Sensory Sensitivity
Sensory issues often accompany autism. In 2013, the American Psychiatric Association added sensory sensitivities to the symptoms that help diagnose autism.
Autism’s sensory issues can involve both hyper-sensitivities (over-responsiveness) and hypo-sensitivities (under-responsiveness) to a wide range of stimuli.
These can involve:
Under-sensitive children seek out more of a sensation to feel satisfied. Depending on the sense, this can mean they turn up the TV volume, jump on the bed, or watch the wheels of their toy car spin over and over. Sensory toys give them the sensation they crave in a fun, safe way.
Over-sensitive children try to avoid certain sensations that are too overwhelming. This might mean they cover their ears when the vacuum cleaner is on, want the tags cut out of clothing, or cry when placed on a swing. In these cases, sensory toys act as an enjoyable introduction to sensations that children dislike with the goal of making the sense more tolerable in the future.Toys and tools can help with sensory integration of textures, sounds, brightness, balance and movement to improve daily life.
Autism’s sensory issues can involve both hyper-sensitivities (over-responsiveness) and hypo-sensitivities (under-responsiveness) to a wide range of stimuli.
These can involve:
- Sights
- Sounds
- Smells
- Tastes
- Touch
- Balance
- Body awareness (proprioception)
Under-sensitive children seek out more of a sensation to feel satisfied. Depending on the sense, this can mean they turn up the TV volume, jump on the bed, or watch the wheels of their toy car spin over and over. Sensory toys give them the sensation they crave in a fun, safe way.
Over-sensitive children try to avoid certain sensations that are too overwhelming. This might mean they cover their ears when the vacuum cleaner is on, want the tags cut out of clothing, or cry when placed on a swing. In these cases, sensory toys act as an enjoyable introduction to sensations that children dislike with the goal of making the sense more tolerable in the future.Toys and tools can help with sensory integration of textures, sounds, brightness, balance and movement to improve daily life.
Many people on the spectrum are hyper-sensitive to bright lights or certain light wavelengths (e.g. from fluorescent lights). Many find certain sounds, smells and tastes overwhelming. Certain types of touch (light or deep) can feel extremely uncomfortable.
How sensory overload might feel for an autistic person
Watch the short film below to get a sense of what it could feel like to experience sensory overload.
Watch the short film below to get a sense of what it could feel like to experience sensory overload.
