Movie Madness
Last week my husband and I made a rare visit to a movie theater. Even though I am not diagnosed with autism, I found the place a sensory madhouse. I’m not advocating individuals with autism boycott movie theaters, but my experience last week helped me see the need for caution for individuals who have marked sensory issues.
or
continue reading
When we entered the lobby of our small-town movie theater last week, it was crowded with people, popcorn, and bright lights. Then we stepped into darkness and sank into deep rocking seats just before the previews suddenly started up with very loud surround sound and constantly changing images. After the third of ten previews, I realized I was struggling to sort the comedies from the tragedies or the family movies from the R-rated films I was gathering my thoughts as the previews paused momentarily, then a clever, fast-moving, hard-rocking clip about theater etiquette overwhelmed my eyes and ears. We had been waiting for the feature film for 20 minutes, but another round of previews started up. I finally leaned over to my husband and asked him to remind me what movie we actually came to see. Just when I though my head could spin no more, a group of giggly teens plopped down behind us, chatting and crunching yummy-smelling buttered popcorn.
Now, you may think that I am hopelessly old-fashioned, but I would counter by saying that the swirl of lights, smells, sounds, and schizophrenic movie clips made me think of the comments of one of my adult friends with autism. She described the sensory overload she experiences in ordinary daily situations such as the grocery store or a family dinner with television in the background by saying, “Every sight and sound and word and smell bounces around in my brain , making it hard to sort through all that input.”
My movie theater experience last week also reminded me of the emotional meltdowns family members have reported when taking children diagnosed with autism to amusement parks, fireworks displays, or large family reunions. Some youngsters may just get overwhelmed, and either withdraw or explode.
All of this is to say that it may be wise for some families to consider planning a “movie night” at home with DVD’s and microwave popcorn rather than risking a behavior melt-down at the local movie theater.
We welcome your comments and experiences. Just click on the comments button or send an e-mail to talk@FAQautism.com.
NOTE TO READERS AND LISTENERS: 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. Feel free to send me an email with your thoughts or challenging situations or innovative solution. Send email to talk@FAQautism.com And don’t forget to check out our website for a wealth of ideas and a glimpse into the world of autism. http://FAQautism.com
Automatically generated related posts:
- Effective Teaching, Part 1 Although she was writing about traditional classroom...
- Noisy Kids 1 For a variety of reasons, some individuals...