You know that child. The one that lives in fear of the next fire drill and runs screaming when the alarm goes off, the one that always has her hands over her ears when walking through the halls, the one that might humming just a bit too loud or clenches or grinds his teeth when the classroom gets too busy and noisy. Sound familiar? Many children with sensory processing issues are overly sensitive to sound input. Also termed auditory defensiveness, this issue can make handling the daily demands of sound overwhelming. There are intervention methods which may help reduce the severity of the defensiveness response and promote better sensory integration.
In the meantime, check out the Hush Buddy noise cancelling headphones. Designed for a better fit for younger heads and ears, and with a variety of animal themes (panda, tiger or bear) these effective headphones (with a noise reduction rating of 27db) may be that just right sensory strategy for your child.
