sensory stuff, a question for all you wise MNs

[signandsingcarols]

Just wanted to ask your opinions, ds (4) who does not have (so we thought) major sensory issues with his ASD, bit noise sensitive when people sing, but otherwise ok, had been lent some ear defenders by a friend, loves wearing them.

we went for swimming today and he wore them to and from the pool, he was much happier to hold my hand rather than have to have his hand/arm held firmly,

can I ask you wise SN MNers, is it possible that less back ground noise input means he is more comfy with hand holding, or am I imagining it?

Thanks

Hi singandsingcarols

It is perfectly possible. If you reduce the stress of one stimulus others become more manageable so it may be that he is more able to tolerate having his hand held. Sounds like the ear defenders have worked a treat.

If he has some sound sensitivities you might be interested in therapeutic listening therapy it can work wonders on sound sensitivities as well as loads of other things. You might get to a position where he wouldn't need the ear defenders. They have a website if you're interested www.vitallinks.net

Hope this helps

Or Auditory Integration Training which vastly improves hearing sensitivity.

Thanks guys, as i said we didn't think it was such an issue for him, not like lots of his friends with ASD, but am starting to think amybe we just missed it, (and he is pretty non verbal, so can't explain it). will monitor and will look into your suggestions, thanks for taking time to reply

would agree with benefits of therapeutic listening, (or similar programme) and also google 'retained reflexes' and try to find sensory trained OT if you want to follow up on retained reflexes.