feeling bad.

[porgie]

took DS, possible ASD, to the trafford centre today, and at one point he was sat in the pram with his fingers in his ears, felt so guilty that he was possibly distressed. we went home soon after. he has never done this before and has always been fine in the past shopping, just usual toddler boredom. we havn't got a dx yet, don't know what i should be doing, avoiding these situations or trying to get on with things? he seems to be getting worse, do they do this, or am i just reading traits into everything the more i read about ASD? It is all so new to us, i feel like i am letting him do what he wants because i don't know how he will feel if i don't! god i'm so confused.

Did he look distressed about having his hands over his ears? DS1 puts his hands over his ears al lot, but sometimes because it changes the noise and he's interested in how its sounds (that's my guess anyway). If he's distressed by a noise he screams and headbutts.

was going to say the same as jimjams - ds does this a lot. but as he never seems distressed, i've always just assumed he is experimenting with the sounds.

if he does seem distressed, however, i would be guided by that and try to adapt the situation to make it more comfortable for him wherever possible.

didn't look distressed, but fingers properly in ears not just over them, am probably reading too much into everthing! thanks.

DS2 started doing this when he was about 4 - but he did it much more when he was in the buggy than when he was walking. I wondered whether it was because he felt more 'trapped' and unable to turn to see the source of the noise.
It came on quite suddenly, like your DS. With him it's almost always a response to a disturbing noise, though he does do the experimenting thing and also puts his hands over his ears if he's asking us for something and thinks we'll say no!

He still does it now, at 6, but it has reduced a lot since he's been doing Auditory Integration Therapy (listening to specially adapted music through headphones, which helps some children with noise sensitivity). We also try to name each sound in a reassuring way and point out what's making it - this also seems to help.

my child has sensory issues and covers his ears he has been doing this since he was 2, he is six with mild autism, crowds cause anxiety for these children, it can be releived by osteopathy, my son is so calm now, we started in may and now he can tolerate many sitations sit still for an hour be pleasant and able to tolerate loud sounds except he still feel does not like sirens.. who does!!
we also do dan protocol! calle defeat autism now he is learning new skills you could look up www.treatingautism.com to find out more. if you are not sure, get a referral to a camhs or educational psychiatrist, complain if the doctor is unhelpful, early intervention with anything is vital.you cant avoid shopping etc but you could releive some of your childs anxiety, osteopathy helped my son
you could lok up foundation for osteopathy
i beleive they also do a clinic session in manchester... i only pay a nominal amount as they are a charity for children we go weekly.