Sensory problems are common in individuals with autism, but the sensory experience is unique to each person. Hypersensitivities contribute to overload, while hyposensitivities can put the person at risk of harm.
Sensory Seeking
When an individual with autism experiences hyposensitivity to a certain stimulus, they will seek out additional stimuli to reach a sense of balance. The following is a list of ways that hyposensitivity could manifest:
- A high pain tolerance
- Rubbing against walls
- Bumping into people and things
- Frequent squirming
- Excessively touching others or objects
- Poor recognition of their strength (e.g., breaking pencil lead frequently due to pressure)
- Avoiding wearing shoes
- Frequently chewing or having something in their mouth
- Preferring very tight clothing
- Seeking out loud noises
- Not adhering to personal boundaries
- Excessive spinning
- Smelling a high number of items
- Enjoying being held tightly
Sensory Avoiding
Conversely, hypersensitivity to certain stimuli will result in sensory avoidance. This avoidance could present in the following ways:
- Hearing quiet sounds at a greater volume than others (e.g., being bothered by the ticking of a clock)
- Becoming anxious in crowded and noisy rooms
- Preferring low-light rooms
- Avoiding activities requiring movement
- Disliking certain forms of transportation
- Becoming upset by their hands becoming dirty
- Avoiding cutting their hair or nails
- Disliking having their face touched
- Turning down hugs and kisses
- Being bothered by certain odors
- Eating only specific or plain foods
The more you know about your child’s sensitivities, the better you can prevent overload or injury.
Reference:
The Autistic Community. (2020). Understanding the autistic mind: Notebooks for navigating different minds. NeuroClastic, Inc.