Noise Inventory
The kaleidoscope of sounds that flow daily in most home settings can overload the senses of individuals with autism. “My teenaged son seems to just spiral out of control in the evenings,” commented one dad. “He paces and talks loudly, then finally curls up on the couch with a pillow over his head. I wonder if our home is just too loud.” A staff member at a group home for adults with autism and related disabilities made a similar observation.
Listen Now:
or continue reading:
SOME IDEAS. An inventory of noise in the home environment might ultimately be beneficial for all who live there. Most homes are filled with telephone rings, conversations, music, pets, kitchen sounds, computer sounds, televisions – sometimes even several televisions at one time – and a myriad of other sounds. This environment can be irritating to individuals with autism who are very sensitive to sounds or who have sensory processing disorders. Not only can the mixture of loud sounds be irritating, but also it can be very difficult for individuals with autism to process and decode all these sounds. We might all experience this type of sensory overload if we suddenly found ourselves lost and alone in the midst of a strange city in a foreign country with traffic, people, unfamiliar language, and other noises swirling around us.
Although different individuals can tolerate different noise levels, the active mix of a myriad of sounds can be overwhelming to a person with autism who must purposefully filter every sound for source and content in order to make a conscious decision about the relevance of the sound and to determine if it warrants any action or interest. We probably need to keep in mind that this sound-sensitivity is not a behavior issue and is not a result of a person “wanting their own way.” It is a common characteristic of autism. Sensory overload can result in a melt-down or withdrawal.
So, you might want to take an inventory of sound in your home setting. Just sit back and try to listen to all the noises through the filter of autism. If the inventory suggests the need for some changes, it is certainly not realistic to create a silent environment. But it can make a real difference in the quality of life of individuals with autism if the amount and volume of noise is decreased to a more tolerable level.
NOTE TO LISTENERS AND READERS: I am Cathy Knoll, a board certified music therapist and long-time friend of many folks with autism. At FAQautism.com we are committed to providing free, practical, everyday tips for making life better for people with autism. You can click on a button to send me an email with your thoughts or challenging situations or innovative solutions. Check out our website for a wealth of ideas and a glimpse into the world of autism. www.FAQautism.com
Automatically generated related posts:
- Noise Inventory “I feel like my head is constantly...
- Too Much Noise Imagine your reaction if every sound in...
- Noises All Around Most of us spend time in noisy...
- Too Noisy In the previous podcast, Noisy Machines, my...
- What’s That Noise? At the request of a teacher, I...