sensitive ears

[redbonec]

I have a child, 2 years old, who has very sensitive hearing, and loud, sharp, or sudden noises greatly bother her.

Has anyone used anything for their own ears or for their child's ears? I tried cotton in my ears the other day, but didn't find that it blocked out much sound.

Also, can you tell me any places in DL or DCA or any rides that we should be prepared for that are loud or sudden sounds?

I already know I will need to cover her ears for the fireworks, and I read that in Toontown every 15 minutes or so there is an explosion sound, and a shriek in the elevator of HM (which we don't plan on doing anyway), and that Autopia is loud.

I'm just trying to be prepared, so I can let her know ahead of time, and I can cover her ears too.

thanks for any help!

 

[PigletSeeker]

Definitely don't do the "It's Tough to Be a Bug Movie". Very loud and intense.

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

My oldest (and we think my youngest is this way too now) has sensitive hearing. He hates WIND let alone loud noises. He flushes the toilet and covers his ears so I feel ya. LOL

I sleep really poorly..very light sleeper. My husband bought me some ear plugs that were AMAZING. They're sorta like memory foam..they squish down so you can put them in and then they form to your ear canal. Very comfy..totally didn't feel them if they were in right.

Another option is ear muffs. You could get the thin kind..or possibly a fabric headband to cover the ears? (Not an option for my son LOL)

 

[DSNY4ever]

Also don't see Fantasmic. They shoot a fake gun on the Jungle Cruise. The music on main street can be sort loud during parades and when the park first opens. The Aladdin show has some surprises and loud noises/music.

You can get those toddler noise canceling headphones. My friend got a pair for her one year old when they went to the Olympics and she said they were great.

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

The ones he got were this color and in a jar..not this brand so I can't say for sure..but he just got them at a Smiths (kroger). http://www.midwayusa.com/product/11...plies+&+Equipment-_-PriceCompListing-_-110047

Also, I totally hate Autopia soundwise and I don't have sensitive hearing. My son did ok but I got a total migraine (might've been combo of heat/fumes/sound/bumping tho..don't dare blame it just on sound!). I'd make sure you have SOMETHING for her ears if she goes on it for sure. Also totally ditto the Tough to be a Bug. My nephew has autism and the whole show was way too intense for him. My son did ok on it but it's quite loud. (He covered his ears on his own but was 4 years old..so you'd have to help if you don't have something for her probably)

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

http://www.amazon.com/Peltor-90553-Kids-Earmuff-Pink/dp/B001ET5XAS

 

[Girimama33]

DH races and we purchased the Peltor Child Earmuffs for her to use since DD was a baby. They work great as long as they will keep them on. A lot of people asked me what my baby was listening to though, when she had them on...

Here is a link from Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&ke...vpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&ref=pd_sl_3dmifc894f_b

 

[Isatricia]

My 6 yr old has sensitive hearing as well. She has learned to cover her ears if something gets loud. We have never done anything special for her other than the foam ear plugs we used at an air show - and we all used them. She is glad that we didn't skip any rides or experiences because of noise and she knows she would have missed out.

 

[Brady's Mom]

We've used ear plugs successfully on lots of rides at DLR. I get a lot less overwhelmed when I put earplugs in before rides. I've noticed if I do this I'm a lot less tired and I rarely get a headache when I'm there.

I've used the foam squishy plugs for my kids - I think I've even seen smaller sizes for little kids. They are inexpensive and easy to carry around. We usually have more than we need in case we lose one.

They have kids ear plugs at Target - just check out your local store.

 

[tinkerbellerina]

One of my dd's has sensitive hearing and the foam earplugs work great. She is able to go on all of the rides, watch Fantasmic and the fireworks with no complaint.

 

[Pesky]

I have this issue with DD especially in movies (where Disney sets the volume to deafening -- clearly planning on marketing Mouseke-EAR hearing aides to this group later in life and hope the pediatrics association some time jumps on them about it). I use her silicone ear plugs that we got for swimming (kids' set was $3.50 for a set of 3 pair at her swim place). They are totally moldable and comfortable for DD. They dampen but don't eliminate the noise.

