What helps w/ sensory triggers?

[peglem]

For the last week or so, Allie's had this thing where whenever the A/C compressor kicks on, she gets what I would guess is an adrenaline surge. She jumps up and tears out of the room w/ a little shriek. She's had this before, and its resolved on its own, but it seems to be hanging on longer this time. We live in Phoenix, so turning off the AC isn't an option. I tried keeping the AC fan on all the time- didn't work. The worst part is that she has trouble falling asleep at night because she has to jump up and run every time the air comes on, and when she finally does get to sleep, it frequently wakes her in the middle of the night. We both are very sleep deprived....

[melanie]

Hi peg. Try white noise. Background noise.

[dcmom]

ugh- just lost my whole reply.

 

Peg- this one will be shorter:)

 

We have dealt with sensory issues with our psych. They can be dealt with similar to ocd and anxiety (if you are familiar with the worry hill).

 

She needs to face her fear, instead of you making it better. I know your dd isn't verbal, so I hope you can adapt my idea.

 

Our psych used the term GUTI for get used to it. Any sensory issues is bad and anxiety producing at first, but over time the child can get used to it.

 

If this was my kids- this is what I would do.

 

I would reassure once, and only once, that this is the AC turning on- it is what keep our house nice and comfy when it is hot outside, it will not hurt you. I would show her where the ac is.

 

Then I would make a game of it. Sit with her, holding hands- and have someone turn the ac on. Do this over and over ( if its really bad maybe a few times a day- use your gut). If she can hear it go on, and not over react (be specific about what you want and do not want) then she gets a reward.

 

I would have the reward be something small, immediate and persuasive. Maybe something she can eventually just take on her own everytime the ac goes on. For my kids I might do a jar of m&ms or stickers. When the jar is gone the game is over.

 

Eventually, hopefully when the ac goes on, she will run for her "prize" and not out of the room in fear.

 

Does this sound possible?

[melanie]

Dc mom thats great..Also I have noticed Dan tends to react to something strongly for a while and then moves on to something else as his new trigger

[peglem]

The white noise thing won't work- she turns everything off, almost like she's fixated on listening for the AC. This is how she tends to be with her bad triggers- so frustrating when she won't avoid the things that set her off!

 

I think I can try dcmom's suggestion (thank-you!). But, not today because my grandson is in the hospital and I had to go up there for his mom. She has a history of extinguishing rewards, though. That's why ABA has never worked for her. But its sure worth a try.

[melanie]

Hi peg. I found this site. http://whitenoisemp3s.com/free-white-noise. Check it out

[NancyD]

Would she be able to handle ear plugs? Some you can't even feel in the ears, although she's probably very hyper sensitive.

 

http://www.earplugstore.com/sleeping-ear-plugs.html

[MomWithOCDSon]

Brookstone makes these great "noise machines" that DH and I use almost every night (we like the "breaking waves" selection), and we got DS one for Christmas that's also an alarm clock which he sometimes turns on when he's having trouble falling asleep or wakes during the night. His produces something like 32 different sounds, from crickets chirping to electronic noises like an air conditioner to a trickling stream.

 

I think DCMom's ERP ideas are excellent, but while you're working on that, maybe you can get both yourself and Allie a break with the help of modern technology.

[peglem]

We've tried and tried white noise, she turns it off. It turns out she does have fluid behind her eardrums and as I'm addressing that its getting better. We weren't able to get her to work on it for rewards, but now when she jumps up its a few seconds after it comes on, and sometimes we'll just say "walk, please." and she'll turn around and sit back down, or we'll say, "Oh, too late! Its over." So, I think maybe it was causing pain in her ears and now she's reacting to the memory- it may cause pain again. So, learned anxiety?