Sensory issues--DS hates the sound of his sister eating

[Qestia]

DS is 6, has no diagnosis, but has been receiving OT and Speech therapy since he was about 3, started a sensory integration/social skills group over the summer. He's made improvements in so many ways, meltdowns are fewer, sensory-seeking behavior has dimished (like, he used to lean on walls/ fences/etc. to walk, now he can actually walk in a straight line!). But one real on-going trigger for him is the sound of his sister eating. He says no one else's sounds bother him. He really melts down almost every time she eats in his presence, screams, kicks, puts his hands over his ears so tight I think he's going to hurt himself.

Any ideas for how I can help him? One of his OTs suggested headphones. They aren't all that close to each other when eating... I let them watch TV at dinner time (I know, I know...) and one is on the couch the other across the room.

[littlestar]

Headphone is only thing I can think of. He will outgrow it soon. My DS used to hate a lot of noises, like school bell when he was 4, now he outgrew them.

[wytchywoman]

My younger DS was very sensitive to noise when he was younger too. We definitely did the noiseblocking head sets for a long time, and he also did AIT training. It eventually helped ( I think, or it could be that he just grew out of it) but it took a long time to see results.

I have a lot of empathy for your son because I am the same way. I am 40 years old and it makes my skin crawl to be around people who eat noisily. Someone licking their fingers sends me completely around the bend. Does your DD know how to use a napkin and chew with her mouth closed? I'm not sure how old your DD is, so these things may not even be practical, but if she can use a napkin or chew with her mouth closed that may help alleviate some of your DS's reaction to it.