FAQautism

Most of us spend time in noisy environments, even at home. If your friend with autism gets restless or seems irritated for no particular reason, take a noise inventory in your home or classroom or workplace. Autism can cause extreme sensory issues with sounds that most of us do not even notice.

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Some sounds that we tend to tune out in our daily lives are 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.

I have a significant hearing loss with loud tinnitus, so I understand why sounds can be bother my friends with autism.

Although different individuals can tolerate different noise levels, the active mix of a variety of sounds can be overwhelming to a person with autism who must (1) purposefully filter every sound for source and content, (2) make a conscious decision about the relevance of the sound, and (3) 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.

TIP FOR THE DAY: 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 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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