cinema

[NobbyNobbs]

today i took K (4) to saturday morning pictures at the cinema. its the first time she'd been, and she was very excited. she'd been talking about the cinema for weeks after seeing something about it on tv and when i realised we actually had a free saturday morning i offered to take her. all was going as well as can be expected. she'd only kicked one person in the ticket line, and was entertaining the people in the popcorn queue by wearing HUGE sunglasses and singing so seemed to be in a perfectly good mood.

2 minutes after the film started i carried her out sobbing after we realised there weren't enough hands to hold her tight and cover her ears and eyes. thoughout the adverts she'd been asking to go home, so i pulled her onto my lap, and noticed that everytime there was a change in light from the screen, or any speech or sound she jumped and was constantly shaking. i knew she didn't really like loud noises, but assumed that like everyone else she would get used to it. she was interested in the storyline, and between jumps was chattering about what was happening, so it wasn't that she just didn't like any of it.

 

is this normal in an ASD child and just one more thing to list when they get round to assessing her? i'd certainly not anticipated such a strong reaction

[Mumble]

Maybe try one of the specialist ASD screenings where the soundtrack is quieter, the lights are kept on (so the light changes are less) and see if she copes better - that would let you know if that's the issue?

 

I personally would hate the ASD screenings because one of the things they allow is movement and talking which really irritate me! - But it might work with a child.

 

[KezT]

sounds very normal ASD reaction to me... We tried numerous times to take DS to the cinema when he was younger - with the same result each time - the sensory overload was obviously painful for him. The music was always a massive problem (and still often is) and sudden loud bangs would literally have him screaming & leaping out of his seat.

 

On the positive side, now he's 9, he can occasionally go to the cinema - we've watched some disney/pixar films and that kind of thing, but no action type ones that a boy his age would be expected to see. My DS can not follow the plot through the dialogue, so needs a running commentry during the whole film, which doesn't always go down too well!

[justine1]

Sam(AS) doesnt have this problem at all.He loves going to the cinema,in fact he goes every year as a birthday treat.I guess its a sensory thing and obviousley varies from child to child.

 

Dan(possible ASD)does have issues with sound in fact today he was in tears twice,once because my eldest was plaing his casio keyboard and he felt it was loud and then the telly was to loud.

Edited January 23, 2010 by justine1

[BusyLizzie100]

My second son can only go to the cinema if he wears his ear protectors, otherwise it's just too loud. He is super-sensitive to sounds/noise. Sometimes he has to wear them in town when shopping, although not so much these days. He will always want them if he is near someone with a balloon, in case it pops (actually, he still won't go anywhere near someone with a balloon!)

 

He is now 10, and able to cope a bit better with some noises, but not the cinema. With ear protectors he can really enjoy it. My eldest son (12) also has a pair, but he is not quite so sensitive and doesn't always wear them now. Even my third son (7) has a pair (well it's hard not to want to be like your big brothers) and when it's really noisy at the cinema, he really needs them too! Sometimes it can be very, very loud at the cinema...

 

Lizzie x

Edited January 24, 2010 by BusyLizzie100

[chris54]

I haven't been to the cinema for over 7 years now simply because I find the sound just to much, and My hearing is not what it was. To much rock music when I was younger.

I also find when I get to work that the first thing I do is turn down the volume on the telly.

But then perhaps I'm just an old ----.

 

Iv never even attempted to take my son to the cinema, sometimes he will turn down our already quiet TV because it to loud.

[call me jaded]

Yes we have sound/light difficulties here too. Glad to say he's discovered BBC i-player and will keep himself amused without leaving the house.

[NobbyNobbs]

i'm torn between just writing off the cinema or getting her some ear defenders and trying again. she'll happily wear sunglasses which should help with the lights, and a set of pink kids ear defenders will deal with the sound hopefully. i just dont want her to miss out on something that other kids dont think twice about. especially as theres a pretty big chance that she'll be invited to birthday parties that involve cinema trips or other noisy places.

[KezT]

i'm torn between just writing off the cinema or getting her some ear defenders and trying again. she'll happily wear sunglasses which should help with the lights, and a set of pink kids ear defenders will deal with the sound hopefully. i just dont want her to miss out on something that other kids dont think twice about. especially as theres a pretty big chance that she'll be invited to birthday parties that involve cinema trips or other noisy places.

 

We just perservere on and off - maybe a couple of times a year - because, as you say, I don't want him to miss out & he WANTS to do things that other kids do. As I said above, he has got better and can stay in the cinema for kids films now, but I doubt he'll ever see the type of films that other boys his age watch. As for being invited to the cinema by friends, sadly that has only happened once in his life:( I went too, as narrator But TBH, I don't think he's had any kind of birthday party invite for years

 

With your daughter, its probably worth asking what she would prefer each time the issue comes up....

[Mandapanda]

i'm torn between just writing off the cinema or getting her some ear defenders and trying again. she'll happily wear sunglasses which should help with the lights, and a set of pink kids ear defenders will deal with the sound hopefully. i just dont want her to miss out on something that other kids dont think twice about. especially as theres a pretty big chance that she'll be invited to birthday parties that involve cinema trips or other noisy places.

