Auditory Hypersensitivity and Autism Spectrum Disorders: An Emotional Response

This article written by Jay Lucker EdD, CCC-A, SLP, FAA and Alex Doman was published in Issue 04 of Autism Science Digest. Abstract: Many children diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder are described as having auditory hypersensitivities. This paper describes auditory hypersensitivities, the systems involved in hypersensitive hearing, methods for evaluating auditory hypersensitivity in children, and possible treatments. Auditory hypersensitivity involves the non-classical auditory system and is an emotional response to sound rather than an auditory response. Children described as being hypersensitive to sound have negative emotional reactions to sounds and situations in which the sounds are present. It is possible to desensitize these negative emotional reactions and reprogram the emotional memory system so that children are no longer frightened by sounds. Thanks to the generosity of the journal's editor Teri Arranga, you can access the article online at http://www.advancedbrain.com/pdf/LuckerDoman_ASD04.pdf