Best Noise Cancelling Headphones For Sensory Overload [2023]

Overload to a person’s sensory processing system can have a big impact on their day to day life.

Being oversensitive to auditory input may mean having to avoid loud, crowded spaces, and also cover your ears at loud ambient noises such as vacuums or air conditioning.

Sudden or unexpected sounds can also be startling.

Many people with this condition however find relief through the use of noise cancelling headphones.

In this article we will look at the best noise cancelling headphones for sensory overload.

At a Glance…

What Conditions Can Cause Auditory Sensory Overload

Sensory overload can affect anyone, but it is commonly found in those experiencing the following conditions:

• Autism

• ADHD

• Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

• Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD, Hyperacusis & Auditory Processing Disorder)

• Down Syndrome

• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

• Fibromyalgia

• Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

• Tourette’s syndrome

It is also believed that 1 in every 6 children has sensory processing difficulties.

Sounds that are loud, unexpected, high or low pitched, or what might be considered normal background noise (traffic, air con, or the buzz from fluorescent lights) can trigger sensory overload in those with auditory sensitivity.

Can Headphones Help Sensory Overload?

Several studies have confirmed that noise cancelling headphones are a way of helping auditory sensory overload (i, ii)

Loud noises can be a trigger to sensory overload, so a good pair of the correct type of headphones can help block out noise from the outside world.

It may seem counterproductive to introduce more sound to an individual who is auditory sensitive.

However it can mean that the person then only has the music in their ears to focus on, with the headphones blocking everything else from their environment out.

Noise cancelling technology is used by some headphones to cancel out any noise from the environment.

Is some situations it can be as simple as wearing headphones, even if they aren’t on, to reduce noise to a manageable level.

Here are some situations where you might find headphones help with sensory overload:

• Travelling (car, bus, plane etc.)

• Shopping

• Working

• Studying

• Resting

FAQ & Headphone Considerations For Sensory Overload

Certain headphones are better than others when it comes to helping sensory overload.

Noise Cancelling Headphones

Noise cancelling headphones are the main type of headphone recommended to help with sensory overload.

These type of headphones help the wearer drown out any ambient noise, to enable the person to focus on talking to someone or listening to music.

This type of headphone works by using microphones to pick up incoming low-frequency external noise, and neutralise it before it reaches the ear.

Noise cancelling headphones are the most common type of headphone used to help with sensory overload, as they are better able to block out ambient noise through their noise cancelling technology and also how they are built.

Noise Cancelling Earphones

You may have reasons for not wanting a traditional style pair of headphones. This can often be down to sensory needs of the individual.

For example you may find that the person does not tolerate the feeling of a band on their head.

Also the clamping sensation on the ears which comes with many headphones (particularly if they are brand new and not broken in yet) may be too much to bear.

For this reason noise cancelling earphones may be a good option for you.

Just be mindful that these type of headphones will sit inside the ear canal slightly, so be sure that this can be tolerated first by the user.

Noise Cancelling Earbuds

If you decide you need noise cancelling, but without the fit of a normal headphone, then noise cancelling earbuds may be for you.

These are similar in style to noise cancelling earphones, however do not typically go inside the ear canal.

These are a good option for someone who does not like a headband, pressure on their ear, or anything inside their ear.

Be mindful however that this style of headphone is pretty few and far between these days, with the overwhelming majority of noise cancelling headphones of this type being the in ear earphone type.

The reason for this is that this type simply cannot block outside noise out like a pair of normal style headphones, or an in-ear earphone can.

Earbuds versus Earphones?

You will often find these terms used interchangeably. However there are subtle differences between them.

Earphones or in-ear headphones will actually sit inside the ear canal itself

Whereas earbuds have a more flat design and tend to sit outside the ear canal.

Be mindful however, that both earbuds and earphones have their limitations in terms of noise cancellation (mainly due to their size).

We recommend where possible that you go with a set of traditional style headphones to enjoy maximum noise isolation.

However the earphones mentioned later in this article do offer great noise cancelling.

Other Considerations…

Noise Reduction Rating (Attenuation)

Attenuation is the ability of the headset to reduce ambient noise levels. This is typically measured in decibels (db).

We have given the rating of each device mentioned here, so you are aware of roughly how much each headphone is able to reduce outside noise by.

