Noise suffered by the autistic: Can mechatronics help?

People with autism often find common noises distressing. Avoiding these noises severely restricts their lives. Noise cancellation technology may be able to selectively attenuate the sounds that bother them, and this paper considers potential elements of the nuisance noises. The aim is to open the way to a mechatronic intervention that will greatly enhance quality of life for those with autism by reducing these noises whilst still enabling full communication. The potential design, prototype, and tests for its suitability in a range of day-to-day settings are considered.