5yr boy old possibly getting assessed.

[skip1808]

Hey all.

I'm a co-parent (dad) and the kids mum as informed me today that our son is possibly going to get assessed in school for sound sensory!

I'm worried about this and I don't know what this means. Me and (mum) don't get on so I never get told the full details about anything.
Apparently it's coz he covers his ears due to loud noises or bangs..which I've seen myself at home. If I tell him off (raised voice) he covers his ears, but I don't see what's wrong with the loud noise level...

Apart from that he's just a normal 5yr old, he's playful, polite and is always wanting to help me around the house, ok he does get too excited at times for things (happy, or yes let's go).

Think what I'm saying is I don't wanted him labelled when he's just being a kid that doesn't like loud noises..

Any thoughts or anything please? I'm really worried over this.

@skip1808 knowledge is power - understanding your son's strengths, needs and differences will mean you can help him be happier and achieve more.

If your son struggles with loud noises, there could be something in his sensory processing that needs some extra help, or some understanding. Getting that right can help him feel more comfortable and confident, take in new information better, etc. If he doesn't get an assessment, he might end up missing out on support that could help him. Getting an assessment also means that if he's "just a kid who doesn't like loud noises" this can be identified and not medicalised because it will be understood - an assessment doesn't mean a diagnosis or label will definitely be given, it just means people will try to help understand your son and what he needs.

For someone with a sensitivity to sound, things can be processed and experienced as much louder and more intense sounds than they seem to someone without a sensory processing difficulty. What may be a 'normally loud' noise to you could be causing him physical pain due to how loud he's experiencing it. Knowing how he processes sensory input will mean you can try to reduce pain and distress for him.

My advice would be to be supportive of an assessment, engage to the best of your ability, and take on board any recommendations in order to support your son.

I agree with you. I think it's perfectly normal for small children to cover their ears but apparently in this new world we love in it isn't.

Well it isn't going to do your boy any harm to be assessed. If he hasn't got any neurological differences then the assessments will say so. No harm done. If he has, then it will(probably) be noticed, and he will(hopefully) get any support he needs now, or in the years to come.

What's labelling? If you're autistic you're autistic, it's not a label, it's a word for how your brain works. Is it better to pretend these children/adults don't exist?

My daughter is diagnosed with autism, she wears ear defenders. Not all autistic people are sensitive to noise. Some neurotypical children can be sensitive to noise. At this moment in time it really isn't much to go on, I wouldn't worry about anything.

My daughter is also playful polite and helpful.

Your son won't get a 'label', he would get a diagnosis IF there was anything to diagnose