White noise doesn't work for everyone, but it's definitely worth trying! Unfortunately, it's common for children with autism to have difficulties communicating how they feel and what they need. It might be that your autistic child does not like to sleep alone.
Pink noise and brown noise
Pink noise has some of the higher-pitched tones removed. Brown noise is more of a deep rumbly sound and is my personal favourite to listen to as I fall asleep. White, pink or brown noise may not only block out household noise but can help your child to relax and fall asleep.
Some researchers claim that white noise can lead to children developing auditory processing disorders. This is because the brain quickly adapts to the sound and stops acknowledging it as something worth listening to. The long term effects of this can lead to issues with learning, speech and language.
Sound sensitivity and autism
According to research, 50% to 70% of autistic people experience decreased tolerance for sound at some point. This can cause significant distress and anxiety, and can also lead to difficulties engaging in school or the workplace.
Though many experts find nighttime white noise to be a safe and effective treatment for restlessness, some studies have suggested that repeated use of white noise could be harmful to the body, especially for those who suffer from tinnitus, or ringing in the ears.
This tells us that people with ADHD can benefit from white noise stimulation, helping them with memory and focus. Using music as white noise to maintain attention was found to be more effective for people with ADHD than those who don't have ADHD.
Every child is different. Some parents and caregivers wean their infant off white noise at two, three or four years old. However, white noise can be used at any age and some adults find it useful for sleep too. Always make sure to follow safe sleep guidelines and never exceed 50 decibels.
Sensory overload happens when an intense sensory stimulus overwhelms your ability to cope. This can be triggered by a single event, like an unexpected loud noise, or it can build up over time due to the effort it takes to cope with sensory sensitivities in daily life.
Up to 90 percent of people with autism are either overly sensitive to sound, sight, taste, smell or touch, or barely notice them at all. Some seek out sensations by, for example, spinning in circles or stroking items with particular textures.
Does Noise harm your Brain? Well yes. It turns out, the continuous background noise also known as white noise which comes from machines and other appliances, can harm your brain, it does so by overstimulating your auditory cortex– the part of the brain that helps us perceive sound. And it's even worse in children.
Researchers have studied the effect of white noise on humans for many years, finding evidence it can reduce crying in infants, improve work performance, and potentially help counteract symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
For many kids with special needs who have difficult getting to sleep, sometimes parents use white noise machines to help soothe their child. For a child who is neurotypical, this can be helpful. However, for with developmental issues, I actually don't recommend one.
Hyperacusis (say it with me: HY-per-uh-CUE-sis), is an increased sensitivity to sound that is commonly found among people with autism. This means that certain noises, such as classroom bells, the radio or the TV, may be uncomfortable for your child to hear.
Noise canceling headphones can help some autistic children as well as autistic adults. Other children with sensory processing disorder and other sensory needs may benefit from them as well. Choosing the best headphones for your child doesn't have to be overwhelming.
People with autism spectrum disorder are sometimes said to lack empathy (the ability to feel along with others) and/or sympathy (the ability to feel for others). While this stereotype is often used to describe all people with autism, these challenges are not experienced by everyone on the spectrum.
Autistic children and teenagers are sometimes oversensitive to things like noise, crowds or temperature. They try to avoid sensory experiences.
Understanding Autistic Overstimulation
This can manifest in a variety of ways, including physical discomfort, anxiety, irritability, or even physical pain. Some common signs of autistic overstimulation include: Covering ears or eyes. Rocking back and forth or other repetitive behaviors.
This leads to an unpleasant sensation of being flooded and an impulse to escape the stimulus – or, failing that, to cry or scream or thrash about. Overstimulation is a form of pain. No one knows exactly why Aspies are so often overstimulated by experiences neurotypical individuals find quite manageable.
Many people with high-functioning autism have unusually intense emotional reactions when compared to their peers. For example, a frustrating experience like spilling coffee on their shirt or taking the wrong turn on the way to work can cause irritability and difficulty concentrating for the rest of their day.
Research with animals suggests that prolonged exposure to white noise may impact brain development. However, this study involved 24 hours of continuous exposure to white noise and no other sounds. More importantly, there is no evidence in humans that prolonged exposure to white noise has a negative impact.
Technically, the whirring sound of a fan is not white noise. By definition, white noise contains all frequencies of sound that humans can hear. A fan doesn't provide this, but it is similar. Studies have found that white noise can benefit sleep.
It's tempting to keep the white noise going through the night, but it's really not recommended. "Operate the infant sound machine for a short duration of time," Schneeberg advises. She recommends using a timer or shutting it off once your baby is asleep, provided you're still awake.