Noise Sensitivity and Highly Sensitive Children
If you are raising a highly sensitive child (HSC) then noise sensitivity is probably a hot topic in your home. One of the primary challenges is keeping sensory stimulation at a manageable level, and noise sensitivity is a huge component of this for many highly sensitive children, particularly in school. So how can you help quieten the every day world of your HSC?
Noise Reducing Headphones
One way to help highly sensitive children filter out noise is by using noise reducing headphones (or ear muffs or ear defenders as they are also known).
There are a number of situations where headphones can help a HSC – not just in the classroom but during parades, festivals, shows and concerts. Kids can also use them for a trip to the cinema, during firework displays or motor races. Or even at home, whilst you are using a vacuum cleaner or a hairdryer, or whilst a sibling is playing music in their bedroom.
Headphones in School to Help Highly Sensitive Children with Noise Sensitivity
All three of my sons regularly use headphones in school. The school has a limited supply, but by their own admission the headphones they have are not particularly effective at shutting out much of the classroom noise. So we bought our boys their own headphones.
Out latest search was for my youngest son, who recently turned five. He is in an infant class (group 1 & 2 combined). At this age there is lots of playing and lots of different activities going on at once in different corners of the classroom. As is inevitable with a class of four, five and six year olds, there is sometimes more noise than my little HSC can handle.
Alpine Muffy Headphones
My oldest two sons use headphones we got from the local DIY store but these are a bit big and bulky for my youngest so he tried a pair of Alpine Muffy* earmuffs instead. These have been specifically made for children so are smaller in design than the other headphones we have in our house. They fit him perfectly as the colourful striped headband is adjustable, and it’s easy enough that he can adjust it himself.
My Sons’ Verdict
He says they are comfortable. The design makes the headphones attractive (colourful stripes), so he’s eager to put them on when he needs to. He can still hear voices (importantly his teacher’s). But the louder noises (in my son’s own words ‘the screaming and the shouting of the children) are subdued.
The headphones fold up compactly and come in a cloth bag so are easy to carry around.The bag protects the headphones and keeps them clean when he puts them away in his school drawer.
Importantly they are also robust, which in the hands of a five year old is handy!
“Protects the ears from harmful noises and loud music. Also very suitable for increased concentration in school.” Alpine Muffy
Feedback from My Son’s Teacher
I attended parent’s evening last week and my son’s teacher raised the topic of his headphones. She relayed that they definitely help him with his noise sensitivity. She noted that he uses them a lot whilst writing or drawing.
His teacher also said that he uses them to shut himself off from the world around him. When he puts them on he gives his classmates a clear signal to leave him alone for a while. That’s good going for a five year old. My heart melts realising he already has such an amazing insight into his own sensory needs. Long may it continue.
You can find Alpine Muffy headphones on Amazon in a variety of colours.
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