DD6 has headaches and loud noises bother her

[DVCBELLE]

We leave for Disney in 3 weeks and for about the past month my DD6 has been having daily headaches and complaining that loud noises bother her...
if someone screams near her she breaks down and sobs

Last week she decided NOT to go to the Hannah Montana concert b/c she thought it would be too loud and bother her...

we have had x-rays and blood tests and everything appears normal. She is having some issues at school and our doctor is thinking her headaches are stress related and we are all hoping Christmas break and a trip to WDW will help her...

So here is my concern...what if the shows are too loud for her? I will take ear plugs for her but will she be able to hear the shows then? Has anyone ever had experience with this sort of thing? If I ask as we enter each show can they help show us where to sit to be the least noisy?

 

[Forevryoung]

Yes, ear plugs will definitely help, they won't prevent her from hearing, just reduce the decibel level- especially if she willingly wears them. I would also bring the hunting ones for fireworks.

I doubt there are "less noisy" places to sit but you can try.

Another thing that I suggest that you do is remind your daughter that if she needs to leave because it's too loud, all she has to do is tell you- it might make her willing to try more attractions (and just because one is too loud doesn't mean that another one will be the same volume).

Good luck and I hope your daughter feels better

 

[SueM in MN]

There are really no less noisy places for any of the shows because they have loudspeakers distributed around the theaters. So, the best bet would be the earplugs. She can always remove them or put them in/on looser if she thinks the sound is too quiet for her.
For all the indoor theater type shows, the doors you enter into the theater are directly across from the doors you will go out. So, if she thinks she might want to leave before the show is over, when you enter the row, go as far down to the other end of the row as you can. That will put you closer to the exit. Also, it might help to look for the exits when you sit down so that she can see where they are and that she can leave if she needs to (like Forevryoung mentioned).

 

[OneLittleSpark]

Some people find that ear defenders (the kind that go over you ears rather than in them) are better, though it's really down to personal preferance (although, the over-ear kind may put too much pressure on her head).

If you have trouble getting seats near the exit, talk to a CM before the theatre opens, and see if they can get you where you need to be. A GAC may help with this, but I doubt it.

Make sure she stays cool. Even if her headaches aren't caused by heat, they definitely won't be helped by it. Damp wash cloths, electric fans, ice packs and regular breaks in the air-con can all help a lot. Also, make sure she has plenty to eat and drink, as well as resting regularly.

She might benifit from having a stroller with a canopy, to help keep the sun off and to conserve her energy (being in pain is extremely tiring, especially in an unusual environment). If you feel it would help to take it into lines with you, you might want to look into the GAC (see the FAQ section), but I don't know whether it would be worth it for you or not.

If she needs a lie down in the cool and the quiet, the First Aid rooms have beds that you can use. All First Aid rooms are marked on the maps, should you need them.

A tool such as Tour Guide Mike might be useful to help you avoid the worst of the crowds (and thus, hopefully, the worst of the noise). Just make sure your plans are flexible, so you can adjust things to suit her needs as necessary.

Hope some of this helps!


Just a couple of points on the headaches themselves, feel free to ignore them if you want (I'm sure you're swamped with 'useful advice' from well wishers!). Has she had her iron levels tested? The reason I ask is that I had terrible headaches in my early teens that were eventually found to be caused by anneamia; a few tablets later and I felt so much better. It was partly because I was growing a lot at the time, as your daughter probably is.

If it is stress, their are various calming techinques including breathing exercises, herbal remedies, strict sleep routines, etc. Obviously, talk to your doctor before trying these kind of things. However, I find that the best medicine in the world is Disney!

Also, has she had her hearing and eye-sight tested?


I hope that you find out what's wrong soon and that it can be fixed easily. Have a wonderful holiday!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Another thought might be "shooter's earmuffs" which are available at sporting goods stores and major places like Wal-Mart. These are designed to cut out loud and sharp noises but allow conversational volumes to come through.

 

[spotdog]

I like the ear-muff type better than earplugs. I use the same ones that I use for carpentry work when I have to be in a loud environment, including on airplanes. Maybe they should make hearing protection ear muffs with Mickey ears on the headband for us noise sensitive WDW lovers.