How to Help a Child Who Is Sensitive to Noise
It was an ordinary day when my youngest son, who was only five years old, suddenly looked scared. The bathroom hand dryers we used were too loud for his comfort, and the sudden increase in noise seemed to frighten him. This wasn’t the first time this incident happened: he had a similar reaction every time the vacuum cleaner was turned on or my wife used the hairdryer.
Children can often have strong reactions to sounds that seem normal to others, like my personal example above. This condition is called hyperacusis and often occurs in preschool children. For those who suffer from it, even everyday sounds can cause pain and discomfort.
“We think of it more as how [children] process sounds in their brains rather than in their auditory structures,” explains Dr. Aditi Arvind Bhuskute, assistant professor in the department of otolaryngology at UC Davis Children’s Hospital.
The problem is not the ears, but the way the brain interprets and reacts to sound. Hyperacusis is something that most children can overcome, but until it grows up, there are effective ways to manage the symptoms of the condition. We’ll look at some strategies to help your little one tolerate loud noises more easily.
Difference between hearing loss and hearing sensitivity
Although hyperacusis is often accompanied by tinnitus , a condition commonly associated with hearing loss that involves ringing, whistling, clicking, or roaring sounds in the ears, hyperacusis is not the same as hearing loss.
According to the World Health Organization , those who do not hear as well as people with normal hearing (hearing threshold of 20 dB or higher in both ears) suffer from hearing loss, which can affect one or both ears and range from mild to heavy. People with hearing loss have difficulty hearing conversations or loud noises.
“Hearing loss is pretty well defined,” says Bhuskute. “We have very structured ways to diagnose and treat hearing loss in children.”
Hyperacusis , on the other hand, is the inability to tolerate ordinary and familiar sounds at volumes or pitches that would be normal for others, such as in the gym, a crowded restaurant, or hand dryers in the bathroom. Seeing your child cover his ears with his hands, cry or become anxious, and avoid certain places may be a sign that he has sensitivity to sounds.
“We don’t have a test that shows how sensitive a person is to sound, because what we’re testing is hearing in a quiet audiology room,” Bhuskute says. “If a child has completely normal hearing, we have no other reason why the child is sensitive to noise.”
How do you know if hyperacusis is part of a more serious medical condition?
As mentioned above, most children cease to be sensitive to sounds and noise. However, symptoms may persist in people with neurodevelopmental problems, such as people with autism or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Children’s neurodivergent preferences for how they process sensory information can range from liking certain textures of food to disliking certain sounds and noises.
If you’re concerned that hyperacusis may indicate a neurodivergent condition, Buscute recommends visiting a pediatrician or developmental psychologist. They can screen and monitor your child for any developmental or behavioral problems. She also recommends maintaining open communication with your child’s teacher.
“Some of the concerns that [teachers] may have often arise when parents first notice there is a problem,” Bhuskute says.
How can I manage my child’s hyperacusis?
Luckily, as parents, you can help your children manage their sensitivity to loud noises and sounds. There are several strategies that can be effective.
Use noise-cancelling headphones or earplugs.
Children, whether they are noise sensitive or not, should wear hearing protection at concerts or other noisy places. However, if loud noises cause physical discomfort to your child in a normal environment, give him the option of wearing earplugs or headphones.
Warn them that there will be noise.
If you know you’ll be vacuuming, running a blender, or using a hand dryer, let your child know ahead of time so they’re relaxed and prepared when it happens. They may put their hands in their ears if they don’t like the sound.
Encourage them to make their own sounds
Popping, knocking, and turning on the vacuum themselves can give kids control over noises they may not like, and make noisy environments less stressful (for them, not so much for you).
Use a white noise machine
Increasing background sounds can make sudden loud sounds less surprising.