DS says it's too loud in Reception

[Natasha198]

My DS is 4 and started reception last week. The school have been doing half days, but he keeps telling me it's really loud in the class and that he doesn't want to go in. We had to really persuade him this morning. We have suspected ADHD for other reasons, but loud places / noises have really been affecting him, so we were always worried about him starting school. We're being really positive about it, and I've told him that if it's too much / too loud, to ask one of the teachers if he can go outside for a bit. We haven't told the school we suspect ADHD, but I will talk to them about it before he starts full days. What else can I tell him when he's worried about the noise? Will he get used to it if he has sensory needs? Or will it get worse? I'm worried if he gets overwhelmed, he will lash out (which is what he does with us). Any advice or guidance is welcomed, thanks!

Ds struggled with the noise in reception. He had glue ear and just could not hear with free play going on.

He found year one so much better because he didn't have to cope with so much noise.

How did your ds get on at Nursery @Natasha198 ?

How does he get on in other places you might have taken him where it can be 'busy' (swimming baths, supermarkets, parties, etc) ?

In regards to your question about assessments, ADHD and Autism are very different from one another (although can co-exist of course).

He is too young for an ADHD diagnosis anyway, but, when the time comes, the symptoms need to be present and also impacting his life wherever he is.

My daughter asked for ear defenders and I supplied them for her. She didn’t wear them all the time, but she found lunchtime really challenging and just couldn’t eat. she wore them on and off - sirens were difficult, really busy streets with people and music and such, airports, etc.

she stopped wearing them on her own when she was around 8. She has standard earplugs for shows (we go to a lot of theatre things) and she’s just asked for loops for school just for the transition times as she finds the hallways really distressing. So it’s not a binary choice - you could provide him with a few different options and he can figure out what helps him most.

my daughter masks hard so I took her to the GP myself. The schools have mostly thought she was perfect as she never ever misbehaves and often doesn’t talk at all.

Honestly, get the school to do a referral through whatever the latest route is, and get on the treadmill, it takes a few years … so just get engaged and id
its a ‘no he’s got no ND’ then you know … and vice versa … but at least he can get help if he needs it - good luck

Talk to the class teacher and SENDCo. Did your DS go to nursery.

If you had concerns about noise before he started school did you let school know and also about suspected ADHD?

I have an adult DS in his 20's - was diagnosed with autism at 10- loop earplugs have changed his life- clear ones are not noticeable at all and he can go out in city centre bars etc and still hear the conversation. He hated loud music/busy places from reception age. On a positive note he has a full time job and leads a 'normal life' .