How serious can sensory overloads become?

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I have a big problem. I need some advice.

My 9yr old son J, appears to be having quiet a lot of sensory overload problems lately, ie its to noisy its hurting his ears, lights are really bothering him, things smell bad, or he can taste smells/dust.
Its so bad he says he cant breath, and is looking like he is going to pass out. I have been trying him with ventolin, before certain activities, where he has complained in the past. It has helped a little I think. How ever J is such a sponge that Im scared he is having panic attacks and he only thinks he needs ventolin now. Does this make sense?
Just the other night it was my oldest sons concert, I had to leave with J before the concert ended because he started saying he couldnt breath, his ears were hurting and the flash from cameras were hurting his eyes.
He looked awfull, I thought he was going to throw up in the aisle, other people that were sitting next to us were really worried to. I didnt have the ventolin with me so I dont know if this would have helped. However he seemed to come good within minutes of leaving the auditorium. Is this sensory overload at its max? Can it really get so bad that his throat could be closing up or is this sensory overload plus panic attack? Help please!! !! ! Any advice on what it could be or what to do would be really really appreciated. Thanks in advance.

I don't know what ventolin is?
Sounds like it could be a couple of different things; panic/anxiety attacks, allergies, or sinus infection. Maybe he needs a visit to the doctor. Sinus infections can make different parts hurt (eyes, nose, ears, headache) and they can feel like other stuff too.

Ventolin is a inhaler used for asthmatics.
We have been to the doc's, Even the doc isn't sure whats going on, this is why we are trialing the ventolin. We have a family history of chronic severe asthma. Yay (not) just maybe one more thing to add to J's long list of medical history.

My son has asthma but we've made the decision not to tell him. His wheezing shows up and we give him Albuterol (no stimulant effects).
My husband had some asthmatics in the family and they over-treated and his brother was essentially forced into being a disabled person (long story). His mom tried to force it on my husband and her grandson.
Long story short, my son doesn't equate anxiety with asthma spells and he rarely has problems.

So, I'm assuming he's had allergy tests?

Once my sensory overload was so severe I jumped off my deck, wasnt hurt though.

Try ordering one of those weighted blankets (or just use any heavy blanket in general) and let him hide under it while there's overload.

The combination of the dark and weight help me.

Even now, I have to put my hands over my ears in shopping centres when the noise gets too loud some days. Sensory overloads can certainly become serious and make a person feel ill.

Hi again all.
I've been given a couple of theories that I thought I would share to get your opinions on.
1st opinion-J's OT: suggests I have him checked out for absence seizures????

2nd opinion- evaluation team: believes that what may be happening is J's internal rules are telling him he isnt allowed to interrupt or move out of his seat, and he may not be recognizing exactly what is going on when lights and noises etc are bothering him until he is completely over whelmed hence sensory overload, meltdowns, panic attacks. eg older sons concert= to noisy, to many lights, to many people. J is feeling sick, stressed everything is hurting but his internal rules are telling him he cant leave his seat he needs to be quiet he should be enjoying all of this everyone else seems to be. J isnt recognizing the first signs until things have gotten really bad.

Any other opinions on these opinions most welcome. Im on a major learning curve at the moment.

That advice makes a lot of sense to me: we often don't realise a situation is out of control until it actually is, if that makes any sense. Some of us also can't articulate our distress in such a way that others around us will take it seriously, and thoughtless remarks such as "you'll just have to put up with it" are like pouring petrol on a bonfire when we feel very overloaded: result is a meltdown.

I could totally identify with that second suggestion.

If that were the case, perhaps in places that he is bound to feel uncomfortable (crowds of any sort), you should reassure him from the beginning that it's okay to step out for a bit.

I get nauseous and have trouble breathing (I am asthmatic) if my sensory overload gets bad enough. I don't know if this is the overload itself or the beginnings of a panic attack, though. I find that it helps if I can focus on a repetitive phrase in my head or look at a visually "simple" object, while at the same time being aware of my breathing.

The second one makes a lot of sense. Of course, my son doesn't have those "internal rules" to sit still. Once he started talking, he was able to share some of his sensory issues, or he gets so out of control that it's obvious that something is bothering him.

This is a problem in schools and how they perceive autistic students' needs. The introverted kids that don't "act out" get overlooked because "there's no problem" and the extroverted kids that fidget, mimic, stim or lash out are considered behavior problems.

I have heard from parents of older kids that couldn't get any services because their kids were so "perfect" in the school's eyes. Getting your son to verbalize the early signs should nip this in the bud. YOu don't want him to associate sensory problems with anxiety or asthma.

Thanks guys for all your replys.

Pandora, this is what scares me the most, J internalizes so much and is so complacent, he is always the first to think he was wrong.
He has only ever gone into full blown rage a few times and he doesn't remember all that he has done during those rages.
Unfortunatly ( or maybe fortunatly) he flew into full blown rage one day when a friend of mine was here, her son was being a bully to J at school. She was terrified. lol
I dont want him internalizing everything it will have to come out at some stage no doubt.

aurea...did you ever research more about chemical sensitivities?

Your son had the problem with the markers didn't he?

It could have been a panic attack...or it could have been a reaction to something he came in contact with.

At the concert...where you seated near anyone wearing strong perfume, or can you remember smelling any strong odors...smoke, hairspray, something they may have cleaned the floors with?

I have asthma and chemical sensitivities myself...the reaction you said he described the feeling of his throat closing off...I've had perfume do this to me...it's felt like I was sucking air through a drink mixing straw, then I've gotten sick to my stomach...and because I can't breathe I have sometimes panicked too.

I'm betting as soon as he hit fresh air he started feeling better. You might want to evaluate the surroundings and take a mental note...you may come up with some common triggers you weren't aware of.

Hi!
I've been trying to work out if there is anything in common going on.
As I was reminded, its happened with textas, medical glue, at my older sons concert, in the swimming pool and at school in the playground ( J just told me about this one, he didn't tell any teachers)
It seems that once he is removed from where ever these attacks are happening, he comes good very quickly again.

Thanks for all the replies so far guys.

With my son, if you scrape your fingernail over a binder with a hologram cover, or if you scratch his winter jacket against something, or even if I am sitting on my unmade bed and moving my foot causes my toenails to scratch the surface, it sends my son to his knees in pain.

He says it feels like his ears are bleeding.

I could certainly imagine what reaction my son would have if he was forced to sit in a room with those noises going constantly and feeling like there's no way out. He would probably end up with a panic attack too.

I certainly like the blanket idea, or sitting near the entrance of the concert so he has an easy way out if it gets too bad for the guy.

So ya, I believe sensory issue's can get that bad.