Assessment and Treatment of Noise Hypersensitivity in a Teenager with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Case Study.

The team followed one autistic teen who hated everyday sounds. They tracked parent ratings of autism traits, social skills, and daily living skills for four months.

This span covered the first COVID-19 stay-at-home orders. No new treatment was added; they simply watched for change.

Parents saw no clear shift in autism symptoms, social skills, or adaptive behavior. The teen’s sound sensitivity stayed about the same.

In short, lockdown life neither hurt nor helped the client’s everyday functioning during the first four months.

Krzysztofik (2026) extends this picture. That study shows sensory issues and family stress actually rose for many autistic youths as the pandemic dragged on. The difference: Karolina tracked kids who already had marked sensory problems, while C et al. watched a single teen with stable ratings.

Critchfield (1996) gives hope. That older trial found daily listening sessions—either special auditory training or plain music—cut sound distress and even lifted IQ scores for a dozen autistic children over a full year. It reminds us that passive lockdown is not treatment; active listening work can help.

Njardvik et al. (1999) adds context: one in five autistic youths may have undetected hearing or hyperacusis issues. Screening first, then trying structured listening, could prevent months of ‘wait and see’.

Four quiet months did not harm this teen, but silence is not therapy. Use brief periods of stability to screen for hidden hearing issues and to start evidence-based listening programs. If stress or sensory reports climb later, add parent coping tools and sensory breaks right away—don’t wait for the next crisis.