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headphones

GrandadP

Hi , please forgive my ignorance , im not an expert on autism , just a loving grandad . Ive just watched my youngest gransons xmas play and hes wearing headphones . At first I was a bit taken back , can anyone give advice on experience of the same situation please . 

  • What classic said.  I'm on the spectrum and I can hear through headphones.  

  • Hi GrandadP. Sorry my answers were short, I was trying to make sure you had some sort of reply so that you didn't feel ignored, but I didn't have much time so I wasn't very informative!

    Sometimes, to reduce my own overloads, I sit for hours, quietly, with a blanket over my head to cut out excessive light and sound - it works for me and I know when I need to use it. I guess anyone looking at me would find it odd that a Grandad (and Great-Grandad) would behave this way, although normally people don't see me do it.

    I use both headphones and ear defenders too, when I'm particularly sensitive to noise. I use the headphones for music that soothes me - many of us use music in this way, I'm not sure why it works and I don't need to, it works, and that's fine. Even now amongst us we often discuss coping strategies and suggest things to each other, it's an ongoing subject for discussion!

    It's these 'strange' behaviours that often make us targets for bullying. I am so glad that your Grandson's school is letting the other children see that it isn't 'strange' and something to bully him for (you know how kids are!) but is, in fact, something that is normal for him and must be accepted as such. Brilliant!

  • thanks for the reply CC , just a bit surprised at first , but youre right , anything that helps him makes sense . Hes 3 and tiny , just got a bit confused / concerned when I saw the headphones , it looks like he cant hear anything . 

  • Hello GrandadP. Many of us do, at some point, use noise-reduction equipment such as ear defenders or headphones. Being on stage would be a touchy thing for an AS child. Exposure to public gaze, fear of 'getting it wrong' noisy environment etc etc - there's quite a list! Anything that reduces sensory input at a particularly stressful time is a very good idea.

    I think it's great that he has been included, in the way that schools always try to include every child, and if this was something he needed to help him do that, well that would make sense. Hope you enjoyed it!