She can’t tolerate sound of sneezing...anyone else experienced this?

[Blossom4538]

Hi all,

Dd (almost 7) just completely broke down after seeing a sketch on tv where the presenters were pretending to sneeze over and over again. She was so upset (rarely cries)

Anyone else experienced this? (Under ASD Assessment and seems to have sensory issues)

Not with sneezing but DS used to have a problem with hearing his dad and brother laughing or "laughing programmes" on the TV and he also had problems hearing certain words. He would aggressively shout, "Stop laughing!" or "Don't say xxxx!". The issues with the laughing got less as he grew older and eventually stopped on its own.(He's now 23.)The issues with the words were dealt with through CBT after he was diagnosed with anxiety.

She cannot stand nose blowing, sneezing, coughing - very aggressive if she hears them or even if you hold a tissue towards your face! She occasionally asks us not to sing but at other times enjoys it. Dislikes the more common sounds (handdryers, hoovers, alarms etc). It’s the coughing, sniffling,sneezing or nose blowing we find really tricky and which provoke the strongest reaction in her. I’ve seen her often become aggressive and distressed, but never has she broken down and cried like she did yesterday. After quietly comforting her, she didn’t want to talk about it, even the mention prompted her to scratch me hard and lash out, but she kind of concludes she doesn’t know why she doesn’t like it. Other times, she has described noise as loud or hurting her head but often won’t say much about it.

Did you forget you've already got a thread about noise?

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/special_needs/3202693-Huge-problems-with-certain-noises-tricky

Sorry, I just started this thread in response to her meltdown yesterday. It was heartbreaking to see.

Thank you all. Zzzzz, yes, i’ll definitely have a little think about it. Unfortunately, she is not comfortable talking about things like this, a little similar to the experience of the other parent who kindly responded, it’s like even saying the actual words can set her off at times. We are however lucky enough to have received a referral for sensory assessment/support with an Occupational Therpist, which takes place in a few weeks. Hopefully, that may help a little.

Do these struggles sound like possible traits of ASD (Hf)? - I appreciate they a likely anxiety/sensory related.

Our son is autistic. I have been told that sensory issues are as much a part of autism as the triad of impairment, and it is well documented that those on the autistic spectrum are at higher risk of mental health issues than the general population.

The NAS has some information on sensory issues here:

www.autism.org.uk/about/behaviour/sensory-world.aspx

My ds is ASD and he also can not tolerate us saying certain words (mainly the names of certain film characters he likes). He closes his eyes and shouts at us. I really wish I knew what about us saying the words upsets him.

So interesting, bless them!
Our Paed states the fact she has so many sensory issues, along with a few other difficulties, makes it likely she’s on the High Functioning end of the Spectrum. She does say it is a huge part of Autism and doesn’t diagnose SPD as she says it is usually a part of ASD. I do know people in other areas though, and certainly in the USA, who had SPD diagnosis. I’m not however disagreeing, it’s probably likely she’s on the spectrum, it just confuses me how different areas diagnose differently!

Regarding words upsetting her, we are not allowed to say words relating to potatoes - chips, mash etc as it was the last thing she ate before becoming very poorly around a year ago and gets distressed at the mention.