Kids with sensory issues..... (loud noises) About This Page:

[B.M.]

Has anyone had any luck with (or have any suggestions) with getting kids with sensory issues who are very sensitive to loud noises through any of the fire work shows. I would love to see some of the night shows (especially Fantasmic!), last year I only took my older kids and we didn't get to see any of the night shows..... my oldest has mild sensoy issues and even though I brought ear plugs, he got scared and we never even tried it......... this year I'm taking my younger kids including my 6 yr old who also has sensory issues(sens. integ. dys. - more severe) and I'm wondering if there is anything I could try ( maybe something that has worked for others) because I would love to see some of theese night shows......... maybe its not meant to be, but I was curious if anyone has had experience with this that ended with a good outcome.................... Thanks!

[Sandra Bostwick]

Originally Posted by B.M.

Has anyone had any luck with (or have any suggestions) with getting kids with sensory issues who are very sensitive to loud noises through any of the fire work shows. I would love to see some of the night shows (especially Fantasmic!), last year I only took my older kids and we didn't get to see any of the night shows..... my oldest has mild sensoy issues and even though I brought ear plugs, he got scared and we never even tried it......... this year I'm taking my younger kids including my 6 yr old who also has sensory issues(sens. integ. dys. - more severe) and I'm wondering if there is anything I could try ( maybe something that has worked for others) because I would love to see some of theese night shows......... maybe its not meant to be, but I was curious if anyone has had experience with this that ended with a good outcome.................... Thanks!

Hi! I'm so happy that you are being realistic about your child's sensory needs in planning.

The first thing I always suggest is to take an honest inventory of what is realistic and what is wishful thinking.

It is always difficult to give specifics when I've never seen a child, but I'm posting a link to some of my articles that may help you out.

These are actually pretty out-dated by now, and I'm thinking of updating them in a small book form, so please let me know if you have comments or suggestions.

I*Managing

I*Managing:Strategies_and_Resources_For_Travel

I*Managing:Case_Examples

I'm planning a book discussion here on The Out Of Synch Child some time this summer, and I'd love to have you join in, so consider yourself invited!

Hope these articles help! Let me know if there are any other questions! Thanks for posting!

[unewillow]

I know they are ridiculously expensive, but have you looked into Bose headphones or something similar? That may be more comfortable then earplugs. Good luck with your planning!

[Sandra Bostwick]

Originally Posted by unewillow

I know they are ridiculously expensive, but have you looked into Bose headphones or something similar? That may be more comfortable then earplugs. Good luck with your planning!

There really are plenty of steps between Bose headphones and cheapo earplugs!

Are you looking for sound muffling, sound cancellation (white noise is played into the ears) or music?

[mechurchlady]

I have SID and my mother is extremely hypersensitive and SID.

First and foremost is system failure which makes a person with SID and sensory issues more sensitive to their triggers. System failure can be illness, stress, and exhaustion/tired.

For sensory issues there are many ear muffs available for under $50. You have to understand that to a kid the ear plugs are something they have to get used to. Ho9w would you like it if someone jabbed stuff in your ears. The kid has to learn that the plugs are for a reason. SID kids may not show other signs beyond what is obvious. For me I begged women to understand my sensitivity issues to no avail and then had people pushing those sensory issues buttons. I need hugs and swaddling, i eat too much because I do not sense the fullness, I over react to things like change, can only eat a seafood martini with my eyes closed, love cooked bell peppers, and stress easily with cacophony.

Signs of SI Dysfunction
That is one of many lists you can find on the internet. I used to belong to another board that allowed people to say SID does not exist but trust me it does and you do not want to be hypersensitive like my mother. I am trying to adapt but she cannot and thus suffers in many ways.

Ear Muffs
This is one store I have seen a lot of info on and even if you do not buy there you can learn a lot. Peltor is one of the more commonly used brands. It will take rewarding and time to get the kid used to them. Turn up the noise then put the ear muffs on so the kid feels and hears the difference. It will take lots of work as SID is a neurovariancy and neurovariants often have other neurovariancies such as spectrum like qualities, ODD, OCD, and ADD. I have about 2% OCD and visit the spectrum too much while my mother often shows ODD symptoms and sometimes is ADD like.

http://earplugstore.com/images/jrmuffsbaby-crop.jpg

[CinderAbby]

I have a daughter with Autism and some things like loud noises bother her too - not as much as they used to though. When we go to Disney (or any places that might have loud noises) we always have a pair of noise reducing headphones we got from Home Depot instead of ear plugs. She knows we have them and if she gets anxious about any kind of noise we take them out but she's free to put them on and take them off as she feels. With Wishes in the MK, most times she'll wear the headphones. For Illuminations, I don't remember her using them but we were a distance from WS lagoon and we were actually eating dinner too at the time so I don't think she really registered the noise (or even the show). Fantasmic is pretty intense from some of the things I heard and I wouldn't take Abby last year (it might be too much for your 6 YO too) because I knew it wasn't the right time (Abby has issues with fire too and there's a lot of it in Fantasmic). This year, Abby is insisting on seeing Fantasmic but we've found a video on Youtube that she's watched alot so she knows what to expect but she always reminds me that I need to make sure her headphones are nearby when we see it (I made the mistake of not taking them on UOE last year and she won't let me forget it ).

