To Be Sensitive or Not to Be?

Are his parents the type who keep everything quiet at home ? No vacuum, tv, radio etc ?? You can ask without offending them and explain what's going on,... On the other hand things may not be so great or something maybe going on and thats all this child ever hears ,children , even infants can sense when something is wrong. feel the parents out , and all you can do from is go from there. Good Luck ! C. S.

My brother was very sensitive to sounds. He couldn't go to the movies, would cover his hears with his hands. All this until he was 10. He had undiagoned inner ear infections as a baby. When the doctors finally got it he was 2 1/2 and not talking. After tubes in his hears he could hear enough to speak but then became very senistive to sounds because he wasn't use to them. I would definately ask the parents if they experience the same thing at home. Don't let it go as a personality trait. The parents should check it out and eliminate any medical reasons.

Having read the other responses, I tend to agree that you should have a conversation with the parents. You didn't mention whether or not there are sibs at his home. It may very well be that if this is their first and only then they have a very quiet/sterile type home environment... and simply not having other children around, they may be totally unaware of their child's sensitivities. I'm sure they would appreciate someone who is "more experienced" with other children clueing them in that something might need to be addressed. Just be careful how you approach them, because you don't want them to feel like they are bad parents or don't know their child, nor scare them that something is "wrong" with their child. You might just pull them to the side at pickup (or drop off) and mention that you noticed he seems sensitive to the other children when they are noisy (crying, yelling in fun, etc) and were wondering if he might have an ear infection, or if it is generally quiet at home and he's not used to the noisiness..... Then maybe ask what THEIR technique to deal with it is.... I'd bet they don't have one and don't know about his reactive crying. In any case, if you approach them from the perspective of wanting to give him better care, they will be glad you spoke up.

One of my twins has Sensory hypersensitivity and we are taking him 2 times a week to a ocupational Therapy place to help work through it. Kevin also cried all the time as a baby & now as a 5 year old, he still cries when frustrated, angry or gets to overstimulated by noise, people or even messy places. It is something you can learn to control with a baby. Kepping a white noise on is helpful and just holding them tight brings them around quicker sometimes. I know it is hard and you are getting frustrated but imagine that poor childs perceptions of everything. There is quite a bit of literature on the internet.

You have to talk to the parents so they can get the child evaluated. I am not saying that the child has what mine does, it just sounds similar. But any parent would want your input as you see the child everyday & see things they might not. It is important, so just in a calm manner have a discussions of your worries & let them know what you think.

Good Luck

P.S
You could print out a bunch of stuff for them, so they do not feel overwhelmed about researching it & blow off your attempt at help.

Has the child been evaluated for autism that you know of? Autism has many symptoms/ varieties and a sensitivity to loud environments is common, especially with only calming down in quiet environments. I wouldn't want to scare the parents by asking or suggesting, but there are many therapies now that can help and the sooner they are started the better for the child's development.

It may be something as simple as the fact that his parents are very quiet at home. I know some people who expect their house to be practically silent b/c of the baby. Then when that child is around noise, it scares them and they cry.