If I'm still reacting to sounds that I know are going to happen as if I'm scared, then how does a child react when they hear loud sudden sounds that they are not familiar with or, apparently, even if they are familiar with them. If I felt scared and then acted like I was scared and began crying and wanting to be comforted or wanted to be taken away from the source of the sound, that might be what it's like for our kids with sensory issues. 

There is a family story that says I ruined my father's opportunity to see the last performance of the Ringling Bros Circus under the Big Top.  I was about 3 or 4 and my parent's and sister were getting ready to go into the tent and I had a major meltdown ( of course it wasn't called that back then ).  I was scared to death and my parents could not calm me down. I apparently I was hysterical, and they were forced to leave. In retrospect it makes lots of sense (no pun intended ) in the form of sensory overload. Noises, Smells, Sights, it would have been pretty loud, might have smell like wet hay and animals. 

It does give me a deeper appreciation of what our kids go through. Something that has helped me that might help the kids is learning how to stop and take deep controlled breaths when overwhelmed. The deep breathing is relaxing, gets the oxygen flowing again and is calming.