A complete guide to using headphones for children with autism

Do you remember that in Korea's famous Strange Lawyer Woo Young-woo, Young-woo often wore headphones? It is known that children and adolescents on the autism spectrum, who have highly sensitive senses, benefit greatly from sunglasses or headphones, especially when they are in severe pain due to excessive stimulation from the surrounding environment.

Studies have shown that when children and adolescents with autism wear headphones, their attention and concentration improve, and they are better able to regulate their emotions ( Pfeiffer, B., Stein Duker, L., Murphy, A., & Shui, C. (2019));

When U.S. hospitals provided noise-canceling headphones to help children, 1,640 of the 2,580 parents of children ages 3 to 18 who visited the hospital said their children's daily life difficulties were significantly improved when the headphones were used. ( Gupta , N., Brown, C., Deneke, J., Maha, J., & Kong, M. (2019)).

Today, I'm going to talk a little about how these headphones can help children, and furthermore, what kind of headphones are recommended in American articles and magazines.

1) What does it mean to have a problem with sensory processing?

People with sensory processing problems have difficulty processing and responding to sensory information from their environment.

These sensory processing problems can occur at any age and are associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), ADHD, and other developmental disorders.

Some people experience great pain when processing sensory information related to sounds, sights, smells, and textures, while others actively seek out sensory stimulation because they are numb and cannot feel anything.

If we can help with these difficulties, children will be able to lead a much more comfortable and healthy daily life.

2) How much do you know about headphones?

Providing your child with the appropriate amount of sensation they need can help reduce their stress and create an environment in which they can comfortably navigate their daily lives. In this case, headphones can be an effective tool to reduce noise, improve concentration, and calm the mind with soothing soft padding and songs.

Headphone introduction:

Sensory headphones, or noise-cancelling headphones, are said to be designed to minimize sensory overload..!

These headphones come in a variety of styles and seem to cater to different sensory needs, such as over-ear, noise-canceling, and bone conduction.

Shall we take a closer look?

Headphone Type:

1. Over-Ear Headphones: These headphones are the type that physically completely surrounds your ears to block out unwanted sounds. Ideal for providing comfort. However, the downside is that it is bulky and can get hot when worn for a long time.
2. Noise-cancelling headphones: These headphones use active noise-cancelling (ANC) technology to generate sound waves that cancel out ambient noise. It is particularly effective in creating a quiet environment, but it is expensive and seems to require regular charging.
3. Bone conduction headphones: These headphones transmit sound through the bones of the skull, leaving your ears free. They may be useful for people with sensitive ears, but sound quality may differ from traditional headphones.

3) Please consider these things when choosing headphones!

Child's age ( Autism Parenting Magazine )

• If your child is too young, they may not wear headphones because they feel uncomfortable. However, there are headphones that young children can wear, and it is said that help is available from the age of 3.

Features of the headphones:

• Fit and comfort: They say that the headphones should fit snugly on your head without causing discomfort. It would be nice to have cushions that can be adjusted to fit the child's head and gently cover the ears.
• Noise reduction level: You should choose headphones that provide an appropriate level of noise reduction to suit your individual sensory needs.
• Durability and portability: If you need to use it in a variety of environments, you need to consider durability and portability, and a lightweight folding type may be more convenient.

How to use:

• Gradually increase the time: Use the headphones for very short periods of time at first to help them get used to them (just 1-10 seconds really is fine), then gradually increase the amount of time you use them. If you use it for too long, it can become difficult, so take it off periodically!
• Integrate them into daily life: Schedule your headphone use times in advance to avoid using them for too long, and plan to use them only in environments where your child is likely to struggle with the senses.
• Promotes independence and self-regulation: If your child is older and more expressive, you may want to teach them to ask for headphones when they are in distress.

I brought along only a few headphones for children with sensitive senses that were commonly recommended by CNN, the New York Times, and WIred . Please use the list below as a reference only.

CNN: Best kids headphones of 2024 | CNN Underscored

New York Times: The Best Headphones for 2024 | Reviews by Wirecutter (nytimes.com)

Wired: The Best Kids Headphones of 2024—With Features to Protect Your Kids Hearing | WIRED

1. Puro Sound Labs Proquiets:

• Features: Passive noise cancellation, 85dB volume limit to protect hearing, lightweight and durable.
• Pros: Safe listening volume, comfortable for long-term use.
• Disadvantages: May not provide complete noise isolation.

2.Jlab Jbuddies:

• Features: Over-ear design, colorful and fun design for children, foldable for carrying around.
• Pros: Inexpensive, size suitable for ages 2 and up.
• Disadvantage: Since it is very cheap at around $25, the quality may not be good.

3. BuddyPhones Play+:

• Features: Durable, foldable, volume limited to 85dB, wireless.
• Pros: Kid-friendly design, long battery life, safe volume levels.
• Disadvantages: May not be effective for severe noise reduction.