#Strategies for auditory sensitivity how to#
#Strategies for auditory sensitivity windows#

Hair cells in the inner ear typically “translate” sound waves into nerve signals. It is defined as an atypical growth in the perception of loudness. Recruitment is directly related to sensorineural hearing loss. For example, a person may have no difficulty being near a noisy dishwasher, but the higher frequency and higher decibel level of the vacuum cleaner will be painful. A person is able to tolerate most sounds at normal levels, but certain frequencies are intolerable, especially above 70 decibels. Hypersensitive hearing of specific frequencies is often (but not always) associated with autism. Hyperacusis is an intolerance of everyday environmental sounds and is often associated with tinnitus, a ringing in the ears. For example, my son has hyperacusis in addition to phobias of specific sounds. These are the 5 most common types of sensitivities, but keep in mind that a person may be affected by more than one issue. Consult with an audiologist to pinpoint which type of sensitivity is affecting your quality of life. There are several different types of noise sensitivity, and there are different treatments for each type.

#Strategies for auditory sensitivity how to#

Here are eleven ways to help a highly sensitive person learn how to cope with and enjoy everyday noisy situations. Over the years his ability to tolerate noise has steadily increased, and barking dogs are his only remaining noise-related phobia. Creating a Plan to Deal With SoundsĪll of these observations gave me food for thought as I developed a plan to help him cope with his sensitivity to sound. But he became calm, even joyful, every single time we went for a walk in the woods, visited the library or entered any kind of religious environment: his stiff, tight muscles would relax instantly in my arms. He developed a phobia of all types of bells. When my son was a toddler, he had a panic attack every time our washing machine clicked loudly to change cycles. Separating and prioritizing sounds drains a person’s energy, and the constant assault of noise causes a person’s anxiety level to escalate. When a person can hear everything simultaneously, it becomes almost impossible to pay attention to the task at hand. The downside to sound sensitivity is that noise quickly becomes painful and can even trigger a panic attack. At a noisy carnival, he can hear his favorite song playing across the park. He can hear a whisper in the next room or an air vent in a busy department store or an airplane’s high-pitched engine long before it’s visible in the sky.

#Strategies for auditory sensitivity windows#

With all the windows closed inside our home, he can hear the next-door neighbors’ sump pump switch on or their garage door opening.

He can hear the school bus when it’s still half a mile from our house. One of my son’s most frequent questions is, “What’s that sound, Mommy?” Resources Noise Control: 11 Tips for Helping your Child with Autism Deal with Noise