Other than the headphones and the tip to find a Youtube video so your kids now what to expect, I really don't have any other advice to give you. Good luck and have a great trip.

[B.M.]

Thanks for the responses! I'm going to look into the noise cancelling earphones. Hopefully we can atleast try some of the shows if we have earphones............ we will probably sit in the back on the end for a fast get away if needed though...........

[B.M.]

Originally Posted by CinderAbby

I have a daughter with Autism and some things like loud noises bother her too - not as much as they used to though. When we go to Disney (or any places that might have loud noises) we always have a pair of noise reducing headphones we got from Home Depot instead of ear plugs. She knows we have them and if she gets anxious about any kind of noise we take them out but she's free to put them on and take them off as she feels. With Wishes in the MK, most times she'll wear the headphones. For Illuminations, I don't remember her using them but we were a distance from WS lagoon and we were actually eating dinner too at the time so I don't think she really registered the noise (or even the show). Fantasmic is pretty intense from some of the things I heard and I wouldn't take Abby last year (it might be too much for your 6 YO too) because I knew it wasn't the right time (Abby has issues with fire too and there's a lot of it in Fantasmic). This year, Abby is insisting on seeing Fantasmic but we've found a video on Youtube that she's watched alot so she knows what to expect but she always reminds me that I need to make sure her headphones are nearby when we see it (I made the mistake of not taking them on UOE last year and she won't let me forget it ).

Other than the headphones and the tip to find a Youtube video so your kids now what to expect, I really don't have any other advice to give you. Good luck and have a great trip.

Let my know how Abby does with Fantasmic!; I could feature my younger son being scared of fire also.......... if we try it, we will probably aim for back row.

[Happymommy]

Both my kids have autism spectrum and sensory issues, and neither one were ever bothered by any firework shows--- We were fully expecting them to want to run in the other direction on our first trip, but no problem. I will say, I would definitely go with ear phone rather than ear plugs. There's no way our son would ever let us put ear plugs inside his ear.

[tkm1005]

Our kids are very sensitive to the fireworks and that is just not on our to do list. I think our oldest does have some sensory issues when it comes to hearing. She has been brought to tears when she put on ear phones and the volume was too high. So we tend to watch fireworks from a distance. Our resort balcony from the Boardwalk, across the lake at the GF dock. It works out ok for us...we don't really want to deal with the crowds anyway

Hopefully the ear phones will work...or you could look into using one of the babysitting services (Cubs Den, Neverland Club) for a night out w/out the kiddos! (That is not to leave the kids out...I just know that my daughters would prefer playing over being put through a fireworks show. They find it very upsetting.)

[Sandra Bostwick]

Originally Posted by tkm1005

Our kids are very sensitive to the fireworks and that is just not on our to do list.

...or you could look into using one of the babysitting services (Cubs Den, Neverland Club) for a night out w/out the kiddos! (That is not to leave the kids out...I just know that my daughters would prefer playing over being put through a fireworks show. They find it very upsetting.)

Great tip! THANKS!

[B.M.]

We've tried local firework show and they do NOT handle them well............ I think I will try to hurry up and get the earphones so we can test them locally and know in advance if we should bother trying the shows at DW. It's been a LONG time since we even tried....... a few years back I had to chase down my oldest at stone mountain because he got so flipped out , he just made a run for it in an attempt to get out........ definately don't want to deal with that at DW. But really hoping the ear phones work................. Thanks again for all the suggestions..........

[mechurchlady]

Mom and i have SID but I am not so bad thankfully. She is hypersensitive and shuts down easily at the least bit of stress. For her it is an every day life and she prefers a darkened room. She can hear the cows lowing miles away and will demand to know what is going on outside even if a cat or possum touched something that I did not hear.

SID sound senstive people like my mother usually have heightened hearing. Some it is only certain pitches that get to them. to me it is just a door closing but to her it is a door SLAMMING. It is hard to adjust to a sound sensitive person.

Over time the hypersensitive person develops coping mechanisms and avoids things that are perceived to be hurtful even if they are not. They might learn to hate school because of the loud bells or avoid a part of town with loud factories.

It takes a lot of patience, rewards and more patience. The kids have to learn that they hae a problem and that there is a solution which in time they will learn to love and which will become second nature. By the way though some kids adapt and/or they better handle sensitivities it will never go away. It is a neurovariancy usually which comes from the brain not being wired properly or being damaged. Kid brains are very easy to rewire and in can in time adapt to the neurovariancies.

hugs
Laurie

[EmpressLizBunny]

with mk firework you might try a dinner resie at o'hanas and get there early and request a window table and explain why i bet they will try their best to acomadate you just another option

[Sandra Bostwick]

Originally Posted by EmpressLizBunny

with mk firework you might try a dinner resie at o'hanas and get there early and request a window table and explain why i bet they will try their best to acomadate you just another option

Hi Liz! Great tip! I may just try that myself!