Guest guest Posted July 23, 2003 Report Share Posted July 23, 2003 Audrey, Your assessment may be very close to reality. Not only could it be a reaction to processing more sounds it may also be a reaction for all processing in general. In other words, he is making progress in other areas and is using the covering ears motion as a self-stimming activity. Could be a series of ear infections as well, can't hurt to check that possibility too. If it isn't ear infections then you need to work on another method for him to calm and regulate himself. I.e. Brushing his arm, ringing his hands, something less intrusive and more manageable for you and him. Rich Ham-Kucharski Autism Awareness Covering ears << File: ATT00048.txt; charset = iso-8859-1 >> << File: ATT00049.htm; charset = ISO-8859-1 >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 23, 2003 Report Share Posted July 23, 2003 We did the Auditory Integration Training last summer. My son is autistic and I thought that he covered his ears because of loud noises. This confused me because he sometimes did it when I couldn't hear anything. I assumed he was hearing frequencies that I wasn't. Anyway, I was told that covering the ears can mean that they are overstimulated or that they don't want to do something. Almost like, " I can't hear you so I'm not doing what you want " . Sandy :0) At 10:44 AM 7/23/2003 -0500, you wrote: <?xml:namespace prefix= " v " /><?xml:namespace prefix= " o " /> My son has started to cover his ears extremely often. He used to cover them just for very loud noises, but now he is covering them a lot more. Is anyone familiar with this type of increase in ear covering? My theory is that he is perceiving/ processing more, but is not able to filter out all that he is processing. If anyone has experienced this please let me know. I'm worried because it seems to be interfering with doing things, like getting dressed. He wants to keep his hands over his ears rather than use his hands for what he is supposed to be doing. Any thoughts? Thanks. Audrey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 23, 2003 Report Share Posted July 23, 2003 I have also heard and myself believe it is over stimulation. I used to think it was loud noises, but now I think It is also loud noises, because if I happen to turn on the t.v. and the volume is way up, he covers his ears then, too. We can tune things out, but those with autism can't always do that, so they cover their ears. I just read an article that if you take your child to Wal-Mart and they freak out, which Jagger used to always do whenever we went into any very crowded place, that they should be screened for autism. Jagger does it less frequently now. I have noticed that if Jagger is watching a movie and there are too many things going on within the movie, he covers his ears, so I just turn it off altogether. I try to pay attention to what is "on" in the house - t.v., radio, a/c unit, fans, water running, etc. and turn off those that we aren't actually using. Have you had his ears checked for an ear infection? Maybe if his ears are feeling like they are blocked and this feels strange, it may be a relief when he holds his hands on them tightly. Just my thoughts. Lynn Audrey Tepperman wrote: My son has started to cover his ears extremely often. He used to cover them just for very loud noises, but now he is covering them a lot more. Is anyone familiar with this type of increase in ear covering? My theory is that he is perceiving/ processing more, but is not able to filter out all that he is processing. If anyone has experienced this please let me know. I'm worried because it seems to be interfering with doing things, like getting dressed. He wants to keep his hands over his ears rather than use his hands for what he is supposed to be doing. Any thoughts? Thanks. Audrey Support Everyday Miracles by shopping online at IGIVE.COM, where a portion of every purchase is donated to this support network. Proceeds received will be used for a variety of functions, such as educational activities, therapy, famiy outings, etc. http://www.igive.com/EDM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 23, 2003 Report Share Posted July 23, 2003 My daughter does that most of this time, even when I'm taking her picture or making a video. Maybe a sensory issue, I don't know. She just does it at times though. Take Care, Angelia Covering ears My son has started to cover his ears extremely often. He used to cover them just for very loud noises, but now he is covering them a lot more. Is anyone familiar with this type of increase in ear covering? My theory is that he is perceiving/ processing more, but is not able to filter out all that he is processing. If anyone has experienced this please let me know. I'm worried because it seems to be interfering with doing things, like getting dressed. He wants to keep his hands over his ears rather than use his hands for what he is supposed to be doing. Any thoughts? Thanks. AudreySupport Everyday Miracles by shopping online at IGIVE.COM, where a portion of every purchase is donated to this support network. Proceeds received will be used for a variety of functions, such as educational activities, therapy, famiy outings, etc. http://www.igive.com/EDM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 23, 2003 Report Share Posted July 23, 2003 Hi. I notice with my son that its not so much how loud something is but the different pitches of sounds (we can have the tv, radio and computer on and he'll be watching tv, playing a hand-held video game and eating all at the same time) but if we're out walking and he hears a siren, even blocks away, he'll cover his ears. Now, the funny thing is if we're driving and I see an ambulance coming and I warn him " loud noise, get ready " , it doesn't bother him at all. Is there anything that you've recently started running (air conditioner, fan, etc) right around the same time he started covering his ears more? Also, sounds bother my guy alot more if he's tired - I have to remind my husband to keep his voice down (for some reason, my husband always talks LOUD! - Maybe because there were 8 kids in his family and it was the only way to be heard!) hee hee! Sue > >Reply-To: EverydayMiraclesAutism >To: EverydayMiraclesAutism >Subject: Re: Covering ears >Date: Wed, 23 Jul 2003 13:12:03 -0400 > >I have also heard and myself believe it is over stimulation. I used to >think it was loud noises, but now I think It is also loud noises, because >if I