Sensory issues

[SL40]

Hi my 5 year old son has Aspergers and is Dyspraxic he makes inappropriate noises during carpet time, he repeats what the Teacher says, makes a high pitch noise and shouts out. He is very noises sensitive and says at carpet time he can hear children all around the school. The Teacher has tried ignoring him, taking him out the class (but they had to stop this because it's exactly what he wants) rewarding him for every 5/10 mins he stays quiet but nothing seems to work. I am worried the other kids will start picking on him for his 'odd' behaviour'. Has anyone experienced anything like this and any suggestions to help him stop?

[lou031205]

Surely the issue is that he cannot cope with carpet time? By rewarding him for keeping quiet, they are not dealing with what make him make inappropriate noises.

Could they look at ways of minimising his stress? Could he sit on a chair next to the carpet, rather than right next to all the other children? Could he have a special toy, like a squidgy ball to focus on, rather than making the noises? Could he perhaps be sat right at the back so he can see where all the noise is coming from?

I can't actually see the problem in taking him out of the class, if he isn't coping with an in class activity. Why is it a problem that it was exactly what he wanted?

[coppertop]

If your ds is sensitive to noise I would consider getting him some ear defenders. They will filter out a lot of the noise and make it easier for him to focus IME. I wonder if he might be making his own noises to help him to block out the sound around him.

Giving him his own space might help too. Over the years my two with ASD have been given either a carpet tile, a soft cushion or a wedge cushion to sit on during carpet time. It means that there's a bit of space between your own child and the children around him and might make things easier for him.

[coppertop]

Ds2 has some of the Peltor Kid ones. I've just looked at the website (probably the same one you did?) and I don't understand why it says they're only for up to 7yr-olds. Ds2's head is enormous. The only woolly hats that will fit him are teenagers or adults ones. I've just tried them out on ds1 (8yrs old and an even bigger head) and they're fine on him too.

Ds1 has just let me measure his head and it's 57cm/22ins if that helps any.

[catok]

DS used to sit inside a plastic hoop at carpet time so the other children wouldn't touch him. His wedge worked wonders because he hated the texture of the carpet.
He said the other children were like ants and it was scary when he could hear all of them moving at once.
I've asked him what worked for him and he said being allowed to sit under the table behind all the other children because he could put his hands over his ears when it was noisy and the other kids didn't notice.

[SL40]

Thanks for the suggestions will look on the websites and was already thinking of buying a carpet mat but the hop sounds great to give him a bit of space!