How fireworks can affect people with sensory sensitivities

People often look forward to the ‘pop’, ‘crackle’ and ‘boom’ that comes with the Fourth of July holiday.

However, those sounds can be dreaded by some people, like those with sensory sensitivities.

“It’s because it sounds like my mind is going ‘boom.’ It’s too loud for my ears,” 9-year-old Ethan Martin said.

Ethan has autism and says he prefers to enjoy the show from afar.

“It’s like all these different lights going on in different patterns,” he said.

His mother, Cindy Martin, is the autism resource specialist with the Autism Society of North Carolina.

“The environment’s too overwhelming, and the noises are too much, so they need an escape,” Cindy explained.

Cindy said each of her kids have certain signs of distress or anxiety. She watches out for them, especially in environments that might overstimulate them.

“My son will start moving back and forth. My oldest, he’ll start blinking. When we see those things happening, we try to deescalate and do some of their soothing techniques,” she said. “One thing about autism, it goes hand-in-hand with anxiety.”

Lights, noises, crowds, and smells may contribute to overstimulation for children, according to Total Therapy. Not only that, but this is a break in the normal routine for children.

Cindy said she makes sure to prepare her kids.

“Our kids are well-aware that Fourth of July comes around. There’s fireworks; there’s loud noises; there’s large crowds,” she said.

Cindy said she finds ways to get them in the holiday spirit in a way that suits all of them.

“We like to do a lot of decorations. We have Fourth of July inflatables,” she said.

Importantly, she said that others should avoid ostracizing people who can’t participate.