The higher the number, the better the headphone is at noise isolation.

This is typically expressed as a minus number, as we are interested in the amount the noise is reduced by.

Remember, this is the number which ambient noise is reduced by, not the value it will be reduced to.

Be mindful that this number is usually the average number of the reduction rating across the range of frequencies.

So you may find that some headphones will isolate lower frequency noises better than higher for example.

But usually there is not a great difference across the ranges.

What Do Decibel Numbers Equate To In Noise Cancelling Headphones?

It can be difficult to know what decibels (db) equates to in real world terms.

When you are simply given a number in decibels, how do you know what levels of noise will be blocked out by your headphones?

As a guide, here is what decibel levels equate to in real world examples:

So a good set of noise cancelling headphones will typically deliver anything up to 40db, meaning normal environmental noise such as a refrigerator can be reduced to almost nothing.

Active Noise Cancellation Versus Passive Noise Isolation

This is an important factor to check when buying, as they both allow for a quite different noise isolation experience.

Active Noise Cancellation – This uses technology in the form of external mics to remove any ambient noise.

It doesn’t cancel out every noise around you, so these are great if you wish to cancel out any environmental noise but still hear someone talking to you.

Passive Noise Isolation – This type of headphone generally relies on the build of the headphone (ear pad size, closed back, how deep it sits in the ear canal etc.) to cancel out any outside noise.

This will generally lower the volume of any outside noise, allowing you to focus on your music.

Headphones with noise isolation have arguably better sound quality than those with active noise cancelling, however at the cost of inferior noise isolation/cancelling.

In this article we will look at examples of both Active Noise Cancelling and Passive Noise Isolation headphone types.

Open Back Versus Closed Back Headphones

This should be a consideration also when buying over ear type headphones.

Closed back means the outer facing side of each ear pad is closed, meaning it is more difficult for sound to get in or out.

With open back the opposite is true, and sound can leak both in and out of the headphone.

Open back headphones also are more susceptible to moisture getting into the electronics. So for outdoor use you should also opt for closed back.

So ensure you are buying closed back headphones for maximum noise isolation.

Wired or Wireless

This really comes down to the preference of the user.

Wired headphones are just as good as wireless when it comes to noise isolation, as whether a headphone is wired or not does not affect this.

You simply need to decide whether you wish to have the wireless benefits of more portability and no cable, against the need to charge the headphones.

Material

The material of which the headphones are made of may be a consideration for someone who experiences Autism or ADHD.

For example the user may have a preference in terms of whether the ear pads are made of leather, velour or PU (synthetic) leather. Or if the padding is memory foam for example.

You may decide that you need the headband to be padded, or you may find a standard plastic headband is perfectly fine.

How flexible or extendable the headband is may be a factor if you are looking for a particularly snug or loose pair of headphones.

Also consider the design of the headphones themselves and whether they have things like pointy edges, or exposed cables which can be damaged easily.

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5 Best Noise Cancelling Headphones For Sensory Overload

Here we will take a look at some headphones and earphones which work great to help with sensory overload.

Read on for our five recommendations…

Menu

• 1/ Sony WH-1000XM3 Review – Best For Noise Cancelling
  

• 2/ Bose QuietComfort 35 II Review – Best For Comfort

• 3/ Sennheiser HD 280 PRO Review – Best Budget Option

• 4/ Sony WF-1000XM3 Review – Best Wireless Earphones For Sensory Overload

• 5/ Bose QuietComfort 20 Review – Best Wired Earphones For Sensory Overload

• Conclusion

1/ Sony WH-1000XM3 Noise Cancelling Headphones (Best Noise Cancelling)

 

 

Pros
Industry Leading Noise Cancellation
Outstanding Comfort
Smart Features

Cons
Call Quality

 

Type – Over Ear Closed Back
Noise Cancelling – Active Noise Cancelling
Noise Reduction – 40 dB
Connection – Wireless (Bluetooth & NFC) & Wired (3.5mm)
Mic – Inbuilt
Item Weight – 255 grams
Materials – Synthetic Leather & Plastic

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

 

It’s difficult to imagine that a set of wireless, premium, noise cancelling headphones from Sony only happened in recent years.

Since then Sony have just kept going from strength to strength with their Sony WH-1000 series.

The series has evolved in increments to give you better and better audio, with almost unrivalled noise isolation.

