How do you teach an autistic kid to mentally filter out annoying background noises? I feel like this would be a really good skill to have, but I’m not good enough at it myself to teach him. - ThreadSky

josiahhawthorne.bsky.social • 96 days ago

How do you teach an autistic kid to mentally filter out annoying background noises?

I feel like this would be a really good skill to have, but I’m not good enough at it myself to teach him.

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sylphina.bsky.social•96 days ago

I used to hum myself songs, but I didn’t realize everyone could hear me and one time the teacher scolded me in front of the entire class and I was DEVASTATED. So not that 😂 I would suggest something to focus on, at my desk I had some favorite lyrics that I would read, or a little fidget toy.

lorimckinley.bsky.social•96 days ago

That may not be possible. I can’t do it. Coping skills to deal with that inability may be a better solution.

I remember my psych trying to teach me how to consciously compartmentalize intrusive thoughts, until she admitted that my brain simply won’t do that and we switched to other coping skills.

brentwaggoner.bsky.social•96 days ago

We bought our son a pair of muffs, like you'd use when mowing. They were very helpful when he was younger, and he gradually learned to filter most sounds as he got older.

refusenik.bsky.social•96 days ago

I kept a pair of earmuffs in my desk as a middle school teacher. It was mostly for use during fire drills and such, but kids could request them any time.

darleneuk.bsky.social•96 days ago

bettter to purchase a set of noise cancelling headphones rahter than try to teach someone a skill that may overload and overwhelm them.

discountfaramir.bsky.social•96 days ago

I didn’t realize that’s what i was doing by wearing wired headphones everywhere, but if i don’t have them it’s bad. Other kid has those over ear sound muff things, they love them and wear them to school and in the car

discountfaramir.bsky.social•96 days ago

The way i coped as a child without these tools was um. Disassociating. So. But if i have something else i can focus on sometimes it’s a little better? Like i can tune it out and focus on my fidget or doodle or something tactile

tealynn.bsky.social•96 days ago

Loop Engage ear plugs have been a huge win in our household.

josiahhawthorne.bsky.social•96 days ago

Same here. I’m just trying to give him tools for unexpected situations where the earplugs might not be available.

looktogod.bsky.social•96 days ago

Honestly, teaching active dissociation might be the key. Intentionally going into that place in your brain where you hyperfocus & that downs out stressful stimulus to varying degrees. I find mentally focusing on music & building an imaginary place where I control the environment & no people helpful.

kayleelamonster.bsky.social•96 days ago

I find the 5 senses grounding exercise helps with this. Specifically picking out individual sounds can help mentally refocus from the horrid sound to something else. That said sometimes things are just too much and covering your ears or removing yourself from the situation is the best solution.

kayleelamonster.bsky.social•96 days ago

When I am super overstimulated and feel like I'm going to shut down or spiral I use this. And you can change it up as needed. Sometimes there is nothing to taste. Sometimes I do 4 things I can hear and 3 things I can feel. But regardless, it helps me refocus and tune out the worst of triggers.

uofagrad97.bsky.social•96 days ago

Kind of depends on the noise. The bus drives my kid nuts so he listens to music with earbuds.

carawrites.bsky.social•96 days ago

I imagine different things will work for different kids, but our biggest win was a small handheld clicker. He held it in his left hand and clicked away, it was quiet but he could hear and feel it and it somehow blocked outside stimuli.

37han0l.bsky.social•96 days ago

If the source of the noise is unidentified, then identifying the source helps me (where is that ticking coming from!?)

davidofthebeach.bsky.social•96 days ago

This is tough. To key for me seems to be regulating properly but idk how to do that 😂.

I feel like I go from telling sounds “you have no power here” to the sounds going full Gandalf whooping my ass in a split second.

allisonhcallis.bsky.social•96 days ago

Noise cancelling headphones? And if that’s not good enough you can wear earplugs under them too. It’s not a perfect solution but it helps me.

mariannwolfebell.bsky.social•96 days ago

Typically I recommend providing a different stimuli to help tune out and see if that helps. The type depends on the individual. It could be air pods or headphones with background noise, a textured item to fidget with (Velcro square, small toy), or a food/beverage (peppermints, candies).

lorimckinley.bsky.social•96 days ago

This is good. And be open to things that may seem counterintuitive. For example, I need to listen to familiar music with lyrics when I sit down to write. Which sounds distracting but it is the opposite for me.

mariannwolfebell.bsky.social•96 days ago

Yes, excellent point!

andyclarke.bsky.social•96 days ago

I recommend the MyNoise site/app. Loads of different ambient sounds. It doesn't need to be louder than the distracting noise - just enough to take the "edge" off it. Noise cancelling headphones are good, but remember they don't work if there isn't anything playing thru them.
https://mynoise.net/index.php

ghoststryder.bsky.social•96 days ago

Not directly related, but if caught without headphones/ear plugs, just wearing sunglasses, putting your hood up with a hoodie, really anything to dampen other senses can be helpful, also 4-7-8 breathing can really help to regulate the parasympathetic stress response

joshuasethschu.bsky.social•96 days ago

I wish I knew. My oldest is having this issue as well.

irahall.bsky.social•96 days ago

I don't know & it's not my area of expertise even though I do have 'some' experience.

But my paltry experience says the biggest thing is to help them learn how they can since esp kids w/these challenges are so unique. We help them find what works for them rather than give them prefab tools.
???????

clhowley.bsky.social•96 days ago

Loops ear plugs or lo-fi playlists with noise cancelling headphones work somewhat well for my kids.

clhowley.bsky.social•96 days ago

Also my oldest just sings a lot to himself but that really only works at home. He’s had to learn to utilize his earplugs at school instead.

josiahhawthorne.bsky.social•96 days ago

Unfortunately we have this horrible domino effect in our house where one kid sings to himself to drown out background noise and the other kids get triggered by the singing.

It ends in lots of kids screaming at each other. Daily. And then *I* get overwhelmed.

clhowley.bsky.social•95 days ago

Oh we have that, too. Lots of “you go to this end of the house, you go to this end and put your own headphones on!“

procrastamara.bsky.social•96 days ago

Is that possible? I just provide ear plugs and headphones as needed.

gracereadsbooks.bsky.social•96 days ago

Younger siblings was how I learned, but if the background noise gets to a certain volume it drowns everything else out. I sometimes have to ask hubby to pause or mute the tv if he wants to talk to me while something is on.

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