“How do I make it easier for my child not to have a flare-up of auditory overwhelm in their daily life?”
This post was written in response to that exact question from a parent I work with — and it’s one I hear often.
It’s very common for children with auditory processing challenges to have symptoms that worsen under certain conditions, especially during times of stress or when their sensory environment changes.
Background noise, such as HVAC systems, chairs scraping, hallway chatter, or sudden loud sounds like doors slamming or bells ringing, can overwhelm a child’s auditory system. Some children are especially sensitive to sharp or high-pitched noises that might not bother others — and this can trigger discomfort, panic, or even pain. Others experience misophonia-like reactions, where repetitive sounds like breathing, chewing, or pencil tapping become intensely distracting or emotionally upsetting.
Mental stress — such as preparing for exams or facing high-pressure situations — adds even more cognitive load. Fatigue builds up faster for children with auditory challenges because their brains are constantly working harder just to decode everyday sounds. Visual and tactile overload from bright lights, uncomfortable seating, strong smells, or temperature discomfort can add even more strain. And emotional stress, including fear of mistakes or navigating unfamiliar situations, often pushes things over the edge.
When the brain is already working at a high effort level, any additional distraction or stress can cause a full flare-up — making it harder for the child to follow directions, retrieve learned information, or stay regulated.
To reduce these flare-ups, it helps to build a low-stress, supportive environment into the child’s daily rhythm. Creating quiet, low-stimulation spaces at home and at school can offer relief. Comfortable seating, familiar textures, and consistent routines go a long way. Allowing children to take short movement breaks or brief time away from noisy environments can reset their nervous system and prevent overwhelm before it spirals.
Simple calming rituals help, too — like using a favorite fidget, sipping a warm or cold drink, or having a comfort object nearby. I often teach children to ground themselves in their bodies by focusing on how their back feels against the chair or noticing their feet pressing into the floor. It gives them an internal point of focus when everything around them feels too loud or chaotic. Breathing exercises and gentle meditations can also help them create calm from the inside out. Practicing breathing techniques before high-stress situations is especially important — it builds a “muscle memory” that makes calming strategies easier to access during moments like tests or public events.
I share a personal story with families: as a child, whenever I went to weddings or crowded public events, I would quietly sneak off to the bathroom just to escape the noise. A few minutes of quiet helped my brain reset, and I could return feeling less overwhelmed. It’s something I still encourage today — finding small moments of peace when the world is too much.
There’s nothing wrong with wearing noise-canceling headphones when needed, or bringing a favorite pillow or blanket to sit in the car for a few minutes if things get overwhelming. Some kids prefer earplugs or like listening to brown or pink noise to mask triggering sounds. Others find relief in playing favorite music, holding a familiar object, or having a “lucky” pencil during stressful tasks.
Children can also use discreet strategies at school or during testing without needing special accommodations. Some bring small earplugs they can quietly put in if needed, especially if their hair covers their ears. Others keep a rubber band on their wrist — giving them something small to rub or occasionally snap for a sharp but controlled sensory input. Weighted objects, like placing a bookbag on their lap, can provide calming deep pressure. Even feeling the steady weight of a textbook across the knees can anchor them during stressful moments. Tactile sensations — squeezing a fidget hidden in a pocket, rubbing fabric between their fingers, or focusing on the feeling of the chair — often help override overwhelming sensory input.
It’s also important to pay attention to other senses. Wearing comfortable, non-irritating clothing or even compression clothing can provide a steady feeling of security. Making sure the child isn’t too hot or too cold matters just as much. If allowed, sunglasses or a soft hat can reduce visual glare and harsh lighting. Managing visual, tactile, and temperature needs often lightens the overall sensory load, making auditory challenges much more tolerable.
For some children who have access to low-gain hearing aids, we also program a pink noise or brown noise setting into their devices. Practicing with this sound during calm, relaxing times — such as imagining being at the beach or doing a favorite quiet hobby — helps their brains associate the noise with calm rather than stress. When used during more difficult moments like classroom work or tests, the pink or brown noise gently masks background sounds like pencil clicks, paper crumpling, HVAC hum, and whispering classmates. It provides a steady, soothing “wall” of sound without needing complete silence. Children often love having the ability to adjust the volume themselves depending on how much support they need in the moment. Of course, not every child has access to these devices, but for those who do, it can make a significant difference.
Many of these strategies overlap with what is often recommended for children on the autism spectrum. Considering the high rate of co-occurrence between autism and auditory processing differences, it’s not surprising that calming techniques like pressure, controlled movement, sensory regulation, and structured breathing are helpful for both groups. The underlying goal is the same: creating the right sensory and emotional conditions for the brain to function at its best.
It can also help to allow audiobooks during reading-heavy periods, or to use slow-down and clear speech tools when giving directions. Preparing children ahead of time for noisy or unfamiliar environments gives them a sense of control and lowers anticipatory anxiety.
These strategies aren’t about giving an advantage — they’re about protecting the brain’s energy and creating fair access to learning, connection, and emotional stability. Teaching children to notice when they are reaching their limit — and giving them practical, empowering tools to manage it — builds resilience, confidence, and long-term independence.
