When a person has autism, their hearing is often more sensitive than that of a non-autistic person. They might keenly hear what’s considered background noise to other people, such as electricity, creaking pipes and the hum of air conditioning. This autism hearing sensitivity is known as hyperacusis, though the condition can also be present in non-autistic people. Here’s what you need to know to minimize the effects of autism hearing sensitivity.

Why does autism hearing sensitivity occur? Autism is closely linked to sensory processing disorders and difficulties—whether hyposensitivity (minimally responsive) or hypersensitivity (highly responsive).

Autism hearing sensitivity can affect an autistic person’s everyday life. Overwhelming sounds, touch sensations or smells may cause sensory overload, which is when the senses absorb more information than the brain can process. Constantly noticing background or loud noises can become irritating, distracting, scary and even painful in some cases.

Because of sensitivity to sounds, autism might lead a person to take extra precautions with their ears, such as wearing headphones or earplugs to dampen loud noises. With autism hearing sensitivity, it’s important to alternate between exposure to noises (even bothersome ones) and quiet periods of relief.

If the person with autism hearing sensitivity is a friend or family member, get to know their triggers and help them find calming, quiet spaces to get relief from noisy and overwhelming environments. 

Low-gain hearing aids for autism can help with hearing and sensory sensitivities. Low-gain hearing aids are fitted using a specific method with the intention of treating auditory processing disorders in people with minimal or no hearing loss. These devices reduce distracting background noise and bring voices to the forefront.

If you or a loved one experiences sensory overload issues due to sound sensitivity, low-gain hearing aids for autism are worth considering. For autistic children, low-gain hearing aids could even help them better process sound to enhance their learning and language abilities.