FONT></P></BODY></HTML>