Here we will take a closer look at the Sony WH-1000XM3.

Key Features

The ‘Smart Listening‘ feature detects and adjusts the levels of ambient sound to give you the best noise cancelling.

Comfortable enough to wear for long listening sessions or during travel due to the ergonomic design and comfortable ear pads.

Packed with smart features, such as the ‘Quick Attention Mode‘ where you can cover the right ear cup to turn down your music for instant, easy conversation.

 

 

What is The Noise Reduction Rating?

In terms of noise reduction you can expect the Sony WH-1000XM3 to reduce sounds by around -30 to -40 db.

Pros

Noise cancelling on the XM3’s is simply superb.

The active noise cancelling on these headphones is so good that you will be able hear sounds like your family or workmates speaking near you, but sounds like an air con systems, traffic noise, and other persistent notes will be cancelled out.

You even have the option to set the function to be permanently on, even when not playing any music.

This is a great option if you simply need noise cancelling to quieten the environment down for a peaceful nap.

These headphones also come highly rated for comfort.

Many factors contribute to what makes the XM3’s so comfortable.

However, the switch from a metal to a plastic headband is somewhat of a criticism in terms of how these headphones look.

But this does mean the XM3’s are 20g lighter than the previous generation, meaning it hardly feels like these headphones are resting on your head at all!

The earpads themselves are also nicely thick and cushioned, and follow the shape of the ear nicely.

A nice feature is the touch sensitive panel on the right ear cup. This can be used to play/pause, change volume, skip tracks and even answer calls.

As well as the ‘Quick Attention Mode‘ which we mentioned earlier, hand gestures can also be used to activate voice assistants such as Siri and Alexa.

Finally the ‘Atmospheric Pressure Optimiser‘ is great for use on flights for example, as it improves the headphones performance at high altitudes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mcrNTwT33M

 

In terms of sound the XM3’s deliver a great atmospheric experience.

You will really feel like you are in the same room as the performance, with each instrument coming through clear, but at the same time you are able to differentiate between the different sounds which are being delivered.

The bass adds a nice deep earthy richness to the sound, with the bass on the XM3’s being arguably the best in the series.

Cons

The touch controls will take some getting used to, and may feel fiddly at first.

The price may also be too much for some. However, when you consider you are getting probably the best noise cancelling headphones on the market currently, this would appear to justify the cost.

And if I’m being totally honest I feel Sony could have been a bit more adventurous with the design of these, as they do look somewhat run of the mill in this department.

Finally, when using these for calls, you will find the call audio quality is just ok.

Final Opinion

A superb set of headphones for sound cancelling which are also extremely comfortable.

Not that those are the only two features that the XM3’s do well, as these really are a superb all round pair of headphones.

Finally the app on the Sony headphones is excellent, and many people will likely benefit from being able to tweak the noise cancellation settings which are included.

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

2/ Bose QuietComfort 35 II Wireless Noise-Cancelling Bluetooth Headphones (Best For Comfort)

Pros
Three Noise Cancellation Settings
Outstanding Comfort

Cons
Good Sound But Could Be Improved

The brand Bose needs no introduction.

And with the Bose QuietComfort 35 line Bose are going for the crown of best wireless noise cancelling headphones.

The Bose QuietComfort 35 (Series II) were the successors to the already excellent QuietComfort 35 (Series I).

Bose really nails it in so many ways with the QuietComfort series in terms of comfort, noise cancelling, and features.

Key Features

Many headphones offer noise cancelling, but the Quietcomfort II headphones offer an incredible three levels of noise cancelling.

This feature allows you to manually adjust the level of noise isolation depending on your environment.

In terms of comfort, these really are one of the most comfortable pair of headphones you will ever experience.

You can connect to a range of devices easily, including iPhone, iPad and Android devices. Also control Siri and Alexa on your phone via the headphone mic.

What is The Noise Reduction Rating?

In terms of noise reduction, the Bose QuietComfort 35 (Series II) have an overall attenuation of around -27 dB.

Pros

One of the areas in which the Series II excels is active noise cancelling.

These headphones can cancel out over 27 db of background noise. What is this in real terms? Well you will be unlikely able to hear your own breathing when the active noise cancelling is activated!

Many users, including those with auditory sensory issues, report how great the noise cancelling is on these headphones.

