The meltdown might be from cumulative stress, and the noise is just the last straw.
However, the noises that you mentioned are ones that get a respond from her surroundings (versus a jackhammer, which you maybe look at but continue on your way). Babies cry, and people come running. Ice cream man comes, and kids get all excited, noisy and run to go see. Doorbell and cell phone rings and people drop what they're doing and go to answer it. Could it be that she's afraid that these noises mean she won't be able to continue her fun? From what Stickboy wrote on the phobias topic, it only takes one incident to make her have that fear.
My son recently told me that he doesn't like "extra good days" at school because the kids shout hurray. That could be something similar to your daughter's reaction to the ice cream man.
Just a thought. Hope you can figure this out.
I don't have this going on with my son, in fact he is the opposite, seeking out loud noises...anyway the first thing that popped into my head was some sort of head phones, that maybe you can play soft soothing music through...and I think I recall seeing a post about some sort of headphones that are supposed to muffle loud noises. I'll try a search and see if I can find that thread.Sometimes ASD kids have an extremely sensitivity to certain sounds because they hear a pitch to it that we can't hear and it's physically painful to them when they hear it. My son used to react that way to any sort of alarm. For awhile I carried around a set of earphones that block out noise. Eventually (after 5 years) he outgrew the sensitivity. He still doesn't like the sound, but it's not painful anymore.here is the link to the thread...maybe there will be some good advice in here.
http://www.autism-pdd.net/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=18867&am p;KW=headphones
We got to see fireworks togethor for the first time this year--he is 14. He enjoyed it so much...Why? we were given a pair of those disposable ear plugs,he did great. Depending on your childs tolerance and age if you think she could stand it being in her ear. Show her your ears with them in and give it a try. May not work this yearbut maybe next year.Just a thought. My son has SMS or Smith-Magenis Syndrome. We deal with all the same things as Autism/PDD/ASD etc.. Its noften misdiagnosed actually. Good luck gal!Hi all,
I had posted afew motnhs go about my daughter FREAKING out when the dorrbell rings....head banging, slapping, screaming, biting her thumb, her whole body tense and rigid....it is actually frightening to witness.
Well, I have removed the doorbell so we don't have these situations....but now it is creeping into other things.....for example...the ice cream man ! We were swimming at my brothers house the other day. playing in the back yard...everyone having fun....and we heard the ice cream man's music....Erin immediately started screaming, banging her head against the wall, the concrete walk, it is horrifying. Another time, she did the same thing over a baby crying a few tables away in a restaruant and again over a cell phone ring tone.
I can't stop every outside noise ! I can usually calm her by scooping her into my lap and rocking her, rubbing her back and talking to her...she seems to need to scream it all out first....then is fine.
Anyone going through the same ? Or have any advice ?