My Son Keeps His Ears Covered?? | MyAutismTeam

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My Son Keeps His Ears Covered??
A MyAutismTeam Member asked a question 💭

My 7 year old autistic son wont uncover his ears. He has always put his hands over his ears in uncomfortable or loud situations but its gotten worse. He does it constantly now and he panics when you try to make him stop. Its like he doesnt feel safe without his ears covered. Anyone have any advise on how I can break this habbit?

posted July 18, 2013
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A MyAutismTeam Member

My son is 2 he use to do this often you have to be consistent in talking his hands down and placing them in his lap and tell him to put his hands down no matter how bad of a tantrum he throws just let him get it all out and then and as you continue to do this eventually he will grasp the concept and he will become less stressed and he will start to rely on you when he's afraid in stead of coving his ears. If he has a favorite movie he likes or something us that as a tool to keep him calm by enforcing the positive behavior.

posted July 19, 2013
A MyAutismTeam Member

I aksed my 10 yr old son who is HFA what he would reccomend. He is sensitive to sound and the school lunch room was tough for him. He said that headphones really helped him and now he no longers needs them. I was worried about him standing out for all the wrong reasons but it wasn't a problem.

posted July 20, 2013
A MyAutismTeam Member

Some personal accounts of autism say that they can/could only process one sense at a time, so something like covering ears allowed them to really see. You could try ear proctection, ear plugs, music with headphones..or try to keep his hands busy with fidgets...also preparing him for different events/environments beforehand might help...

posted July 18, 2013
A MyAutismTeam Member

Have you heard of sensory issues related to autism or Aspergers? Lindsey Biel wrote "Raising a Sensory Smart Child" -it is the best book I have found on how kids are with sensory issues.

So back to your question. Too loud or hearing sensitivity is one of the typical things seen in the younger kids (they often do adjust). They can have headphones with noise canceling on sometimes. You just have to be careful in school as you don't want your child to stand out as too different.

Teachers need to be notified that he has a sensitivity to loud noise-they can prepare him early for fire drills, and keep him in the back of rooms that might be loud, etc.

In preschool my own son was required to have a hearing test because of his hands over his ears and not listening to the teachers (he was in his own world in his head). Of course the hearing test came back that he had no hearing problems. But I did as they asked.

posted July 20, 2013
A MyAutismTeam Member

Yea, headphones and I got my son a trapper hat that cover his ears during the fall and winter. It's a sensory issue for my son. Get him a cool looking trapper hat. Or else he'll look out of place. I can give you a link to the store online that carries some really good ones.

Since he always attends charter school he is always allowed to wear his headphones and his hat.

If your school rules are no, than get that on the IEP that he is allowed.

posted July 20, 2013

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