My ears does the same. I use the same trick than linnie. I even wears earplug at church, the organ and the choir is to much for me!
I do the same. I mentioned to my DH the other day I never realized how sensitive I was to light and sound until after I had surgery and he mentioned it probably is because there was so much more going on before that I never noticed it. I tend to do the same thing. Our bodies give us signs to say. "O.K. that's enough it time to walk way". I have found I carry earplugs with me every where and when the noise get's to much I pop them in and no one notices. It does help. Try it. It might help a little. You can still hear, but it takes out that annoying muffled noise.
Enjoy your sunshine. Here in MI there is snow on the ground.
:) Linda