Autism and Headphones

How to deal with sensory overload within autism.

Why do people with autism wear headphones?

Many people with autism wear headphones to avoid being overstimulated by their environment. From sounds, smells, and sights they can become overstimulated, which can cause distractions or other unwanted behaviors. For instance, if a child becomes overstimulated with sound, they might want to escape the environment which can cause them to run away from the sounds, which can be dangerous.

Helps them stay focused

Just like with most people, headphones can help filter out unwanted noise. Sometimes with headphones, it's the only way for someone of them to function in their environment. The noise canceling can help them focus on the main task given such as homework, activity, etc.