My son has PDD and he seems to be overstimulated by crowds of people.?

Question

My son is three years old, and he was diagnosed with PDD-NOS around his second birthday. The older he is getting, he seems to be having a very hard time with over-stimulation when it comes to crowds. We went bowling with a fairly large group of people today, and only got to stay for about 15 minutes before I couldn't control him anymore and we had to leave. He did the same thing at the county fair too. Which is really unfair to my 5 year old daughter who doesn't have autism. So, I guess my question is what can I do to help him handle bigger crowds, or how should I handle this, so that my daughter is able to still do things, and neither one of them feels left out. P.S. We are military, and it makes me a single parent half the year. Help!?!

Answer 1

My son is the same way when it comes to the crowds. We have found that it is not the amount of people but the noise or either the lighting in the area. We always have earplugs and/or sunglasses for him and this helps out a lot. You may want to try this out and see if it helps prolong your stay in crowded places. Overhead lights at grocery stores and places like Walmart also can cause problems with autistic children so if he seems to be overwhelmed in those places (as my son is) despite the fact that it isn't loud, try letting him put on sunglasses and see if it helps. Good Luck!!!

Answer 2

Get someone to stay with him. The over-stimulation is caused from sensory preceptors, i.e. hearing and seeing. Your daughter is missing out, yet he cannot help hearing everything magnified. It is frightening for him.

Answer 3

have you noticed teh sound/light levels at the events--both are noisy--if he likes music and can tolerate headphones----even the big old fashined kind--try that--

does he have OT--the OT is the expert on this area (sensory processing)

Answer 4

If you have a Medical diagnosis - check with the County Department of Human Services you may be able to get some PCA time (Personal Care Attendant) or respite time so that you can do things with your daughter and leave your son in good hands.

As he gets older - you can work on developing strategies to help him manage his sensory overload and you will learn that ear plugs, headphones and perhaps some sensory activities PRIOR to something might be helpful.

You need to connect with other parents who can offer suggestions and explore the pre-school services that are available to you and your family.  The school setting can better define his sensory needs, and develop strategies that you can use at home as well.

This is a good place to start: http://www.autismspeaks.org/

Answer 5

Has your son had sensory testing? I just found out my daughter (and many kids on the spectrum) actually have hyperacute hearing. This means she actually hears everything louder than we do AND is able to hear sounds our ears can not perceive! No wonder she couldn't tolerate the fair as a young child -or (until recently) crowds, concerts, assemblies, cafeterias, malls, amusement parks, etc. I've been splitting up my kids for years!  

We are in the process of getting special ear plugs. Our audiologist also recommended an ipod set at very low volumn to "wash out" environmental noises.

Good Luck!

Answer 6

I have the same problem with my kids. My 5 y/o son is typical and my 4 y/o has autism. I sometimes take my older son alone to big events and activities. It is just too much for my younger son to handle. I try to pack special snacks that he doesn't get too often, and I keep a box of toys that he can only play with during such occasions.  I also try to send my older son to parties and activities with aunts, uncles and friends. This way he can participate without having to leave early or not go at all.

I have come to terms with the unfairness of autism on the child with diagnoses and the siblings. My older son does miss out on several activities that we just can't do as a family but we do so many other things that are just as special and wonderful.

Hope this helps