Ear Defenders

A cheap pair of ear defenders.

When I first heard "ear defenders" used in a sentence, I had no idea what to picture in my mind. An autism specialist in my school board thought they may protect my student from sensory overload. I thought, "Great! What are they?"

It turns out that ear defenders is just "Educationeese" for ear protectors - the kind you may use with your gas powered leaf blower or weed whacker. I was intrigued by this low-tech solution and quickly adopted its use for my student. Fortunately, ear defenders along with a few other strategies really did help to make my student feel more comfortable. Not long after though, I wondered if other students who suffered from auditory distractions could benefit.

I went to a local auto parts retailer (Princess Auto) and bought myself five more ear defenders that were quickly in use throughout my class and in high demand. Students who struggled with auditory distractions and anyone who wanted to escape from the sounds of the classroom loved this tool.

One tip to keep in mind, is that ear defenders should be adjustable to a size that is comfortable for the smaller size of children's heads. I also wouldn't invest in a ton of one particular model until it is known that they are comfortable enough to wear for extended periods of time.