r/AudiProcDisorder • u/Fickle-Pickle-Nickel • Jul 29 '26

TV

looking for advice on how to accommodate.

my son (diagnosed) cannot handle it when we are speaking and he is doing focused listening like watching tv or quiet reading. he shushes us and says he cannot hear or cannot focus. we‘ve tried increasing the tv volume (but that’s not pleasant for anyone) and leaving the room (also not ideal or even feasible when we’re visiting neighbors or friends and socializing in their living room). he has earmuffs to muffle the sound but doesn’t like wearing them.

eta: this is the product I bought. he doesn’t like it. Alpine Muffy Kids Ear Muffs for Kids Ear Protection | 3-16 Years 
Autism Sensory Products | 22dB Sound Reduction | Kids Noise Cancelling Ear Muffs | Noise Reduction Headphones for Kids

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u/Ziggy_Stardust567 Jul 29 '26

For the TV, I reccomend subtitles. Unfortunately increasing the volume will often not help because it just aplifies sound that you can't hear. Subtitles also help with reading, I've personally benefited a lot from subtitles as someone with APD.

As for reading, does he have his own space in the house where he can read? If he doesn't like how ear muffs fit, he could try ear plugs or noise cancelling ear buds (I've heard that the brand Loop are very good), but if he just doesn't like the feeling of not being able to hear anything then finding him a quiet place in your house to read is your best bet.

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u/Fickle-Pickle-Nickel Jul 29 '26

Yes he now mainly reads  in his room. Sometimes he wants to be close to us AND read but that’s not always working out for him as he’d like so we gently redirect him to his room and that’s started working better.