The Series II are also outstanding when it comes to comfort. The alcantera and leather headband is extremely comfortable and flexible, and it comes with soft PU leather ear cushions.

The buttons on the headset are easy to identify and operate just from touch.

Their portability, noise cancelling, and comfort make them great for travel, especially on air planes and buses.

There are a number of nice touches with these headphones, like when you turn these on it will tell you the battery percentage which is left.

The Series II has great battery life (20 hrs wireless and 40 hrs wired) and comes with a sturdy carry case also.

The portable case wasn’t just an afterthought either like with some headphones, this really is a great looking and sturdy case.

Transporting these without a case however is a breeze also as you will be happy just to wear them due to their lightweight and comfortable design.

Overall, these headphones just excel in terms of comfort and quality when placed against competitors in that same class.

In terms of sound these headphones sound great regardless of what genre you throw at them.

You will likely notice small details in songs which you haven’t noticed before.

The QC35’s pay a lot of attention to the midrange, but also add some nice punch to the bass range also.

Highs are also managed well, with no noticeable distortion.

Cons

Sound quality is great but nothing spectacular, and is on par with many other headphones in it’s class.

The bass is solid, and all the other ranges are nice and warm but you may find yourself expecting more for the price.

These have however come down in price recently from their original retail price, so check the latest price using the button below.

3/ Sennheiser HD 280 PRO (Best Budget Option)

Pros
Great Passive Noise Isolation
Good Value

Cons
Looks Large & Bulky When Worn

If you are looking for a great budget option in terms of noise reduction, then you can certainly trust Sennheiser to deliver with their 40+ years of experience in this field.

Although designed originally as studio monitoring headphones, the Sennheiser HD 280 PROs are great at passively reducing ambient noise significantly.

You can expect comfort, power, and accuracy from this budget friendly set of headphones.

Key Features

These are great at reducing ambient noise but without having to pay for the added expensive of active noise cancelling technology.

The 280 PRO headphones are lightweight, comfortable and ergonomic.

Finally they are a great budget choice for someone wanting a quality, cost effective, set of noise reducing headphones, but by a trusted brand.

What is The Noise Reduction Rating?

In terms of noise reduction, the Sennheiser HD 280 PROs achieve an attenuation of around -32 dB.

Pros

The design of these headphones means they are able to cancel out 32db of noise (which is equivalent to the ambient noise in your average rural area).

In terms of comfort you can enjoy comfortable padding both with the ear pads and headband. These are really great for long listening sessions.

I would describe the sound as neutral overall, but you will likely notice lots of detail in songs which you may not have noticed before.

The bass is solid, but you will notice the highs also as the 280 PROs do not particularly favour one over the other.

At 64 ohms these will work well with anything from iPod or Android phones, up to tablets or PCs.

The build quality is great also, and these headphones are sturdy despite having many hinges etc. where they fold.

Want to know how sturdy? Check out the following video.

Cons

Be mindful that the low price of the 280 PROS comes at the cost of having no active noise cancelling technology.

Here, sounds are suppressed by the ear pads forming a seal around the ear.

You can expect decent noise suppression across the board, but don’t expect miracles with low frequency noises such as engine noises.

Also you may find when you first try these that the headphones do feel like they clamp quite a lot. This will improve over time, or by stretching the headband yourself.

Finally these headphones do look quite large when worn, which is due to the headband design.

4/ Sony WF-1000XM3 (Best Wireless Earphones For Sensory Overload)

Pros
Comfortable Fit
Outstanding Sound Quality

Cons
Not Water Resistant

If you are looking for earphones for both noise cancelling and comfort, but with truly wireless freedom, then look no further than the WF-1000XM3 from Sony.

With noise cancellation on par with the Sony WH-1000XM3 headphones, but not the bulkiness of over-ear headphones, these earphones are a great choice for wireless earphones for sensory overload.

Key Features

Industry leading noise cancelling, with 24bit Audio signal processing which delivers greatly improved sound quality.

Choose your own ear tip size for maximum comfort.

Enjoy a 24 hour battery life when the case is fully charged, with a 10 minute quick charge which provides 90 minutes of charge.

Easily access functions and features using the smartphone app.

What is The Noise Reduction Rating?

