A Mind of My Own
Posted by Gail | Filed under Autism
Chapter 5: Sights, Sounds, Smells
I hate loud noises. When I hear a loud noise, it frightens me. I want to make it stop. When I was little, I didn’t what to do about loud noises, so I just got upset. I’d chew. And I’d stay upset for a long time. Now that I’m older I know that I need to make the noise not so noisy. So I ask my mom to turn down the TV or I close the door.
Even the sound of the toaster popping the toast up bothers me. When I make toast, after I push the toaster button down, I run out of the room until I know the toaster has popped up because I do not like the sound it makes.
Other sounds bother me too. I don’t like the telephone against my ear, so I hold it away from my face. I don’t like the noise in the classroom or in the lunchroom. Sometimes I can’t eat because it’s just too noisy. My mom has taken me to the movies a few times but I don’t really like it very much. It’s very noisy, so I end up having to cover up my ears. The last time we went, she put cotton in my ears, but that felt funny so I ended up taking it out.
I used to hate it when my mom and everybody would sing loud songs like Happy Birthday. It hurt my ears so much I almost wanted to cry. So I told her not to sing. She went away. Then she came back and whisper-sang it to me and that was okay.
It’s funny, not all loud sounds bug me. When I play the drums, that doesn’t bother my ears at all. My mom bought me earplugs but I hated the feel of them in my ears so I won’t wear them. I guess if I’m the noise, it’s okay. It’s just when I can’t control the noise that it really bothers me.
I really hate sound of ketchup or mustard being squeezed out of a bottle. I hate the K-stuff so much, if you even say the word I’ll be sick. When we go out, Alex builds a wall around her food so I don’t have to look at her K-stuff. It means sometimes I end up eating alone – like when everyone else is eating hamburgers, but I’d rather eat alone than look at all that K-stuff.
I hate the smell in my mom and dad’s cars. Every time I get in I say, “It stinks in here.” Smells can make me want to be sick too. Even some words can make me sick. In one book I was reading, one of the characters had the nickname “Barfbag,” and I couldn’t read the word out loud. I had to say “B-bag,” or I would have been sick.
I have favourite clothes I like to wear, even when my mom says they’re too small. My mom took away my favourite pajamas because she said it was summer so it was too hot for long pajamas, but I don’t care because they are my favourite. They are green. I don’t care if I get hot. So I ask my dad for them. But my mom hid them so we can’t find them anywhere.
June 15, 2012 at 7:29 am
I haven’t been near a computer for quite some time. I just read all of your Friday posts.
All I can say is wow. Thank you for sharing this – you and your family are quite amazing!
June 15, 2012 at 9:01 am
Dear Malcom – I do not like the sound of mustard or ketchup being squeezed out of a bottle either. YUCK!
Thank you Gail for sharing.
June 15, 2012 at 9:36 am
Gail, I love that it is okay for you to whisper sing to Malcolm.
June 15, 2012 at 10:49 am
I find it very interesting that, as you put it, ” I guess if I’m the noise, it’s okay.”
I think you wrote before that Malcolm likes when you laugh and you do have a loud laugh. I guess there are always exceptions but I am just curious what might stand behind that.
June 15, 2012 at 11:03 am
I look forward to Fridays just to read the next chapter. thank you gail & family
June 15, 2012 at 12:09 pm
Thank you for these posts Gail. They are a wonderful look into your son’s life. My son has ADHD, and has always been very afraid of loud noises. He especially hates balloons – is very scared that they will pop. My daughter teases him about this, and I have reminded her that everyone is afraid of something. (I hate spiders!)
June 15, 2012 at 5:46 pm
Thanks for sharing this part of your life Gail.
June 15, 2012 at 6:57 pm
Thank you Gail!! Love these posts.
June 16, 2012 at 9:47 am
Noises have been an issue for myself and all 3 of my daughters. When I was 5 I was in my aunt’s wedding. We flew from BC to be here (Ont) and the reception music was too loud, my mom ended up sitting it out with me in hall because I cried the whole night. I was made fun of by family for years to come after that (70s) as was my mom. My daughters all have had issues with sensitivity and anxiety. My 12 yr old is much better, the 8 yr old has some issues still, and the 2 yr old hates so many sounds…toothbrush buzzing can’t happen around her, loud TV, certain music, cars on highway passing, or trucks….the list goes on. I always just find a way to lessen it and not make a big deal. Thanks for sharing!
June 16, 2012 at 1:49 pm
I’m sure someone has suggested this to you already, but several of the children I know who have autism (and actually also a couple who don’t) use safety ear muffs like these when they know there will be loud sounds around them. They don’t go inside the ears, so it is more comfortable for most kids than regular ear plugs.
They are rather visible, so they don’t work in all situations, but they can be helpful when you know the noise is coming.
June 24, 2012 at 8:04 am
I used to hate it when my mom and everybody would sing loud songs like Happy Birthday.
June 24, 2012 at 8:05 am
I hate loud noises. When I hear a loud noise, it frightens me. I want to make it stop. When I was little, I didn’t what to do about loud noises, so I just got upset. I’d chew. And I’d stay upset for a long time. Now that I’m older I know that I need to make the noise not so noisy. So I ask my mom to turn down the TV or I close the door.
June 24, 2012 at 8:06 am
It’s funny, not all loud sounds bug me. When I play the drums, that doesn’t bother my ears at all.