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Hearing and Autism

Child with autism wearing ear defenders

Some autistic people are reported to have hearing problems of various kinds but very few autistic people are hard of hearing or deaf.

For example, some people with autism

- have selective hearing i.e. they do not appear to notice certain sounds, including some very loud noises, but they do notice and react to other sounds.

- have hypercusis i.e. they find specific sounds distressing, disturbing or even painful.

- find some sounds fascinating e.g. bell.

- seem to be unaware of the noises they make themselves

These problems tend to become less marked with increasing age and may eventually disappear.

Deafness or loss of hearing can be a co-morbidity in some individuals.


Updated
09 Sep 2015