This is a portrait Sabrina recently drew of Max wearing his headphones. They've become as essential to Max's wardrobe as shirts and shoes. As in, he won't leave home without 'em.
I get emails asking what kind of headphones Max wears. They're Howard Leight Leightning earmuffs. They run $25, but they're kind of priceless because they've been an incredible help to him and our family, too. He's more comfortable venturing to new places like museums and restaurants, and less likely to melt down.
We use these Skullcandy headphones to plug into Max's iPad, but we limit their usage because he could happily spend hours watching Disney Cruise videos on YouTube. I don't think it's great for him to zone out like that, though there are far worse things he could be watching.
The first headphones Max ever got were the 3M Peltor Junior Earmuff; they worked well but over time the wire got bent out of shape, and we decided to try other ones.
Max still gets wary at the sight of crowds, but the noise-blocking earmuffs are amazingly comforting. In fact, they've given him so much confidence that sometimes he tells us it's OK to leave them at home. (We keep a spare pair in the trunk, in case of sensory emergency.)
