Is noise sensitivity always part of something else?

[Paddingtonthebear]

9yr old DD has always had issues with certain loud noises/situations. Gets anxious/cries, covers ears, wants to get away from the problem.

But not all loud sounds/situations. Can there be just noise sensitivity that causes upset, without being linked to anything else (ASD)?

Hopeful bump..

Not in my experience tbh. Are there other things you're concerned about?

Not that I can think of

Does she have a lot of friends?
Sensitive to hair brushing or suntan lotion?
Any rigid behaviour?
Anxiety?
Stims
Obsesssive interests?

I was going to say yes. My DC have always hated particular sounds, or particular situations (as have I) and have become stressed and upset, covered ears etc. I view it a bit like hating particular flavours! None of us have any ASD or anything like that.

Not always. My ds was very noise sensitive as a young child, also had sensory issues around clothing.
Noise sensitivity disappeared in early primary and clothing by late primary.
He shows no signs of ASD (I have family/friends with kids with ASD) so no I don't think having these sensitivities always means something else is going on.

My 10o has become sensitive amd looking at asd referral. But she does have anxiety and other sensory things

Can there be just noise sensitivity that causes upset, without being linked to anything else (ASD)?

Yes to this part I mean, not your OP title

Does she have a lot of friends? Has friends
Sensitive to hair brushing or suntan lotion? No
Any rigid behaviour? No
Anxiety? Slightly anxious
Stims? No except nail biting
Obsesssive interests? No

She might just be sensitive or an introvert?

I have had to learn to deal with those situations. I also hate itchy clothing or tight clothing. I'm not autistic. It's just the way I am.

I have 3 dc. Eldest and youngest have massive problems with noise. Eldest is autistic, youngest is neurotypical. I don't like loud noises, get sensory overload with loud or repetitive noise. Think it's down to personality

Avoiding the offending noise(s) is one solution, but will mean she is going to miss out on doing some fairly normal things. I wonder if that’s the point where it becomes more because it is affecting her day to day life.

I wonder if that’s the point where it becomes more because it is affecting her day to day life.

Since it is affecting her daily life, surely you really need to seek help and find out the cause and possibly some solutions, not just speculating if it's linked with certain condition or not?

Well yes I have already sought help, have booked a GP appt but that’s not for a few weeks. Have also approached school for a meeting but they haven’t responded yet.

Yes, sensory processing disorder or auditory processing disorder can exist without autism, although a lot of autistic people also have sensory / auditory processing problems.

I’ve looked through this checklist

sensorykids.ie/en/resources/spd-checklist/checklist-for-sensory-processing-disorder-all-ages-sensory-modulation-disorder-smd/

There is only one symptom on the whow list that I recognise in her - Upset in noisy places. And for her it is not all noises/noisy places, just some.

So I’ve asked to see GP to discuss further, and to speak to school (no issues raised before by them at all). But it’s just a bit baffling to me as I thought there would be more “signs”

Ear defenders are a godsend in any case. I wear them when husband and son are watching football. Might be worth having some handy for these kinds of situations. They might help her feel more in control.

Are her ears ok? I went to the GP about this in 2012 and the only sound that bothered me was the clock ticking. (it seemed to be so loud) My ears were blocked.

I think she had a hearing test in infants school. Will ask GP to have a look at ears when she has her appt in a few weeks.