Difficulty tolerating sounds at a volume or pitch that would not typically be bothersome to others is known as hyperacusis. Hyperacusis is common in children of preschool age, and it usually goes away with maturation. In some children, particularly those with neurodevelopmental issues, the problem can persist.
Most often, sound sensitivity is the product of the way a child's nervous system processes sound. However, a child's reactions to noise may be the result of structural differences in the ear, or a side effect of medication.
While not all people with ADHD have sound sensitivity and not all with sound sensitivity have ADHD, the sensory issue is often comorbid (ADHD doesn't cause sound sensitivity, but they are comorbid due to other conditions such as autism or misophonia).
Offer breaks and/or a quiet calm down space
When you are in a noisy environment, be sure to offer your child breaks. Or consider setting up a calm down corner so that your child has a safe and quiet place to retreat to when things get too loud.
Summary. Hyperacusis is a type of reduced tolerance to sound. People with hyperacusis often find ordinary noises too loud, while loud noises can cause discomfort and pain. The most common known causes of hyperacusis are exposure to loud noise, and ageing.
The last several decades have revealed clinical and experimental data regarding the importance of magnesium (Mg) in hearing. Increased susceptibility to noise damage, ototoxicity, and auditory hyperexcitability are linked to states of Mg deficiency.
Sound sensitivity — also known as hyperacusis — is common in autistic people. Some noises might make you uncomfortable, especially loud or shrill noises, but many people are sensitive to quieter sounds, too. While some noises annoy everyone, some autistic people may react very strongly to certain sounds.
Treatment for hyperacusis
If there's no clear cause, you may be offered treatment to help make you less sensitive to everyday sounds. This could be: sound therapy to get you used to everyday sounds again, and may involve wearing ear pieces that make white noise.
An audiologist will begin by conducting a thorough physical examination and asking the patient about medical history, including questions about the length and severity of symptoms. A hearing test or audiogram will be given, which is a graph that depicts a person's ability to hear sounds at different frequencies.
SUMMARY: Sound sensitivity may be the result of trauma (including PTSD), or it could be a symptom of anxiety, known as “hypersensitivity,” that occurs when people are in an anxious state. For specific sound-related anxiety, exposure is one of the more effective ways to reduce its severity.
Children with ADHD often have difficulty paying attention to the same thing for too long, and they may get distracted easily. Autistic children may have a limited scope of interest. They may seem to obsess over things that they enjoy and have difficulty focusing on things that they have no interest in.
According to peer-reviewed studies, there's a possibility that people with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder can experience pain from sounds 🎹. Hyperacusis, a disorder in loudness perception, happens when some people with ADHD can feel physical pain because of noise, especially loud noise 🔔.
Misophonia, or “hatred or dislike of sound,” is characterized by selective sensitivity to specific sounds accompanied by emotional distress, and even anger, as well as behavioral responses such as avoidance. Sound sensitivity can be common among individuals with OCD, anxiety disorders, and/or Tourette Syndrome.
Signs your child may have SPD
Aversions (e.g., refuses to wear specific clothing types or textures of clothing, such as wool or synthetic fibers), and over-sensitivities (becoming easily agitated by sounds). Oversensitivity to pain, temperature, and touch; experiencing strong reactions when feeling touched.
Noise anxiety symptoms are fear, distress, anxiety, irritation, or anger evoked by certain sounds. Physiological symptoms such as a racing heart, shortness of breath, sweating, and muscle tension may also occur.
What is misophonia? People with misophonia are affected emotionally by common sounds — usually those made by others, and usually ones that other people don't pay attention to. The examples above (breathing, yawning, or chewing) create a fight-or-flight response that triggers anger and a desire to escape.
Hyperacusis can affect people of all ages, including adults, but it is most common in young children and people with additional needs, such as autism.
The results show that women with a high level of emotional exhaustion exhibit higher sound sensitivity after an experimentally induced stress exposure than those who were not exhausted. Some even experienced sound levels as low as 60 decibels, the level of normal conversation, as uncomfortably loud.
Auditory sensitivity, or auditory hypersensitivity, to sounds can occur for a number of reasons. Sometimes the hearing sensitivity occurs because of a medical condition (e.g. tinnitus). Or, there may be a structural problem within the ear itself. It can also occur as a side effect of some medications.
Misophonia is a disorder in which certain sounds trigger emotional or physiological responses that some might perceive as unreasonable given the circumstance. Those who have misophonia might describe it as when a sound “drives you crazy.” Their reactions can range from anger and annoyance to panic and the need to flee.
Yes! Although they sound similar, sensory processing difficulties can be present without autism. Often children or adults with other neurodevelopmental or psychiatric conditions such as Developmental Delay, Intellectual Disability, Anxiety, ADHD, or mood disorders can also exhibit Sensory Processing Disorder.
Autism in young children
avoiding eye contact. not smiling when you smile at them. getting very upset if they do not like a certain taste, smell or sound. repetitive movements, such as flapping their hands, flicking their fingers or rocking their body.
A significant number of people with Asperger's Syndrome have been perceived to display either an over-sensitivity or an under-sensitivity to sensory stimuli. This includes all, or a combination of: touch, taste, smell, sound, sight and movement, as well as possible problems with motor co-ordination.