Autism and the Auditory Environment

We learned that he had Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) just before his fifth birthday. For him, emotions are hard to express. He has sensory issues and trouble understanding his environment. Loud or unexpected noises—such as fire alarms, storms, popping balloons or fireworks—cause a lot of stress. This is fairly common for people with autism; they tend to be sensitive to noise. Once the brain has processed the sound, the child reacts. They may stop listening and start babbling incoherently. Certain sounds can also trigger negative emotional outbursts.

Our environment is full of noise pollution. Constantly being in a noisy environment irritates the senses. For people with ASD, crowds, shows and any place with a disruptive auditory environment can become oppressive. These environments cause a lot of stress, which can lead to outbursts of fear or anger. A simple trip to a shopping mall can be a nightmare. People with ASD are hypersensitive to sounds, and this can cause anxiety and panic. Generally, they wear earmuffs or cover their ears in situations like the ones above so that they can avoid receiving too much auditory information at once. This may seem unusual, but it’s a good way to stay calm, lower tension and control anxiety.

Earmuffs can be a good tool for some children with special needs, but they shouldn’t be used too often because it can hinder the development of central auditory skills. Earmuffs are not the only solution, but they do help to reduce panic. However, they should not be overused. It is a good idea to see a professional to discuss this. The important thing is to reduce the negative reaction and stress caused by loud sounds. Auditory hypersensitivity is generally treated through desensitization and listening therapy. There are also a number of different hearing protectors. If you have any questions, contact an audioprosthetist.