happen to turn on the t.v. and the volume is way up, he covers his >ears then, too. We can tune things out, but those with autism can't always >do that, so they cover their ears. I just read an article that if you take >your child to Wal-Mart and they freak out, which Jagger used to always do >whenever we went into any very crowded place, that they should be screened >for autism. Jagger does it less frequently now. >I have noticed that if Jagger is watching a movie and there are too many >things going on within the movie, he covers his ears, so I just turn it off >altogether. I try to pay attention to what is " on " in the house - t.v., >radio, a/c unit, fans, water running, etc. and turn off those that we >aren't actually using. > >Have you had his ears checked for an ear infection? Maybe if his ears are >feeling like they are blocked and this feels strange, it may be a relief >when he holds his hands on them tightly. Just my thoughts. > >Lynn > >Audrey Tepperman wrote: > >>My son has started to cover his ears extremely often. He used to cover >>them just for very loud noises, but now he is covering them a lot more. >>Is anyone familiar with this type of increase in ear covering? My theory >>is that he is perceiving/ processing more, but is not able to filter out >>all that he is processing. If anyone has experienced this please let me >>know. I'm worried because it seems to be interfering with doing things, >>like getting dressed. He wants to keep his hands over his ears rather >>than use his hands for what he is supposed to be doing. Any thoughts? >>Thanks. >> Audrey >> >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 23, 2003 Report Share Posted July 23, 2003 I agree, Sue, the pitch is also a very important factor. I have a smoke detector that goes off every time I cook -(stop laughing) and when I come out to fan the smoke away from it, he is always holding his ears. (I am in a temporary rental until I close on a new home next month so I can't move the alarm). Lynn Uhl wrote: Hi. I notice with my son that its not so much how loud something is but the different pitches of sounds (we can have the tv, radio and computer on and he'll be watching tv, playing a hand-held video game and eating all at the same time) but if we're out walking and he hears a siren, even blocks away, he'll cover his ears. Now, the funny thing is if we're driving and I see an ambulance coming and I warn him "loud noise, get ready", it doesn't bother him at all. Is there anything that you've recently started running (air conditioner, fan, etc) right around the same time he started covering his ears more? Also, sounds bother my guy alot more if he's tired - I have to remind my husband to keep his voice down (for some reason, my husband always talks LOUD! - Maybe because there were 8 kids in his family and it was the only way to be heard!) hee hee! Sue > >Reply-To: EverydayMiraclesAutism >To: EverydayMiraclesAutism >Subject: Re: Covering ears >Date: Wed, 23 Jul 2003 13:12:03 -0400 > >I have also heard and myself believe it is over stimulation. I used to >think it was loud noises, but now I think It is also loud noises, because >if I happen to turn on the t.v. and the volume is way up, he covers his >ears then, too. We can tune things out, but those with autism can't always >do that, so they cover their ears. I just read an article that if you take >your child to Wal-Mart and they freak out, which Jagger used to always do >whenever we went into any very crowded place, that they should be screened >for autism. Jagger does it less frequently now. >I have noticed that if Jagger is watching a movie and there are too many >things going on within the movie, he covers his ears, so I just turn it off >altogether. I try to pay attention to what is "on" in the house - t.v., >radio, a/c unit, fans, water running, etc. and turn off those that we >aren't actually using. > >Have you had his ears checked for an ear infection? Maybe if his ears are >feeling like they are blocked and this feels strange, it may be a relief >when he holds his hands on them tightly. Just my thoughts. > >Lynn > >Audrey Tepperman wrote: > >>My son has started to cover his ears extremely often. He used to cover >>them just for very loud noises, but now he is covering them a lot more. >>Is anyone familiar with this type of increase in ear covering? My theory >>is that he is perceiving/ processing more, but is not able to filter out >>all that he is processing. If anyone has experienced this please let me >>know. I'm worried because it seems to be interfering with doing things, >>like getting dressed. He wants to keep his hands over his ears rather >>than use his hands for what he is supposed to be doing. Any thoughts? >>Thanks. >> Audrey >> >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 23, 2003 Report Share Posted July 23, 2003 now does this in anticipation of things also, going into stores, peoples houses, or even video tapes if she doesn't know what they are (they aren't ones she's requested). I think it has become a habit. We did AIT at Christmas, however, addressed the language portion of it and didn't switch frequencies to address the sound sensitivities, so that is why we never saw the ear covering go away with AIT. Tanja > My son has started to cover his ears extremely often. He used to cover them just for very loud noises, but now he is covering them a lot more. Is anyone familiar with this type of increase in ear covering? My theory is that he is perceiving/ processing more, but is not able to filter out all that he is processing. If anyone has experienced this please let me know. I'm worried because it seems to be interfering with doing things, like getting dressed. He wants to keep his hands over his ears rather than use his hands for what he is supposed to be doing. Any thoughts? Thanks. > > Audrey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 28, 2003 Report Share Posted July 28, 2003 Thanks for bringing this to our attention. My daughter, , also covers her ears. It looks like she's just trying to hear her surroundings in a different way, but I'll ask her therapist about it nonetheless. She also covers her eyes, but I know this is just because she thinks I can't see her. When I check in on her to see if she's sleeping, she runs to her bed, covers them and pretends to snore! I'll let you know if I find anything out. Thanks, Betty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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