Sensory issues are very common for people on the autism spectrum. Those of us who aren't on the spectrum generally take the input we get from the world around us for granted until something is drawn to our attention - for example, a breeze blowing something that makes a clicking sound might keep us awake. Otherwise, we can filter out the "excess" information to where we aren't consciously aware of it.
For autistic people, those filters that "tone down" the excess information don't work the same way, or consistently, or at all. The input from the world is processed in a much different way.
For autistic people, those filters that "tone down" the excess information don't work the same way, or consistently, or at all. The input from the world is processed in a much different way.
Here are some perspectives from autistic adults which may help you better understand what it's like to have sensory issues and the results of those (yes, picky eating is related to sensory issues!).
Talking Sense: Proprioception by Never Less Than Everything
".... Some other apt examples of proprioception at work: close your eyes and touch your nose. Could you find your nose? What would it feel like if you couldn’t? Close your eyes and raise your arms in the air. Where are your arms? What if you could not tell? Imagine a pinata just in front of you. Now, place the blind fold and spin and spin – how easy is it to find the pinata? Would you enjoy that feeling when you were not playing a party game? Would you like to feel that way while stepping on an escalator?
This is the wonder of your body and the sense known as proprioception." READ MORE
".... Some other apt examples of proprioception at work: close your eyes and touch your nose. Could you find your nose? What would it feel like if you couldn’t? Close your eyes and raise your arms in the air. Where are your arms? What if you could not tell? Imagine a pinata just in front of you. Now, place the blind fold and spin and spin – how easy is it to find the pinata? Would you enjoy that feeling when you were not playing a party game? Would you like to feel that way while stepping on an escalator?
This is the wonder of your body and the sense known as proprioception." READ MORE
sensory simulation
This is a perspective of what it feels like for an autistic person with sensory sensitivities to go on what most of us would think of as a routine trip - a visit to Walmart. If you have sensory sensitivities yourself, do not watch this video.
How to help a Hyposensitive Autistic Person
by WikiHow
Do you have a friend, student, spouse, or loved one on the autism spectrum? Are some of their senses hyposensitive? Is hyperactivity or sensory seeking impacting their lives? Here are ways you can help them receive the stimulation they crave, so they can be comfortable. READ MORE
by WikiHow
Do you have a friend, student, spouse, or loved one on the autism spectrum? Are some of their senses hyposensitive? Is hyperactivity or sensory seeking impacting their lives? Here are ways you can help them receive the stimulation they crave, so they can be comfortable. READ MORE
Why Autistic People Stim
by Candi Brooks/Neurodiversity is Magic
Why do autistic people stim? There are many reasons why autistic people might engage in self-stimulatory behaviors. In this post, I will discuss some of the main reasons autistic people stim.
1) Hypersensitivity to sensory input
Ashley wakes up at 8:30 am, and is blinded by the bright light shining through the window. When she starts to brush her teeth, she almost gags at the taste of the toothpaste. She starts the shower, and gets in. The water from the shower feels like needles, so she bites her arm. She gets dressed and starts heading out the door. REA_D MORE
by Candi Brooks/Neurodiversity is Magic
Why do autistic people stim? There are many reasons why autistic people might engage in self-stimulatory behaviors. In this post, I will discuss some of the main reasons autistic people stim.
1) Hypersensitivity to sensory input
Ashley wakes up at 8:30 am, and is blinded by the bright light shining through the window. When she starts to brush her teeth, she almost gags at the taste of the toothpaste. She starts the shower, and gets in. The water from the shower feels like needles, so she bites her arm. She gets dressed and starts heading out the door. REA_D MORE
Excerpt From Paper Words: Discovering and Living with My Autism
by Judy Endow
"I remember with fondness my institutional social worker and some of my favorite aides who began group therapy sessions with a handful of girls on my ward. The topic was often the same – FEELINGS.
I understood feelings intellectually, knowing their labels and their definitions. I also began to realize that the way I perceived the world – through the movements and sounds of colors –" READ MORE
by Judy Endow
"I remember with fondness my institutional social worker and some of my favorite aides who began group therapy sessions with a handful of girls on my ward. The topic was often the same – FEELINGS.
I understood feelings intellectually, knowing their labels and their definitions. I also began to realize that the way I perceived the world – through the movements and sounds of colors –" READ MORE
How Kids Benefit from Sensory Playgrounds
"...The equipment is designed to help stimulate their senses to help them work better, says founder Jay Perkins. "They know it's their space. There's not a competitive nature to it, not trying to do something better than the kid next to you. The pressure is off."
And instead of being anxious, the kids are comfortable..." READ MORE
"...The equipment is designed to help stimulate their senses to help them work better, says founder Jay Perkins. "They know it's their space. There's not a competitive nature to it, not trying to do something better than the kid next to you. The pressure is off."
And instead of being anxious, the kids are comfortable..." READ MORE
The Mind and the Mortar by Invisible Strings
I remember having a much stronger sensory awareness when I was a kid. My nose would haunt me, for example. I would smell something unpleasant, and a sense of unease would settle over me for days. I’d grow moody about it, troubled. Sometimes, for reasons I didn’t understand at the time, I would lash out at others well after the triggering scent.
