LIKE many ten-year-old boys, Daniel Legg loves to play the drums and make a bit of a din.

And yet only six months ago he couldn't even bear to go to the cinema with his family because he found the soundtrack too loud.

For Daniel has autism - a condition which affects around half a million people in the UK - which makes him extremely sensitive to noise.

"We couldn't really go anywhere that might be too noisy because it would stress him out," explains his mother Janet.

"We couldn't go to the pictures or the theatre and children's parties were a nightmare."

Janet who lives with her husband Graham and their two sons at Colehill near Wimborne, says they first realised there was problem when Daniel - their youngest boy - was about 18 months old.

"We realised his speech was not developing normally and they picked it up at nursery too and thought it was a good idea if he saw a child psychologist.

"When he started primary school they called it complex communications disorder - he had difficulty with his grammar and a very limited vocabulary.

"When he was seven we moved house and he started a new school. The transfer was horrendous because it upset his routine which completely threw him.

"I used to take him into school kicking and screaming or he would be trying to take his clothes off.

"This time he was assessed and was given full-time one to one help which has really helped although he still struggles academically."

But one of the biggest breakthrough's in Dan's development came in the unlikely form of a drum kit!

His older brother Jamie (now 14) had started having guitar lessons at the Music Workshop in Kinson, which turned out to bring a little harmony to the household in more ways than one.

Daniel used to watch his brother every week and he gradually became interested in a digital drum kit in the shop.

"He was encouraged to give it a go and he would sit there for a few minutes at first "He liked it because, unlike an acoustic drum kit, he could control the volume.

"Then in August he started playing an acoustic drum kit too which was a huge step forward. He used to wear ear defenders to start with but then, when he realised it wasn't going to do him any harm, he took them off."

Janet says the change in her young son in the past few months has been wonderful to witness.

"Not only has it given him more confidence, he has got a good rhythm and better co-ordination now.

"It has really helped him to become less sensitive to noise too which means he can do lots of things he couldn't do before."

Another benefit is that it's helped bring the two brothers closer together. Before Janet says they used to do their own thing but now they like to practice their music together.

Rob Birchall who runs the Music Factory in Wimborne Road, says that music tuition can help a child's development in many different ways.

"Not all kids excel on the sports pitch or academically but inside every child there is a little bit of creativity that needs to be nurtured.

"How they express that can take many different forms, so it's important to find the right instrument for the right child.

"We often encourage parents to just come along and let their child spend half an hour or so on the drum kit or playing the guitar.

"There have been numerous studies into the benefits of learning a musical instrument and there is a definite correlation between academic performance and music tuition."

Janet adds: "The skies the limit for Dan now - he really is a lovely boy and we wouldn't change him for the world."

FACT PANEL

  • Autism is a lifelong developmental disability.
  • It's four to five times more prevalent in males.
  • A spokesman for the National Autistic Society said it can be hard because people with autism do not look disabled.

"Parents of children with autism often say that people think their child is just being naughty.

"People with autism have said the world to them is a mass of people, places and events which they struggle to make sense of and which often causes them anxiety.

"In particular understanding and relating to other people and taking part in everyday family and school life may be harder for them."

  • For more information contact autism helpline on 0845 070 4004 or visit nas.org.uk

Tips for parents

  • Don't rush into investing money in an instrument that your child hasn't even had chance to play. Consider paying for a taster lesson first to see how they get on. Many places refund the cost of this if parents end up buying an instrument but even if they don't, it's still much better than wasting money on something your child might not get on with from the start.
  • Children need to feel they have a choice and are involved. You may be considering budget and space when deciding which one to pick, but make them feel as involved as possible in the choice of instrument.

If you decide to rent an instrument rather than buy one, make sure it is a really good quality one. If your child ends up struggling because the instrument isn't the best it may put them off for life.

  • Once you have bought the instrument encourage your child to get involved in musical activities like school concerts, forming their own band and doing performances for family to keep it exciting and fun. Music shouldn't be a chore but kids will get bored if all they end up doing is practising scales.