self harm every time a plane goes overhead

[Jimjams]

Thank god we don't live near heathrow. This has sneaked up a bit- I think it began a couple of weeks ago but is bad now. Every time ds1 hears a plane he freaks out. Hits his head and chin with his fist and his forehead with his knees (!) and screams. Interesting when we're out and about.

Ideas? I have no idea what he doesn't like- I suspect its the sudden noise as the telephone ringing has the same effect.

I guess we'll just have to ride it out- but wondered whether anyone had any experience.....

My Ds is suspected of being slightly autistic and hates loud noise, not to the extreme of your Ds but he does panick when a plane goes over.

I found buying him a toy plane with realistic sound helped.

Will try and find one and do a link.

Not meaning to sound flippant, but would ear muffs be any good? Would he listen to a walkman of some favourite music?

Ds used to do this but not at plane noises, just any loud noises - it's a difficult one. Hope someone has something better to suggest.

toy plane

I'm not sure he relates a toy plane to a real one. Ear muffs etc would be a good idea but he won't wear anything like that. Been trying for years and will now tolwerate headphones for about 5 seconds. Won't tolerate music for very lomng either! grrr.

mind you he would like that toy plane anyway- as would the other 2- I'm tempted!

Thinking about it he just isn;t consistent. For years I couldn't turn the hoover on- now he likes it. for years he loved music - especiqlly classical- now he can't tolerate it. TBH I have no idea what is going on!

We have the same problem with DS but with helicopters and living right by the sea we have plenty of them flying overhead during the summer months.
Ive tried ear protectors but no way would he wear them. For a while he tolerated the smaller personal CD ear phones plugged into his ears but not anymore.
Sadly Ive havent got any pearls of wisdom to share as we just ride the storm as and when a helicopter is overhead.
sorry I cant be of any help.

Is there some sort of audio integration therapy you could try? Although if he can't tolerate headphones I guess that could be tricky.

Done it (via speakers) a few years ago. Didn't see any difference at all- although he was less sound sensitive then.... I thought I'd try it again when he can tolerate headphones.

did the BIBIC groany tape as well- that was better....

JJ....Did your Ds manage to run through the whole of the BIBIC tape....J manages about 10 seconds and then his hands go flying to cover his ears....even when I have played it very quietly and he's been in another room

He was OK with it- just dived under the duvet at the hoover type sounds. Of course may have changed now- I haven't done it for ages.

No more ABA Socci........

(the BIBIC tappe was a desensitisation thing though- maybe I should dig it out again).

Your tape must be different to the one they gave us.....ours is a low pitched hum that gets louder and louder and the decreases in sound over a three minute cycle.....it drives me insane so you can imagine what it does to J!!!

And it gets worse....... we're back to a bruised head. I'm not sure I have anything reinforcing enough- wonder if countdown buttons then biscuit would work. It's getting ridiculous now.

Weird thing though when my mum visited he said "ow ow" and picked up her hand and put it on the bruise. I was impressed- not prompted either (he's started telling my mum when something is sore as she dishes out sympathy).

Weird suggestion Socci, but have you tried an electric toothbrush? When ds1 couldn't tolerate toothbrushes we switched to an electric and he loved it! (I was very surprised).

As for GA's and dentists- you just need to have a child like ds1 who refuses point blank to open his mouth for anyone, let alone a dentist- then you can't see all the decay (I dread dental work as well- even a filling will be a GA- as soon as he needs one I'm going to ask them to coat the rest of his teeth at the same time).

I have a black eye if it makes you feel any better, through dd throwing a land rover at me when ds started tantruming. Everytime ds has a tantrum she goes mental, throwing things, hitting herself in the face, pulling her hair.....now i look like a beaten wife too