In thinking my son can hear cat repelling machine?

[Nahhh]

There’s a gadget on the front lawn of a house we walk past everyday. It seems to click “on” as we approach but I don’t hear anything, just see the lights change on the front.

My son has ASD, he immediately covers his ears and starts growling and trying to bolt off. He says there’s a ringing noise “even louder than when the whole school cheers”.

What on earth is going on?! It’s making our walk to school even harder than usual:

@moynomore

Fully-grown adults can't hear them ..

Some can. DH is late 40s and can hear them. And he can hear some bats. I can't hear either but I know my DC can, having reported a 'dreadful sound' coming from a front garden locally.

There used to be a thing like this in a local park to stop teens from loitering there.

I could hear it, in my late 20s… in the end; they got rid of it and now have locked gates and CCTV, instead.

31 here and can hear them and other high frequencies with ease.

I hate them. They annoy me. Next door used to have one in their back garden and I couldn't sit out there. They moved thankfully.

I can hear them, they drive me mad

Lovely that you don't believe him though. 10/10 on that one 🙄 I have a £20 pair of earplugs that only affect annoying frequencies- for me it dulls "sharp" sounds. If he's noise sensitive something like that might be a good

You’ve misunderstood me. I KNOW he was hearing something, I was just trying to figure out what it was because it affects him so badly.

Really really common for people on the spectrum to be able to hear things that NT people can't, especially children. And even NT children can hear a wider range of sounds than adults.

Mine can hear electrical items that are plugged in. She says it's like a whine. Her descriptions remind me of when people say they have that tinnitus ringing in their ears - but it's only when in proximity to certain things.

I would get him some ear defenders, chances are he probably finds it painful.

I can hear them. A lot of my neighbours have them and I walk down the street and it's so piercing. My neighbours close by had one and very nicely took it away when they realised it was driving me insane ! I'm 33

There's one near me - it's horribly loud and piercing. I can hear it at 41 and it extends across the road so you can't avoid it at all. I hate it!

@334bu

Quite possible, children can hear things adults can't. Wasn't there a noise device that some shopkeepers were using to dissuade teenagers from congregating at the entrances to their shops? It was some time ago so I may be wrong. Couldn't be heard by adults bit was really irritating to children and teens.

yes there was and smart arse teens got it as a ring tone so that they could have their phones ringing in class and the teacher couldn't hear them...except, like me, some can :) (not a teacher though)

It is not true that adults can't hear them
People can hear different frequencies. That is a fact.

Coukd even be dangerous to some who are sensitive.

All my dc can hear them, even the 26 year old. My 8 year old has asd and hates them. When he was younger he hated all outside noise though, was a nightmare. Especially as he wouldn't tolerate ear defenders

I do like these devices although I've not got round to installing one permanently. I've got an app on my phone which allow you to create very high-pitched noises, it works a treat.

Yes, next door had one in an attempt to stop cats and foxes peeing in their garden.

I could hear it and so could Ds. Some neighbours could and some couldn’t, although this one wasn’t loud - it was like a ringing in your ears. The owners couldn’t hear it.

They took it down as they’re good neighbours. Funnily enough I can’t smell the smells they are complaining about, so shows we are all different.

Both my mum (70) and I (44) can hear them but my friend (46) can't

Can damage people’s hearing, even those who can’t hear it.

There’s one near us, luckily we don’t have to go past it. I can hear a high pitch whine but my son is in agony when we go past.

I’d leave a note asking if they’re aware others, in particular children can hear it and it causes real distress and pain. Maybe add a few cat repellent ideas and ask if they really feel they need it is it possible to switch it off during school run time. Hopefully they’ll be lovely and helpful.

I can hear them, I'm 44 and don't think I've got especially good hearing. If I stay by one too long they give me a headache

I can hear these horrible monstrosities as well and I’m 34.

DD and I can both hear them. I find them painful but DD doesn't seem bothered.

I had one for a while but chucked it when I saw the reaction of some kids walking past and decided they can't be good!

Unfortunately some of us can. It's a horrible grating high pitch whine that rises slightly at the end.
Yep, 42 and I can still hear them. Makes me feel instantly nauseous too. There's one car park we use where there's a noise DH can't hear anything but I have to run to the exit with my hands over my ears.

I used to get a train once a week from City Thameslink Station in London and I couldn't understand why I was the only one on the platform wincing and covering my ears. Stopped after they refurbished it.

It might even be one of the "teenager repelling" machines that torment babies and children with a sound their parents can't even hear. They should be illegal.

I could hear them until my late thirties along with bats and th high pitched sound some old tvs etc used to admit.on stand by. dd1 and 2 seem to be the same, my df was the same as well. It seems to run in the family, funnily enough none of us are good with low frequencies, it's as if our range of hearing is shifted upwards compared with the norm

My mum had this. Does my head in. High pitched squealy tone that really annoys me. It’s to keep foxes and cats and things out of gardens. But I make her switch it off when I’m there cos it’s really bloody loud to me. Maybe get him ready ‘cover your ears while we run past machine’ or change your route a bit?

Poor boy, I have no doubt whatsoever he can hear it, I think they’re a bloody blight and apart from the fact children and people with good hearing can hear them, it’s also not even fair on the cats they’re made for - who’s he to decide what cat can comfortably walk down the road?? I know that isn’t the point but it’s wrong on all accounts.

I wonder if noise cancelling headphones would work on those frequencies? It might be worth a try having him wear them just for that stretch of the walk if he will tolerate them.

My son can hear them. I'm assuming dogs must be able to hear them too? Must be horrible.