Noise Cancelling Headphones - Need Recommendations

[Luv Bunnies]

Hi. I'm looking for a pair of noise-cancelling headphones for my DS15 w/Asperger's. He attends a specialized school and rides a bus for about 30 minutes each way with other Asperger kids. My son is very sensitive to noise, and hearing people sing while he's trying to read especially bothers him. There's another boy on the bus who absent-mindly sings during the bus ride. I've been told he can't really control it, but my DS gets upset by it and yells at him to stop. The boys are kind of at an impasse because the singer doesn't realize how loudly he's singing and my DS can't tolerate it.

He's out of school for two weeks before summer school starts. I asked him if he'd like to try some noise-cancelling headphones to wear during the bus rides and he said yes. I suggested taking his iPod (which he rarely uses) and he said he doesn't want to listen to music. He just wants it to be quiet so he can read his books and magazines.

I've never bought this type of headphones and don't know where to start. Would I find them at someplace like Home Depot or Best Buy? Is there a specific brand or type I should look for? I would rather it's not a big, clunky pair. He needs something compact that he can carry in his backpack, yet effective enough to make his bus rides more comfortable for everyone. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[shaylyn]

My son would be the one making all of the noise and I can understand your son wanting to wear headphones!

I'd suggest going shopping at a store like Brookstone in the mall or Best Buy. Somewhere that would have headphones that he could try out. Something like this I'd want to test them first rather than buy them online.

Teens are starting to wear the bigger headphones lately, so he would probably not be too self conscious wearing bigger headphones if they worked for him.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

Good advice. Thanks!

 

[Singledad]

I know for my DD who also doesn't care for some noises that a cheap pair of shooting muffs from walmart worked for her. Also, I would suggest to your son that he doesn't have to listen to music. He can get some 'white noise' sounds that will work as well. something that doesn't bother him, but he can tune out. I like the sound of a 'fan' more than rain or water. (here is a youtube vid with fan noise: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNuGsjAr9aU&feature=related )

Depending on your budget I'd check out Bose (bose.com).

Also, here is an article review noise canceling headphones: http://reviews.cnet.com/best-noise-cancelling-headphones/

Did you check out ear plugs? Or can he not stand to have things in his ears?

http://earplugstore.stores.yahoo.net/flenwaxandco.html

Those are pretty nice earplugs.

ETA: I just found this article which I found very informative:

http://autisticaplanet.wordpress.com/2010/10/03/autisticaplanets-ear-gear/

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I know for my DD who also doesn't care for some noises that a cheap pair of shooting muffs from walmart worked for her. Also, I would suggest to your son that he doesn't have to listen to music. He can get some 'white noise' sounds that will work as well. something that doesn't bother him, but he can tune out. I like the sound of a 'fan' more than rain or water. (here is a youtube vid with fan noise: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNuGsjAr9aU&feature=related )

Depending on your budget I'd check out Bose (bose.com).

Also, here is an article review noise canceling headphones: http://reviews.cnet.com/best-noise-cancelling-headphones/

Did you check out ear plugs? Or can he not stand to have things in his ears?

http://earplugstore.stores.yahoo.net/flenwaxandco.html

Those are pretty nice earplugs.

ETA: I just found this article which I found very informative:

http://autisticaplanet.wordpress.com/2010/10/03/autisticaplanets-ear-gear/

Thanks so much for all the info and links!

 

[kirstenb1]

We bought some from Amazon, I think the brand was Sennsheimer. Anyway, I'll double check. However, the little headphones, and her MP3 player worked better than anything else for dd. She's much younger than your son, but we loaded videos of WDW rides, and Scooby Doo episodes, as well as music on hers. When she gets stressed, she likes watching Scooby.

 

[Ms_Butterfly]

I have a pair of noise-cancelling headphones that I use for plane rides. They were only about $25-35 five or six years ago and they work well. I don't know if they would keep out the sound of a singing kid in close quarters, especially not with no sound coming from a player/phone, but they do work well in the airplane.

(Note: I'm not Autistic, but I do have SPD. I don't use these to keep out sensory-painful sounds on a daily basis, I just use them on planes and usually am listening to music or TV with them.)

Oh, and Best Buy would have them, but also check out Web sites like B&H (bhphotovideo.com) and eBay (which might be a better choice once you have a certain brand/product in mind, but you can also look before then).

You or your child's doctor could also teach him some imaging techniques to help him deal with the overload.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

Thanks so much for all of the suggestions!

Last week we picked up a pair of headphones from the shooting section at Walmart, as one poster suggested. They were only $8. We figured we would start small (read: inexpensive) and see if that would work for him. We all took turns wearing them in the parking lot and on the drive home. I had my other DS sing from the backseat to see if I could hear it up front. They actually blocked out a lot of the noise! Wearing them in the house, you can't hear the noise of our air conditioner, fans or even people talking across the room. You can hear the hum, but can't make out what they're saying. DS will try them out on his first summer school bus ride on Monday morning. I told him he was not, however, allowed to wear them in the classroom to block out his teacher!

 

[shaylyn]

Thanks so much for all of the suggestions!

Last week we picked up a pair of headphones from the shooting section at Walmart, as one poster suggested. They were only $8. We figured we would start small (read: inexpensive) and see if that would work for him. We all took turns wearing them in the parking lot and on the drive home. I had my other DS sing from the backseat to see if I could hear it up front. They actually blocked out a lot of the noise! Wearing them in the house, you can't hear the noise of our air conditioner, fans or even people talking across the room. You can hear the hum, but can't make out what they're saying. DS will try them out on his first summer school bus ride on Monday morning. I told him he was not, however, allowed to wear them in the classroom to block out his teacher!

lol

Glad you found something!

 

[Singledad]

Thanks so much for all of the suggestions!

Last week we picked up a pair of headphones from the shooting section at Walmart, as one poster suggested. They were only $8. We figured we would start small (read: inexpensive) and see if that would work for him. We all took turns wearing them in the parking lot and on the drive home. I had my other DS sing from the backseat to see if I could hear it up front. They actually blocked out a lot of the noise! Wearing them in the house, you can't hear the noise of our air conditioner, fans or even people talking across the room. You can hear the hum, but can't make out what they're saying. DS will try them out on his first summer school bus ride on Monday morning. I told him he was not, however, allowed to wear them in the classroom to block out his teacher!

yup, the 8 dollar ones work for my DD. It is just enough to make it bearable. Hope they work for him! and LOL about the teacher part!