A big clue that a younger person is autistic is the wearing of headphones to block noise, like in a noisy environment.
A “problem” with autism is that as you get older you develop techniques and tolerance, and so you might no longer be able to genuinely say something bothers you.
Noise is a funny one, because you don’t suffer horrendous noise in an empty paddock. It tends to be associated with a lot going on, which is also the problem. Nightclubs in my 20s were especially problematic, because of the combination – crowded, noisy, smoky (I’m old) and social awkwardness. I use to bail out regularly due to my “claustrophobia”, the best explanation I had.
But also I love music, especially live music. I’d be in the top 1% of society for seeing bands, easily. And so I have gotten used to it. Best is when I find a dark corner when I am not in anyone’s way.
Noise bothers me but I live 10 metres from a busy train crossing, and the noise is up there. I have become used to it, as expected. The crows on my roof make a racket so I yell back at them. Many environmental sounds, like the beeps of a reversing car, birds singing, emergency sirens, I sing back to them. I own the situation.
I do still visibly jump when I hear an unexpected loud noise. I laugh it off. These days.