Boy, 9, with autism becomes a viral sensation with clip of him singing Hallelujah - secretly...

DM ^ | 9/18/2019 | By LATOYA GAYLE FOR MAILONLINE

[RummyChick]

A boy who has autism has become an overnight internet sensation, after his family shared a clip of him singing on social media.

Justin Kiely from Dublin, Ireland, who was diagnosed with autism when he was three-years-old, had been hiding his vocal abilities from his parents until recently.

The nine-year-old had a history of becoming hysterical whenever he heard loud noises, meaning his parents avoided bringing him to any birthday parties, crowds and large gatherings.

His sensitivity to sound due to his autism made his parents apprehensive to expose him to loud music, or any noise that could trigger him.

Justin was drawing in his sketchbook after school one day when he began singing along to 'Hallelujah', completely blowing his parents away with his angelic voice.

His mother, Andrea Kiely, 26, secretly used her phone to record her son singing the Leonard Cohen song, which has been covered by numerous singers including Jeff Buckley and Alexandra Burke.

[RummyChick]

I watch Australian Survivor. There is a man who has two kids with autism type issues and a third was just born with cystic fibrosis.

He touched so many people that they raised more than the equivalent of the Survivor Prize in just 2 days.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/luke-toki-australias-true-survivor

This is a man who smiles at life even with a heavy burden. I can't know what that is like to have just one kid..let alone three with issues

God Bless everyone dealing with Autism and all the other childhood diseases/disorders.

[Sarah Barracuda]

Reminds me a lot of Kodi Lee from Americas Got Talent..he is a finalist tonight on the show..he’s autistic and blind, an amazing talent, what he can do with a piano and his voice, is heavenly

[RummyChick]

Forgot about him. Will have to watch youtube.

[Sarah Barracuda]

A true inspiration, wishing him well tonight, but there is so much talent not sure who will win

[AppyPappy]

A whole school of them doing it
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bmx—WjeN7o

[RummyChick]

Susan Boyle was diagnosed on the spectrum after she appeared on Simon’s show

[Fiji Hill]

The're all singing the wrong "Hallelujah," a depressing and melancholy downer. They should have sung this one, an inspirational and uplifting tune by Vincent Youmans and Clifford Grey, veteran song writers for Broadway and Hollytwood.

Hallelujah!--Nat Shilkret & the Victor Orchestra (vocal by Franklyn Baur)

[righttackle44]

The[y]'re all singing the wrong "Hallelujah, . . . "

I'll take any autistic child singing as a joyful experience, thank you. I praise the Lord that he sang and obviously enjoyed himself.

[caseinpoint]

I don’t know much about autism but I recall reading an article, decades ago, about a child who displayed what we call autism now but it turns out that his hearing was so acute that normal noise like rain sounded like explosions to him (just imagine what thunder or sirens did to him). Hence he avoided a lot of normal interactions which involved noise. Apparently he was one they could train to somehow dampen his hearing and he was fine afterwards.

I was interested in this because I have a daughter that has super acute hearing and has to withdraw from time to time but she is the opposite of autistic and successfully engaged in all aspects of life. Perhaps there is something the opposite of hearing aids like non-hearing aids.

[RummyChick]

Simon Cowell’s kid often is seen with noise cancelling head phones

[dead]

Through volunteer work, I've known hundreds of children and adults with autism. The width of what is considered the autism spectrum is very wide, so the level of affliction varies greatly.

After working with so many with such variety, the description that I thought made the most sense was this - imagine your brain is processing all the information it is receiving from all of your senses without any sort of filter on them. Every sound, every sight, every touch on your skin, etc. - all demanding the full processing power of your brain all the time.

To me, it made sense of some of the strategies I've seen help those on the spectrum cope. Things like wrapping them in a mat or noise cancelling headphones or music - things that break apart or break through the constant din in their heads.

[YogicCowboy]

Yes. Quite separate from the talent and wonder of the boy singing, which I admire, I agree about the song itself.

I am a semi-professional chorister. I have sung many sacred songs; I would never want to sing that Leonard Cohen piece.

[caseinpoint]

That makes sense. Ironically I have a super ability to tune out noise and distractions around me., maybe too much. I can “drop out” in a crowded party or while others are watching television or dancing around me and I honestly won’t even hear it. Many of my acquaintances know they have to practically shake me to bring me back to consciousness of my surroundings. I enjoy it, frankly, and I feel sympathy for those who can’t filter it out.

[faucetman]

Sorry, the kid can’t sing.

I think Hallelujah is the most recorded/performed song ever!

The VERY BEST one is by KD Lang.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPPH-rDQtVg

Music with lyrics, but you don’t have to look at her.

[RummyChick]

So Kodi Lee won
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3Mf53LeKfA

I looked at a clip of Simon on Kelly Clarkson new show. He said when Kodi auditioned so much time went by before he went to the piano that he was about to stand up and ask him to come back another day.

He clearly faces challenges even just to perform

Glad he won.

[jackibutterfly]

THIS is the BEST Hallelujah EVER!!! Sung by Father Ray Kelly specifically for the Bride and Groom - Enjoy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYKwqj5QViQ