It was a challenge because seemingly every single item had it’s own unique smell…and they all triggered reactions, some positive, some negative. I liked smelling crayons (some of them, anyway); I liked books; I thought carpeting was evil. Any sort of carpeting…new, old, recently cleaned…it was all terrible. And yet today, as an adult, I rarely notice these things…my sense of smell seems to have very slowly faded, to the point that it is no longer a daily struggle to navigate. READ MORE
I remember having a much stronger sensory awareness when I was a kid. My nose would haunt me, for example. I would smell something unpleasant, and a sense of unease would settle over me for days. I’d grow moody about it, troubled. Sometimes, for reasons I didn’t understand at the time, I would lash out at others well after the triggering scent.
It was a challenge because seemingly every single item had it’s own unique smell…and they all triggered reactions, some positive, some negative. I liked smelling crayons (some of them, anyway); I liked books; I thought carpeting was evil. Any sort of carpeting…new, old, recently cleaned…it was all terrible. And yet today, as an adult, I rarely notice these things…my sense of smell seems to have very slowly faded, to the point that it is no longer a daily struggle to navigate. READ MORE
Saying One Thing, Meaning Another by Emma's Hope Book
"This morning I was reminded of how Emma, when asked, “How old are you?” will, without hesitation and in a matter-of-fact voice, say, “Nine.” If I give her the keyboard she will then type, “I am 12.” When I asked her to talk about what it was like to say something, knowing it wasn’t “correct.” She wrote, “Hearing myself say words that cause confused reactions, solidifying doubt, makes people befuddled and causes me anxiety.”
READ MORE
"This morning I was reminded of how Emma, when asked, “How old are you?” will, without hesitation and in a matter-of-fact voice, say, “Nine.” If I give her the keyboard she will then type, “I am 12.” When I asked her to talk about what it was like to say something, knowing it wasn’t “correct.” She wrote, “Hearing myself say words that cause confused reactions, solidifying doubt, makes people befuddled and causes me anxiety.”
READ MORE
SENSORY OVERLOAD CLICK ON by Chavisory's Notebook:
Sensory Overload and How to Cope, a slideshow by Chavisory.
Remember the 5 R’s:
· Recognize the symptoms of overload.
· Remove yourself from the situation.
· Reduce the stimulus causing the overload.
· Relax your body and calm yourself down.
· Rest yourself as you will most likely feel fatigue.
http://chavisory.tumblr.com/post/89659995217/sensory-overload-and-how-to-cope-click-on
Sensory Overload and How to Cope, a slideshow by Chavisory.
Remember the 5 R’s:
· Recognize the symptoms of overload.
· Remove yourself from the situation.
· Reduce the stimulus causing the overload.
· Relax your body and calm yourself down.
· Rest yourself as you will most likely feel fatigue.
http://chavisory.tumblr.com/post/89659995217/sensory-overload-and-how-to-cope-click-on
What's in that ? By Pensive Aspie
Autistics and new foods. We sniff. We scan. We ask “What’s IN that?” We may even poke it with a fork or touch it first. I’m more than certain our inability to hide our emotions makes for some great faces during all of this sniffing, prodding, and inspecting.
I want to start this blog by sharing something that my wonderful friend (and fellow Aspie) Aletheia Knights shared with me. After sharing this comical (but TRUE) link about “picky eaters” on her Facebook, she described the Autistic struggle with food better than I ever could. READ MORE
Autistics and new foods. We sniff. We scan. We ask “What’s IN that?” We may even poke it with a fork or touch it first. I’m more than certain our inability to hide our emotions makes for some great faces during all of this sniffing, prodding, and inspecting.
I want to start this blog by sharing something that my wonderful friend (and fellow Aspie) Aletheia Knights shared with me. After sharing this comical (but TRUE) link about “picky eaters” on her Facebook, she described the Autistic struggle with food better than I ever could. READ MORE
Food Chaining: How to Expand A Picky Eater’s Diet
By Loree Primeau
Since feeding involves all sensory systems (sight, smell, sound, touch, and taste), eating is the most difficult sensory task that children face. Feeding issues are especially common in children with autism, including those with Aspergers, because of difficulties with sensory processing. In many cases, this leads to eating challenges at mealtimes.
“Food chaining,” from the book by the same name, is based on the child’s natural preferences and successful eating experiences—specifically the idea that we eat what we like. Food chaining introduces new foods that have the same flavors or sensory features as foods that are already preferred by the child, increasing the likelihood that the child will like the food. READ MORE
By Loree Primeau
Since feeding involves all sensory systems (sight, smell, sound, touch, and taste), eating is the most difficult sensory task that children face. Feeding issues are especially common in children with autism, including those with Aspergers, because of difficulties with sensory processing. In many cases, this leads to eating challenges at mealtimes.
“Food chaining,” from the book by the same name, is based on the child’s natural preferences and successful eating experiences—specifically the idea that we eat what we like. Food chaining introduces new foods that have the same flavors or sensory features as foods that are already preferred by the child, increasing the likelihood that the child will like the food. READ MORE