If you have an autistic child who has sensory processing problems, it is important that you know as much about sensory processing as possible so that you can understand the struggles that your child is facing. As such, here is a guide that can teach you everything that you need to know about sensory processing and autism.
What is sensory processing?
Sensory processing is the way that our body takes on board and understands the information that it receives through touch, taste, smell, hearing, and sight. Most neurodiverse people can process this information without any issues, although anyone, especially people who are shy, stressed, or who have anxiety or PTSD, can sometimes have issues with sensory processing and can become overwhelmed by the sensory input that they experience.
How does autism affect sensory processing?
Most people with autism experience differences in their sensory processing. They might struggle to process more than one sense at once and might become easily overwhelmed if too much sensory information is being delivered to them at once. They might have senses that are over or under-active. For instance, they might not feel pain that much or might cringe at sounds that would not be too loud for neurotypical people. If these senses overwhelm them, this can lead to sensory overload. Consistent sensory overload can mean that autistic people become burned out, melt down or shut down.
What can you do to help your child?
To help your child combat sensory processing issues, you should consider investing in a pair of noise-canceling headphones for them. This is especially the case if they do not like loud noise or if you are going to be heading into a noisy environment with a lot of conflicting sensory input. For instance, a concert, an airshow, or a shopping mall. By doing this, your child can decide on a sensory input that they receive and can choose their own calming music.
Apps for autism could also help your child. These apps could provide them with relaxing sensory experiences and give them a focus or distraction when they are struggling. These apps could also allow you to track your child’s progress and behavior when it comes to sensory overload. They could help you to communicate with and set goals for them. However, you might have to try a few apps before finding the right one for your child, and you should always read the reviews before downloading an app of your choice.
You might also encourage your child to stim. Stimming, or making repetitive movements, can comfort your child by allowing them to ignore the overwhelming senses that they are experiencing. This can also be used as a method of sensory seeking if they are fidgety or if they are not getting as much sensory input as they would like. To do this, you might consider buying fidget toys for your child or simply not reprimanding them for any repetitive movements that they make, such as flapping their hands or swinging their legs.
