Reaction to fireworks...

Had a awful experience saturday at a fireworks display... My son Steven is Autistic, he is almost 7 and has VERY sensitive ears, loud music, noises etc alarm him and has to cover his ears with his hands. He seemed very excited this year about seeing some fireworks, so we figured we'd take him to a display to see what hes like. He seemed excited all day. We got there, brought him a hotdog, which he didnt eat, and a few sweets. Which he said he wanted 2 eat when we got home.

So, the fireworks started, he did cover his ears, but he seemed to enjoy the colours etc despite the noise. The display was around half hour long, they stopped a little early as the wind picked up. We got ready to leave, and Steven seems in pain and says owww my tummy hurts, i feel sick... So i take his coat off as he seems a little hot, and he starts going limp, and looks like he will faint, my partner picks him up and we rush him to the first aid room they have, and as lee puts him down, he is sick on the floor... :( Poor little man! The first aiders helped as much as they could, and gave him a bag to be sick in if he needs it... We stay for around half hour, once he gets some colour back and he stops shivering. We took him home, got him all settled for bed and made sure he had something to drink because he was still quite warm. He went straight to sleep...and was fine the next day, and has been fine since!

I have a weird feeling it was the fireworks that caused him to feel sick, he keeps telling me, the fireworks hurt my ears and make me sick! No more fireworks for him...

It is possible that the fireworks did infact cause a reaction from the noise to my son...?

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Yes, it sure sounds like the experience was not good for him. His sensory problems make such displays uncomforatble. Lesson learned!