Read this article to learn how autism impacts sensory processing and tips for coping when sensory overload starts to become an issue for you.
If you are autistic, or know someone who is, you are likely familiar with the term ‘sensory processing’, or even ‘sensory overload’. However, what is it, and what causes it? Furthermore, what can be done to help? Here, we will look at how autism impacts sensory processing, and look at tips and tricks for coping with it.
By the end of this blog, you should have a good understanding of autism, how it can impact sensory processing, how to recognise sensory processing difficulties, and what can be done to minimise this discomfort.
Autism – What is it, and What Are the Signs?
Autism is a disorder rather than a learning disability that can impact different people in different ways, much like ADHD, and it will often look different in boys vs girls. Common challenges that autistic people face revolve around social skills, repetitive speech and behaviours, non-verbal communication and more.
It is important to know that while autism can be incredibly varied, there are a number of common comorbidities to consider. Things like sleep disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, anxiety, and depression are all common in autistic populations, and can add additional challenges to their lives.
There are many different signs of autism to look out for, with many being more subtle than others. However, it’s important to remember the distinction between autistic individuals in real life vs fictional characters. While some of them can be a good starting base to understand ASD, these depictions are not all realistic, and may be damaging to the community.
Primary signs of autism in adults:
- Enjoying having a routine and becoming anxious when that routine changes
- Taking things literally (this is especially common with phrases and sarcasm)
- Difficulty stating how you feel
- Coming off as uninterested, rude, or blunt regarding what others are saying
- Anxiety due to social situations
- Difficulty understanding what other people might be feeling or thinking
- Preferring to be on your own or finding it challenging to make friends
Additional signs of autism might include things like echolalia (repeating words or phrases), trouble holding eye contact, having very keen, select interests, and frequently noticing details that others do not. There will also be signs related to sensory input that you will notice, which we will go through in the section below.
How Autism Impacts Sensory Processing
While there is no one answer to the ‘why’ behind sensory processing difficulties in autistic populations, we can surmise that it stems from brain function and genetics. As autistic people view and experience the world differently compared to neurotypical people, it should come as no surprise that people with ASD will have strong likes and dislikes regarding the world around them.
In many cases, this will come across in the form of many of the signs we went through above. While there are sensory-based therapies that could help with some sensory aversions, the key is to find a way to work around these issues and lead a full life.
What is Sensory Processing, and How is it Affected by Autism?
Autistic people can be hypersensitive or hyposensitive to a range of stimuli. This means that they will have either an over-responsive reaction or an under-responsive reaction to different stimuli, respectively. It is very common for them to have a combination of both, so please remember to look out for differences and take note of both sensitivity types.
Many autistic people can experience sensory issues relating to:
- Touch
- Taste
- Smells
- Sounds
- Sights
- Balance
- Proprioception (lacking awareness of one’s own movement and body position)
- Interoception (lacking awareness of sensations and cues from within the body, such as hunger)
Signs of Sensory Issues and How to Recognise Them
If an autistic person is experiencing sensory issues, it can manifest in a variety of ways. While there are dozens of signs, the seven that we will look at below are the most common, and are generally easy to notice when you stay paying attention.
The seven common signs of sensory issues are:
- Having trouble focusing
- High sensitivity levels
- Anxiety, stress, or even fear regarding their environment
- Covering eyes, nose, or ears
- Being restless and uncomfortable
- Sudden eruptions of anger or irritability
- Hyperactivity or getting overly excited
There can be a number of different signs that someone is experiencing sensory overload and is having trouble with the stimuli around them. Some telltale signs might include the following to help them cope:
- Covering ears or eyes
- Frequently playing rough or touching other people
- Moving around more (spinning, jumping, etc)
- More stimming behaviours (swaying, rocking, hand flapping, repeating noises, etc)
- Not talking, talking faster, or talking louder
- Trouble recognising sensations in the body (hunger, shirt, need to use the toilet, pain, etc)
- Refusing to or insisting on wearing particular items of clothing or eating particular foods
- Often chewing on non-edible or non-food items
- Having trouble responding or communicating when the brain shifts all resources to handle the sensory input (this is called a shutdown)
- The need to escape a situation or experiencing overwhelming and escalating emotions (this is called a meltdown)
Tips for Coping with Sensory Processing
There are many things that you can do to help yourself or someone else cope better with sensory difficulties. However, because the world has not been designed for these kinds of sensitivities, it’s important to remember that you can never completely get away from experiencing some discomfort.
For example, you may not always be able to avoid large or noisy crowds, and you might find yourself in a room with fluorescent lights without the equipment to help you cope. So, it’s key to be able to try and manage the way you feel or remove yourself from the situation or environment before you start feeling like shutting down or going into a meltdown.
Practical Tips for Coping with Sensory Processing Difficulties
Accommodations are often a necessary option for people with autism, as there can be numerous ways for them to experience discomfort and anxiety due to sensory processing difficulties. For example, loud fluorescent lights and buzzing electricity can be distracting and painful, as can large crowds, wearing a wool garment, or using strongly-scented shower wash.
If you are hypersensitive, there are a number of things that you can do to try and make your life a bit easier. Below are a few ideas that you can incorporate if you experience hypersensitivity to stimuli:
- Wear earplugs or headphones when in a noisy space
- Avoid using products that have very strong scents
- Avoid foods that have tastes or textures that you strongly dislike
- Prioritise comfortable clothing and accessories at all times
- Wear sunglasses or even a hat when under or around strong lighting
- Adjust your schedule to try and avoid large and noisy crowds
- Do your work where there are closed doors and high walls
Hyposensitivity is the opposite of hypersensitivity. This means that instead of being overstimulated by certain stimuli, you are instead understimulated. Once again, this will vary from person to person, so you need to find out what your hyposensitivities are in order to take action.
For some people, hyposensitivity accommodations could include:
- Using products that provide deep pressure, such as weighted blankets
- Eating and drinking things with strong flavours and varied textures
- Taking breaks often to go around and move
- Move furniture to allow for open and safe spaces
- Utilise sensory tools like chewies or fidget toys
- Using visual supports if you have difficulty with processing audio information
How The Brain Workshop Supports Individuals with Autism
At the Brain Workshop, we are committed to empowering individuals and families through evidence-based support, and we understand how challenging it can be to live in a world that you see differently. For help or more information, we would be happy to hear from you and provide you with more information and resources.
Now that you know how autism impacts sensory processing and tips for coping, hopefully you can better manage your sensitivities where possible. While it can be difficult, there are always things that you can do to help yourself or someone else – even if that means removing yourself from the environment.
If you would like to learn more, please don’t hesitate to contact us at the Brain Workshop and find out more about us, our team, events, or even read our FAQ. If you want to find out more about ASD, why not have a look at our blogs on how to parent a child with ADHD and autism, or the difference between Asperger and autism?
