Silencing the Noise: How ear defenders have made a difference in my ASD daughter’s life
As a parent, seeing your child struggle with the world around them can be incredibly difficult. My daughter often becomes overstimulated, which can lead to meltdowns and distress. However, I have found a simple solution that has made a huge difference in her ability to cope: ear defenders.
Whenever my daughter starts to become distressed and covers her ears with her hands, I reach for the ear defenders and put them on her head. It’s amazing how quickly they can make a difference. The noise is muted and my daughter is visibly calmer. It’s like a weight is lifted off her shoulders and she can access the world around her without being overwhelmed. It took a while for her to understand what they did, and to want to keep them over her ears, but now she understands what they do, she is happy to wear them.
We have had such success with them as a coping mechanism that I have invested in an extra pair for my daughter to take to nursery with her. It’s comforting to know that she has this tool to help her cope throughout the day and that nursery are totally on board with letting her wear them. They’re not particularly specialised, and I just found them on Amazon, but they work a treat. These are the ones we have.
They really have been a game-changer for us. They may seem like a small thing, but they have made a big impact on my daughter’s ability to navigate the world. As a parent, it’s important to find tools and strategies to support our children’s needs, and ear defenders have been an incredibly effective tool for us.
While ear defenders have been a definite game-changer for us, they haven’t fixed all of our problems. My daughter still has regular meltdowns, and we are constantly working to find new ways to support her. But the difference that ear defenders have made is significant. They have helped us to reduce the stress and anxiety that we all feel, and have given my daughter a tool to help her cope with the world around her. I am grateful for the peace of mind that they bring, and for the fact that my daughter can access her surroundings more without becoming overwhelmed. If you are in a similar situation, I would highly recommend trying out ear defenders as a tool to help your child cope with sensory overload. Every child is different, but for us, they have been a bit of a lifeline.