Children and Young People's Occupational Therapy
Published July 2025
Review July 2026
How It Can Affect Children & Young People
Noise sensitivity can make children and young people feel stressed or anxious. It might also make them feel tired, upset, or overwhelmed. Loud or unexpected sounds can be distracting and make it hard to focus or enjoy activities like playing, learning, or spending time with others. We’ve listed lots of different ideas. Please pick the ones that match your child’s abilities and what they enjoy. Try these ideas for 10–12 weeks to see if they help. If they do, you can keep using them as part of your child’s daily routine.
Tips for Parents, Teachers, and Carers
1. Comfort and Reassurance
If a sound upsets the child, move them away and offer calm support (e.g. a hug or gentle voice).
• Help the child understand what the sound is and where it comes from to reduce fear.
2. Giving Control
Allow the child to start or stop sounds themselves (e.g. pressing a button).
- Encourage them to create sounds like clapping or tapping, giving them control over when it happens.
3. Gradual Exposure
Record a sound and play it quietly, increasing volume slowly over time. This can be done using mobile phones or Ipads.
- Let the child explore sounds in a playful way so they know what to expect.
4. Sound-Based Activities
- Use games with different sounds to help the child get used to them in a fun, low-pressure way.
5. Managing Noisy Environments
Avoid making the child stay in noisy places if they’re distressed. Help them adjust slowly.
- Allow entry into noisy places (like lunch halls) before they get loud.
- Older children feel safer knowing they can leave briefly if needed
- Start with a smaller shop and build up to supermarket, also potentially going at quieter times.
6. What to avoid
Audiology recommends not using ear defenders, ear buds or ear loops that block out all noise. These stop the child from learning how to cope with sounds and make it harder for their brain to get used to everyday noise.
If you have any questions about this, you can call the Children's Services Phone Line on 01592 226699 (Tuesday 10–12 and Wednesday 2–4).
Accessible formats
If you require this information in a community language or alternative format such as Braille, audio, large print, BSL, or Easy Read, please contact the Equality and Human Rights Team at: email: fife.EqualityandHumanRights@nhs.scot or phone 01592 729130. For people with a hearing or verbal impairment you can also contact the team through the NHS Fife SMS text service number on 07805800005.
Learn how to create a shortcut to a web page you visit regularly -
Video - create a shortcut icon on your mobile phone.