#Auditory sensitivity in babies full#

You jump a little bit, your heart races, and your breath catches in your throat. Whether you’re working on a project or scrolling the internet, you are fully engrossed in what you’re doing. Over time, it becomes extremely difficult for the brain to separate sounds from negative responses, which brings us to our next point. Because the brain is experiencing an unrelenting bombardment of noise, it begins to associate negative emotions with everyday sounds. This results in the child experiencing a restaurant as though they are in the front row at a rock concert, combined with sirens going off and a helicopter overhead. Background noise isn’t filtered by the brain, so the refrigerator running seems just as loud, or louder, than the sound of a person speaking. But, children with auditory over-responsiveness have a much less effective filter. We “tune out” the irrelevant sounds without even realizing we are doing so. For most of us, our brains automatically filter out the less important sounds to be able to focus on what’s most important.

#Auditory sensitivity in babies full#

Our environment is full of noise: the faint whir of the refrigerator, the music on the radio, the person speaking to us. After medical conditions are ruled out, it is important to understand our sensory processing system in relation to sound. It is always important to first consult your child’s pediatrician or audiologist to rule out any underlying medical condition. However, a child’s reactions to noise may be the result of structural differences in the ear, or a side effect of medication. Most often, sound sensitivity is the product of the way a child’s nervous system processes sound. But what causes sound sensitivity? How can you tell if your child may be experiencing it? Can anything be done to help? For them, it’s easier to stay home than to deal with the aftermath of an unexpected sound. They don’t go to restaurants or holiday parades. Known by many terms (noise sensitivity, auditory over-responsiveness, hyperacusis), sound sensitivity keeps many children and their families trapped in a never-ending cycle of trying to live a (literally) quiet existence. Their daughter runs and hides when the vacuum is turned on and won’t come out for hours. Their son is terrified of the sound of a lawn mower outside. Many of us chalk it up to kids “not being used to loud noises” or “overreacting.” But, parents of children with sound sensitivity know that it is more than that. A girl who becomes inconsolable in a busy restaurant, hands over her ears. A young boy crying at the holiday parade when the fire trucks go by.