Views on my reception child wearing ear defenders all day at school

[Nurseposter123]

My son is 4.5 and just started reception at a lovely little school.
He is awaiting a child development review and we have spoken to SENCO at the school as he gets dysregulated sometimes and struggles with social skills - other than that he's not got any other delays or issues. Minimal to no issues at home.

3 weeks in we keep being told he's absolutely wonderful and fine. Yesterday I found out he's been wearing ear defenders all day, every day.

I'm a bit horrified to be honest. He doesn't love busy environments but he usually manages and when asked by SENCO if he could use them I said yes but assumed it would be for specific loud events.

What are people's views on constant use? Of course I want a happy child but 6 hours a day?

Personally, I wouldn’t have a problem if DS is struggling without. Even more so this early on.

If DS is needing them all day every day, I would request a meeting with the SENCO. It suggests DS is finding school quite overwhelming and I would look to see what support and adjustments can be put in place. A consequence of more support and adjustments might be DS doesn’t use ear defenders as much, or it might not.

I don’t think it’s anything to be horrified about tbh, it’s probably maybe shocked you but if he’s managing better wearing them I don’t see the issue?

my DS wore them a lot when he started reception, he had never worn them before that. He’s Y3 now and it’s decreased to things like the dinner hall, assembly, when he feels he needs them in class.
But as pp has said, he has adjustments in place now so the need for them isn’t always there as there’s other ways to support.

I am an audiologist and parent of an autistic child. When school wanted to put ear defenders on my child I refused as I do not think it would have been in her best interest. Using esr defenders just means they are more sensitive to every day noises when they haven't got them on;the more thebear defenders are used, the more they are needed.
When parents at work ask for my professional views this is what I explain.

@AudiologistHereI understand what your saying but that hasn’t been the case with my child.
I find it pretty sad tbh if a child needs them due to noise and aren’t allowed them.

I suppose from my point of view, my child reslly didn't need them although I appreciate that this isn't the case for all children. I wouldn't have minded if it were for specific situations but my child had gotten to Y6 without mentioning noise and then she was diagnosed with autism and school wanted to give her ear defenders
For OP, I'd be surprised if her child had suddenly developed a problem with noise (all noise, not a specific situation) that had never been obvious before now?

I'd be surprised if her child had suddenly developed a problem with noise (all noise, not a specific situation) that had never been obvious before now

I wouldn’t. It is not uncommon for DC starting school to struggle with the sensory environment, including from a noise perspective, when it hasn’t been obvious before starting school. Although there may well have been signs that haven’t been recognised for what they are. Particularly as he ‘doesn’t love busy environments’.