Try earplugs! Even just turning the volume down 70% changes the intensity of words. With earplugs in I could let somebody curse at me to my face and just let it slide. But without, even ambient noises add to a state of unease. A motorcycle driving by has a lot of subtle negative impact to everybody who hears it. You don’t have to be deaf to enjoy the benefits of silence. Hearing is a choice, but most people default to full open.