Sound Sensitivity in Kids: Understanding and Supporting Your Child’s Nervous System
If everyday noises, like vacuum cleaners, alarms, or even loud voices, cause your child to cover their ears, melt down, or become anxious, you’re not alone. Sound sensitivity is a common sensory challenge that can make daily life overwhelming for both children and families.
At Healthy Families Chiropractic, we understand that sound sensitivity isn’t just “being picky” or “overreacting.” It’s often a sign that your child’s nervous system is out of balance and struggling to process sensory input in a safe way.
What Is Sound Sensitivity?
Sound sensitivity (also called auditory defensiveness) means your child has an intense, often uncomfortable reaction to everyday sounds. This can include:
Covering ears or crying when noises happen
Avoiding noisy places or situations
Becoming easily startled by sudden sounds
Showing anxiety or irritability related to sound exposure
Difficulty concentrating when there’s background noise
These reactions are not intentional misbehaviour—they are your child’s nervous system signaling distress.
Why Does Sound Sensitivity Happen?
Processing sounds involves complex coordination between the ears, brainstem, and nervous system. When this system is dysregulated or overloaded, your child may experience sounds as overwhelming or even threatening.
Common underlying causes include:
Sensory processing disorder—difficulty filtering and integrating auditory input
Nervous system dysregulation—an overactive fight-or-flight response heightens sound sensitivity
Neurological tension or subluxations—misalignments can interfere with nerve signals involved in hearing and processing sound
Early developmental stress or birth trauma—which can impact brainstem and auditory pathways
Sound sensitivity often appears alongside other nervous system challenges like sleep difficulties, behavioural issues, or anxiety.
How Chiropractic Care Can Support Sound Sensitivity
At Healthy Families Chiropractic, we take a nervous system-first approach. Using INSiGHT scanning technology, we assess how well your child’s nervous system is managing sensory information, including sound.
Our gentle chiropractic adjustments target areas of nervous system interference, especially around the neck and brainstem, to help improve auditory processing and reduce hypersensitivity.
Chiropractic care can help:
Calm the nervous system’s overreaction to sound
Improve brain and ear communication pathways
Enhance overall sensory integration
Support emotional regulation and focus
As your child’s nervous system finds balance, you’ll often see reduced sound sensitivity and increased comfort in everyday environments.
Nervous System First, Always
Sound sensitivity isn’t simply a behaviour problem. It’s a sign that your child’s nervous system needs care, support, and balance.
At Healthy Families Chiropractic, we partner with families to uncover the root causes of sensory challenges and create personalised care plans that restore calm, confidence, and connection.
If your child struggles with noise, overwhelm, or sensory overload, we’re here to help.
Book a consultation today and start the journey toward balance and ease.
