I would not accept it as a phase, but have her checked either by a hearing specialist.
Maybe she just needs some quiet time. Try having some time set aside each day where computer, tv, video games, music, etc. is all off and it's just quiet. Perhaps just life in general and all the noise that fills it is overwhelming her at the moment.
My 2 1/2 year old daughter did the same thing for about 3 months. Blow dryers, vacuums etc....she'd watch Dora and be fine and then suddenly it was "too loud". I finally figured out the saying "too loud" was her way of saying she was scared of Swiper and other noises. It had nothing to do with the sound itself but in trying to learn about emotions and how to express them. Once she had the vocabulary to name how she was feeling and could recognize it, she stopped. She now sits next to me while I blow dry by hair or vacuum. The mixer is still "too loud" but only I suspect because I don't cook often enough. :-) I wouldn't worry unless there are other issues you are noticing too.
please look up SELECTIVE SOUND SENSITIVITY SYNDROME
My 3 year old says the same thing & my wife and I are concerned. Having read the answers we can try and work out what the issue is.
My son is doing this same thing, he has never been startled or upset by loud noises, he would sleep through the vaccuum and everything. Now everything is too loud. We let him sleep with the tv on (I know, bad mama, but you do what you do to get them to sleep) and sometimes the tape is quieter than the tv, so one night the video shut off and the tv was louder than the tape and when I went in there to turn it down/off he had his head covered with his pillows. Another night he curled up with us on the couch. He was starting to fall asleep, and grabbed my arm and made it cover his exposed ear, I thought it was just a phase or that he was doing it for attention, but now I'm starting to think of sensory issues. He's at the circus tonight and my Mom is sending me pics of him, and they're all of him with his hands on his ears. I'm taking him to the Doc tomorrow afternoon, and definitely getting a referral. As with anything concerning your health or especially the health of your child, if you are not satisfied with the Dr's advice keep getting her more appointments until you are satisfied.
Hi I know that your concern has been over almost 2 years ago, but I'm curious if your child was just going through a 'phase' or if she was ever diagnosed with anything. My three year old is going through the same phase. Doctor is telling me it's 'sensory'. It's unusual, since It can be very quiet and my child will cover his ears with his hands reacting to loud noise.
My son is four and has this issue, as well. He also has Asperger’s. He was diagnosed with it last year.
This was just one of the signs that led us to take him to be evaluated. His whole world is numbers, letters, shapes. He sees everything differently than we do. He’s verbal, but for a long time, it was just to describe, not to communicate.
I have the sound sensitivity, too. EVERYTHING sounds loud to me. My husband’s voice. The TV is painful, etc, etc.