sensitive to certain sounds/noises, triggering negative reaction?

[sunshinebaby]

My daughter has always been sensitive to certain noises.  While she seemed to be soothed by white noise and dull background noises, things like a sneeze/cough/applause would cause hysteria.  She's 2 1/2 now and has gotten over most of those sensitivities.  Unfortunately laughter (particularly by an unfamiliar person, in an unfamiliar situation) is a real trigger for her.  Even occasionally if dh or I laugh when we are at home she will have a melt down.  It is seriously the saddest thing ever.  She'll get really quiet, her lip will pout and then she will just wail.  It is like her heart is breaking.  When it is really bad she will close her eyes and wail until I can convince her the situation has past, many times we have to find a place where we can be alone so she feels safe.  Does anyone else LO have noises that trigger negative reactions?  How do you handle them.

[fbsurvivor]

That is really sad, but there is much hope considering that she's gotten over her other sensitivities.  Have you looked into a sensory processing disorder?  I've seen some books talk about sensory sensitivities on Amazon. --- The other night I was using the hose to put water in a watering can and my daughter (20 mo.) freaked out.  I tried to show her what it was and she still was scared.  I was very surprised.  So I was prepared this weekend for her to react the same way when I was using the watering can.  I made a big show of how the water came out of the hose, etc., and she seemed not to react at all, as if she had no memory of ever being scared.  Maybe it was because this time I prepared her.  I wonder if part of it, is just knowing where the sound is coming from?  Because when I tried to explain to her earlier, it did no good.  That's one thing I've noticed in my daughter from day one, she panics and once she's in panic mode, it's over.  What happens if you intervene as soon as the pout starts?  Give her a hug or reassure her?--- I wonder if there's a way to desensitize your daughter with books or TV shows or something, and really talk to her about the laughter when it isn't part of another situation.  Does she have an Elmo doll?  What happens when you point out the sound of her own laughter?  My daughter has always been sensitive to sound as well which seems so odd considering how loud she screams.    ---This may be unrelated, but I'm noticing that my daughter is starting to cry for the oddest reasons.  There's that TV commercial for a bank and the creditors are dogs and the dogs are being chased.  My dd saw it and started crying because she thinks something is happening to the dogs in the commercial.  Or, the other day I tried to show her how ridiculous it was for her to scream when I brush her teeth, so I started crying while brushing my teeth and she burst out in tears.  I have no idea if that's just normal toddler tears or not.---  As a kid I was completely terrified of so many things.  My parents had to take down art that gave me nightmares.  I cried when I opened certain presents.  I had to sit next to the teacher at school plays.  My parents had to take me home from the circus.  It took a long time until I was over that kind of thing, but I'm fine now, if that helps.

[Hollyadmin]

Laura has some GREAT advice. My son was sensitive to a lot of things, but not so much sound/noises. My daughter would cry whenever a man would come too close - especially if he had a loud, deep voice. She grew out of that by about 2.5 years old. She's totally fine now. Sensitivity is a hallmark of HN babies - more often I've heard of HN babies who can't tolerate even the slightest discomfort, say from tags on clothes, or itchy zippers....