Fourth of July Assault on the Senses
Of course our son Tommy, diagnosed with PDD-NOS, is not a big fireworks fan. Or, to put it another way, he loves the lights but hates the sound. We've looked for and found a few compromise options over the years.
One year, we stood on a hill far from the celebrations and watched the fireworks from a distance. Another year I took our younger daughter and left Tommy at home with Dad (not Dad's favorite solution). Once or twice we did our own (legal!)fireworks, choosing only the quietest bottle rockets. Last year, my husband found a pair of ear protectors meant for road workers, and Tom wore them to the fireworks event. Amazingly, they were a smash hit. He's used them for the dentist ever since!
How do you and your family handle the Fourth of July? I'd love to compile an article filled with hints and tips!
Comments
We live right behind the local baseball stadium.The 4th of July is a stressful day.The community parties can be heard,then the fire works.We give my son who has PDD/NOS tylenal for the headaches and some herbal calming pills.Ear plugs are a saver too.
We have decided that I will stay home with our three year old son this year. The rest of my family is going to go to a BBQ and pop fireworks. We are going to a movie and probably dinner and one of his favorite places. I just don’t want to put him through too much stress this year.
Our 12 year old daughter has Asperger’s. Until about 3 years ago, she was not bothered by the noise from fireworks. Actually, I think she now has more of an anxiety from the anticipation of the noise, rather than the noise itself. Anyway, she also uses earplugs a lot during the July 4th weekend. (I am always on the lookout for small earplugs as the construction ones are pretty big. We found some great “swim” earplugs at Walgreens…small) We also rent a few movies and when she goes to bed, she keeps her radio on in her room.
Our 12 year old autistic son (PDD) is also very over-sensitive to loud noises. We avoid fireworks if at all possible and we even have to avoid movie theaters. Even with foam ear plugs, taking Tylenol before a movie and pleading with managment to turn down the sound, he usually ends up with a headache. So, we usually wait until a movie comes out on video where we can watch it at home quietly. I just wish our school principal would understand that the fire, tornado alarms and the morning bells are actually painful for our son and agree to make special arrangements prior to them being set off. There is still so much ignorance and intolerance in our society. I pray that one day during my lifetime, that will change.
Our son is 14 and he has always had problems with the noise of the fireworks. I remember when he was 3 or 4 parking near the firework sites, so we wouldn’t be too close, but close enough to see them. I ended up sitting in the car with my son while my husband and daughter sat on a blanket to enjoy the show. (My son would cry to go home.) I think his problem now is mostly anxiety; he will run to get his ear protectors at the first hint of the “pops” (and thunder, too.) He will stand at our window, with his ear protectors on, and watch the fireworks that we can see from a couple miles away. We also use a radio in his bedroom to help muffle the noise from outside.
My husband’s friend has invited us to a cook-out/ fireworks-watching party tonight and my son says he wants to go. I’m not sure if we will attempt it or not. I’m wondering if he will tolerate the noise because he will be at a friend’s house and my son loves going to parties?
I keep my twins up late. Their bedtime is usually 6:30. Early huh? They have been conditioned since birth. Dinner, bath, bed. l,2,3. The week of the fourth, I give them dinner an hour later, so that they are not in bed until 8 PM. At this point, they are very tired and fall into a very deep sleep for about 3 hours. Most of the louder celebrations are done by then, and if they wake up, its business as usual, potty, drink and back to bed. I am very lucky, this works for them. I also have an air conditioner running in their room. This year we may try taking them. Whenever Thomas goes out to an over-loaded sensory outing, a sweatshirt with a hood helps him. He will not tolerate any ear invasion at all. Plugs are not an option for him. However, he has oversized soft comfy headphones, he wears while listening to his books on tapes. We may bring them with us and let him listen to some patriotic songs while watching the sky.