 

[Disneylandfan1]

Disneyland can be a very loud park, like when you accidentally stand under a speaker during the parade. Fantasmic and certain rides, even Winnie the Pooh, can be very loud for little ones. My older son had acoustic sensitivities when he was younger so both of my kids ended up using the Peltor Jr. ear muffs. We've been bringing this same pair to the park for the last 4 years...best $15 I spent.
http://www.amazon.com/3M-97023-00000-Peltor-Junior-Earmuff/dp/B0015UX2EK/ref=dp_ob_title_hi
My youngest uses them now and he usually falls asleep in the stroller during fireworks and Fantasmic. He also wears them on POC because somehow it makes him less afraid.

 

[martikus]

We actually think DS didn't love WDW for this very reason. Almost EVERY ride he considered too loud. Add dark - it wasn't fun.

HOWEVER - this time we took his noise reducing headphones and it was like a magic shield. As long as he wore them he was fine.

I can't find the blue version - but they are these - http://www.amazon.com/Peltor-90553-...5XAS/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1336517106&sr=8-4.

If you ask me they don't reduce much but he thinks they do. We bought them for movies, concerts, etc. But at DL they were AWESOME. They helped so much that we never left them on the stroller when we went anywhere. We figured it was the one thing we couldn't replace.

I didn't want to fuss with ear plugs in & out so these were great. The ONLY rides he can use without them are carasouls, bugs land rides & small world.

 

[MommaMouseketeer]

Two resources that might help you decide:
Slate review of earplugs
How to properly fit foam earplugs

 

[hockeybabe]

My DD has Aspergers, so she is sensitive to sound. The foam earplugs worked great, she can still hear, but it's a lot quieter, noises are not as sharp and piercing. We just brought a pocketful, so that she could just pop them in when she needed them, as she wanted to be discrete about it.

 

[nikkislaght]

http://www.sensorysmartparent.com/pt/backgroundnoise.html


http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&ke...vpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&ref=pd_sl_4iggrg9bvq_b


if you go the route of using ear plugs or ear phones.. make sure you practice with her using them before you go..... if you use them for the very first time in D. it may backfire on you.. hope you and your sweety have a great time..

 

[DisneyDuchess]

For resturants, I would avoid Rainforest Cafe in Downtown Disney. While the atmosphere is amazing, their frequent "thunderstorms" throughout the resturant get pretty loud and a little dark.

Hmm, for rides at DL.... I would say avoid the Michael Jackson Captain EO attraction (next to Space Mountain). I had NO idea it would be that loud; you're basically watching the Captain EO music video in 3D for the attraction and for some reason, the sound was really ear piercing.

That's really the only attraction at DL that I found particularly loud.

 

[Midnightred]

We loved Pooh, but found it to be quite loud. The worst was sitting on the very back of the boat on the Jungle Cruise, we were directly under the speaker and it almost ruined the ride for us! Wish I had known to take earplugs (my 2 boys are autistic). There are some earplugs which lessen the loudness, but not the quality of the sound. In other words, doesn't muffle it.

Midnightred

 

[redbonec]

All of these replies were SO helpful!

I am going into a bigger town today, so have written down all the ideas for headphones and earplugs and will get something, hopefully one kind of earmuff and also an earplug, so we can go ahead and be trying them out at home, as suggested.

I wish I had known about these a couple years ago--I think these could have helped so many times. One question about the silicone or foamy earplugs--are they safe to sleep in? She is such a light sleeper, she wakes when anyone is up nighttime or morning in a hotel room, so she doesn't get that much sleep.

Thanks for the heads up on the rides--especially good knowing about Jungle Cruise (can you tell me which part the gunshot is?), and Winnie the Pooh, two of which we will do for sure. Seems like they would be a good idea during the whole Aladdin show, which we plan on at least once also.

How is the Tiki Room? Do the birds squak or just talk/sing? She is terrified when a bigger or tropical bird makes their loud sound.

Rainforest Cafe--when our older daughter was her age, we went to one and she is not sound sensitive, but the gorillas during the storm bothered her.

I am hoping maybe she can enjoy fireworks for once.

I do hope she will keep one of these earplugs or earphones on, I know it would help so much.

THanks again--I am so excited to find something today, and hopeful she will be willing to work with it, and get used to them at least for short periods of time.

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

If I can sleep with the ear plugs in, they're comfy. LOL I really am a super light sleeper. I have found them removed on occasion. I know I did it with a little bit of awareness because they were on my nightstand neatly. So they must occasionally bug me in the middle of the night? I don't remember this LOL.

Worth a shot regardless!