Why does noise upset my child so much?

The short answer

A sound may be physically too loud or painful, sudden and unpredictable, hard to separate from background noise, or linked with fear of what happens next. Find the exact sound and setting rather than calling every noisy place the same problem. Give warning where possible, create distance, reduce competing sound and provide an agreed exit. Hearing protection may be useful for short, unavoidably loud situations, but NHS audiology guidance warns against wearing earplugs or defenders all the time because constant sound reduction may increase sensitivity and can hide safety information. Do not force a child to remain beside a painful sound as exposure practice. Seek GP or audiology advice when everyday sounds feel too loud or painful, the change is sudden or one-sided, or there are hearing, ear, balance, headache or neurological concerns.

• Volume, pitch, suddenness, repetition, background competition and meaning may all matter.
• Sound sensitivity is not the same as unusually good hearing and may need a hearing assessment.
• Warning, control, distance, quieter routes and fewer competing sounds can improve access.
• Use hearing protection for a defined purpose, not as an automatic all-day solution.
• Painful, sudden, one-sided or function-limiting sensitivity deserves health advice.