 

My youngest didn't like loud noise and didn't want to go to the cinema for a while. I think we first went when he was about 6 - to see The Tigger Movie. I knew this would be 'safe' and nothing too noisy etc. (and nothing frightening). Then we saw Thomas and the Magic Railroad - fortunately after these we were able to progress on to better, more exciting films. We've always tended to get there a bit late so we miss most of the adverts and film clips. He's now 13 and can cope with it all fine (except 3D - see the Avatar thread ).

 

Good luck!

[got the tshirt]

It's the smell of the popcorn that keeps me out of the cinema. I had to drop mine off for a party recently and lasted about 2 minutes. I haven't been long enough to watch a film for years. Luckily OH doesn't mind snoozing through High School Musical etc.

[Mumble]

I think we first went when he was about 6 - to see The Tigger Movie. I knew this would be 'safe' and nothing too noisy etc. (and nothing frightening).

Not frightening? The Tigger movie is terrifying!! And very sad when he can't find his family and is the onliest one...

 

I don't know if other people know about this and it had just passed me by, but I've just been told about a card you can get if you/your child gets DLA which allows a career to go with you for free to the cinema. It means that you don't lose so much money if you do need to leave and for me means I get to drag my sister out more and have a social life without worrying about the cost to her of having to accompany me.

 

CEA Cinema Card

 

[cmuir]

Hi

 

I know that NAS have arranged autism friendly cinema screenings. Worth a try - the lighting is dimmed, not as loud, no trailers, etc. It took a long time to get my son used to going to the cinema. It was very difficult because people were always huffing and puffing (understandably they've paid for a ticket to see a film and want to watch it in peace, but nonetheless difficult).

 

See NAS website:

 

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp...122&a=18616

 

Looks as though it's out of date, but it does have a contact person to ask about future ones.

 

Caroline.

[oxgirl]

Then we saw Thomas and the Magic Railroad

 

Haha, this made me laugh, this was the first film I took Jay to and he screamed and cried and cowered in his seat, the sheer noise of it was just too much and so unexpected. It was such a shame, because he'd been so looking forward to it and we'd sat right near the front too! It was a shockingly awful film too, as I seem to remember! Can't remember if we made it to the end or not.

He's 16 now and enjoyed the Star Trek film last year, so it's worth persevering.

 

~ Mel ~

[purplehaze]

 

 

I personally would hate the ASD screenings because one of the things they allow is movement and talking which really irritate me.

 

My son feels exactly the same

[ksasnic]

When my boy was younger he desperately wanted to go to the cinema but it was way to loud for him, he would often sit there transfixed with what was showing but with his hands over his ears a lot of the time.

 

We persevered and now he's nearly 14 we go every week sometimes we see 2-3 films back to back and repeated. (Not recommended - Alvin and the chipmunks the sqeakwell- I don't have hearing issues but boy did I want to lop of their vocal chords!)

 

It does get pretty tiring seeing so many and often repeated films, we saw Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince I don't know how many times!

 

It used to be very expensive taking us both but we found out about the CEA card which means the carer gets in free and you just pay for the childs ticket.. A god send.. This used to be £5 for 3 years but I think its just changed now to £5.50 per year. http://www.ceacard.co.uk/

 

Then for his last birthday his main present was a Cineworld Unlimited card subscription for £11.99 a month (think they have just upped this now to £13.50) but still so much cheaper than paying his ticket every time so now we both get in without having to pay anything on the day.

 

I found that perseverance helped here. He soon got used to it but on the down side I think he has got used to it so much as he will have things quite loud now and not notice it

Edited February 4, 2010 by ksasnic

[lil_me]

An unlimited card/CEA card might help you do small visits there without feeling bad about the costs just to last a few minutes. Soem cinemas are better than others and will allow you to go in for a little while for free a few times. Those who do ASD days tend to be more willing.

 

Ear defenders/plugs and sun glasses can help while getting used to it, having them on hand incase she wants to use them. Also asking how long adverts are on for, choosing a seat near the entrance then going in just as it starts can help as the adverts tend to be worse than the film and are less 'entertaining'

Edited February 6, 2010 by lil_me

[NobbyNobbs]

she doesn't qualify for a CEA card unfortunately (i do, but i think i'd have a hard time convincing them she was my carer!) so saturday morning pictures is really the only option financially - a regular child ticket is £4.60 and an adult is £6 something so its just not viable to pay that if you might need to leave after a couple of minutes. i might go in and speak to the cinema manager about whether we can reserve a couple of seats in the front row because of disability as our cinema doesn't have assigned seating and saturdays are packed. that way we could skip the adverts and go straight into a nice calm film.

[lil_me]

she doesn't qualify for a CEA card unfortunately (i do, but i think i'd have a hard time convincing them she was my carer!) so saturday morning pictures is really the only option financially - a regular child ticket is £4.60 and an adult is £6 something so its just not viable to pay that if you might need to leave after a couple of minutes. i might go in and speak to the cinema manager about whether we can reserve a couple of seats in the front row because of disability as our cinema doesn't have assigned seating and saturdays are packed. that way we could skip the adverts and go straight into a nice calm film.

 

I've never had anyone question who is/is not a carer, I don't think they would dare! Definately have a chat with the manager, most are really helpful, I'd suggest calling and asking for a call back as you don't want to catch someone when they are really busy/less able to chat. If the manager says no, contact the group that owns the cinema I went above the heads of bowling alley managers and got policy changed in a local one so children who could not wear the shoes could still go.

[ksasnic]

You could still apply in your name and then when going with a friend they would get in free.