Too Much Noise
Imagine your reaction if every sound in your environment were filtered through a powerful microphone and echo chamber. You might try escaping the overwhelming sounds by hiding under your bed with pillows over your ears. Or you might just lose your temper and try to destroy everything making noise. Many individuals with autism find themselves in this plight every day. The kaleidoscope of sounds in daily environments can overload the senses of individuals with autism, causing either a behavioral melt-down or withdrawal.
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Take an inventory of sound in your home setting. Just sit back and listen to all the noises through the filter of autism. 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 pings, dings, words, conversations, music, scripts, shows, barks, and rings. This environment can be especially irritating to individuals with autism who are very sensitive to sounds or who have sensory processing disorders. Not only can the mixture of sounds be irritating, but also it can be very difficult for individuals with autism to process and decode all they hear.
Many people with autism 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 attention. Although different individuals can tolerate different noise levels, the active mix of a myriad of sounds can be overwhelming. Sensory overload can result in a melt-down or withdrawal.
TIP FOR THE DAY. It is certainly not realistic to create a silent environment. But we can make a real difference in the quality of life of individuals with autism by decreasing the amount and volume of noise to a more tolerable level.
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 a confidential email at talk@FAQautism.com with your thoughts or challenging situations or innovative solution. 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
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