The Sony WF-1000XM3 earphones achieve an overall attenuation of around -16.5 dB.

Pros

I personally love the look of these earphones, with everything from the earphones themselves to the case simply exuding finesse and refinement.

The dual microphone setup of the WF-1000XM3’s easily cancels out any external noise, and the active noise cancelling here will automatically adjust to whatever environment you are in.

In real terms, these earphones can block out noises such as breathing, quiet voices, and rustling leaves.

The ear tips also fit so well that you will benefit from passive noise cancellation when the active cancelling is turned off.

In terms of accessibility, double tapping the left or right earphone enables you to access features such as different listening modes, and track skipping.

Music is also automatically paused when the earphones are removed from your ears.

You also have the option to let in any ambient noise by simply holding a finger on the left earphone.

In terms of the sound, the XM3 earphones sound great across a range of musical genres.

You will notice a positive difference in the bass and mid frequencies, and instruments sound separate and clear.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqfqZzUDX_E

The handy app has an option to analyze your ear shape and optimize the sound based on this.

The built in mic is also pretty good and works well for calls. Expect the caller to hear some ambient noise from your end however, but nothing that will affect the call quality.

Finally you can expect a strong wireless connection to whatever device you are paired with.

Cons

These aren’t ideal for moist conditions, such as exercise, as they don’t come with an IP (Ingress Protection) rating.

However many people report using these for exercise without any problems.

Also be mindful that the reported 24 hours battery life does not apply to how much charge the earphones themselves hold in a single charge.

The battery in the case (which is used to charge the earphones) holds the equivalent of three full charges.

So you may find you have as little as less than 5 hours from these with noise cancelling on, and less if you put the DSEE HX audio enhancement option on.

However these earphones charge again so quickly this may not be a consideration for you.

5/ Bose QuietComfort 20 (Best Wired Earphones For Sensory Overload)

Pros
Comfortable Ear Tips
High Noise Reduction

Cons
Good Sound But Room For Improvement

Bose’s awesome noise cancelling technology isn’t just confined to their standard headphones, as it can be seen in their earphones and earbuds also.

The Bose QuietComfort 20 acoustic noise cancelling earphones offer great noise cancellation, comfort, and some great accessibility features, all in this compact pair of earphones.

Key Features

Enjoy better sound everywhere you go without the distractions of the outside world.

At the touch of a button you can activate the ‘Aware Mode’ to hear what’s happening around you.

The ‘StayHear+’ tips provide a comfortable, secure fit for hours of listening.

These earphones are compatible with both Apple, Samsung and Android devices.

What is The Noise Reduction Rating?

In terms of noise reduction, the Bose QuietComfort 20s offer an overall attenuation of around -24 dB.

This amount is achieved across the range of sounds, so you can expect these to block out low frequencies such as engine noise, and also higher frequencies such as up to outdoor ambient noise.

Pros

These earphones are a great option of someone looking for a wired earphone solution with great noise cancelling.

With the QuietComfort 20 it has never been easier to switch between being isolated from outside noise, to being aware of what is going on around you, without having to take the earphones out!

You may be quick to assume that the newer Bose QuietControl 30 earphones would be better in terms of noise cancellation. However the QuietComfort 20 offers slightly more noise isolation.

The QC20s offer a maximum noise reduction of an impressive -24 dB.

Vehicle noises, noisy aircon and other environmental noise becomes almost unnoticeable with these earphones.

These also offer longer battery life than the newer model (16 hours versus 10). The QuietComfort 20s will also continue to work once the battery has died (albeit without the noise cancelling feature).

The earphones are extremely lightweight and comfortable, weighing in at just 44 grams.

You will find that these earphones feel like they are resting in your ear, rather than being jammed in there.

The included carry case is also a fraction of the size of many other earphones in the class, making these portable and travel friendly.

The sound quality with the 20’s is good overall.

There is more than a decent amount of bass going on here. The mid range is set back slightly compared to the other levels, and the treble is good.

Cons

Although the sound quality here is good overall, it isn’t quite as good as other in-ear headphones in the same price range.

But on the flip side other in-ear headphones in the class won’t have the same level of noise cancellation that the QuietComfort 20s have.

And this is likely where you will be torn on the price also. Yes these earphones aren’t the cheapest on the market. But the almost unrivalled noise cancellation in this class justifies the cost.