Toddlers and Hyperacusis

[MSF]

Crying/screaming have been something I've had to deal with since our baby was born last year. Typically I would put earplugs in when I knew we were getting into a stressful situation (e.g., diaper change) or just deal with it. But recently we seem to be on a real screaming binge--he is 15 mo and not yet saying any words so resorts to increasingly loud shouts/shrieks for pretty much anything and everything, and it's not always practical (or feasible) to shove earplugs in. I also can't really talk to him with them in so I have tended to avoid using them altogether--if it gets really loud I just leave the room to get away from noise (and calm down!) and then try to distract him with something else.

Obviously this won't last forever, but there's no real sign of it stopping any time soon and in the interim it means my ears have very little chance of recovering from the day to day noise. Anyone else in the same situation and if so how are you handling it?

 

[TomBradyGOAT]

I feel for you. My son is five and has always had the worst, most shrill cry and whine ever. I don't have Hyperacusis but have a sort of Misophonia towards it. The psychological part of it is the worst for me. Just makes me so angry. I hope somebody can offer advice that helps. No matter what the brats are worth it in the end.

 

[Daniel Lion]

My ten year old and six year old get it, and tend to be chill near me... though things do happen. The three year old can really do my head in when he is acting up. I use earplugs, and ear muffs. I educate them constantly that dad is handicapped, compromised, not normal... we can engage quietly. If we're going rough in the house and get crazy, ear muffs on.

Good luck, wear ear muffs, teach your kid that mom, or dad, needs gentle... no screaming please.

 

[MSF]

Thanks! Yes, I can foresee this being a long process of getting him to understand how his screams hurt dad's ears. I had been using earplugs for a while and then stopped as the screaming calmed down a little, but in the last few months it's picked up again. And it's just SO unpredictable--one minute too long on the changing table can result in an excruciatingly loud yelp/scream (of course when I'm right over him).