Let’s talk about sensory perception…
As you may know children with autism can be totally overwhelmed by the sensory input in their environment.
Even things that you and I may not even notice could be so loud, bright or uncomfortable for a child with autism to tolerate.
I watched a documentary a while back that talked about the differences in sensory perception with people on the spectrum and neuro typical people…
One guy who had autism explained it like this…
“It’s like looking through a kaleidoscope whilst standing on a vibrating surface on one leg, and being almost deafened by the sounds of every day life.”
I don’t know about you but I feel slightly nauseas just thinking about all of that.
I believe that if we understand sensory perception then we are a big step closer to understanding our children with autism.
So, take some time and observe what things overwhelm your child…
They may be noise sensitive, so something as simple as repetitive tapping on a table may really affect them.
Or your child may be tactile defensive, and they may not be able tolerate certain fabrics on their skin.
Or perhaps you’ll notice how sensitive your child is to lights, they may get headaches from certain lighting in their environment.
Does your child take off or tug at their clothes?
Do they cover their ears or back away when they head sudden or repetitive noises?
Or does your child hit their head or squint when around certain lighting?
Once you know their sensitivities along with generally being more aware and understanding your child’s needs better you can choose whether you want to begin working on these things with your child.
One way of working on sensory sensitivities is by desensitising them to the situation to reduce their overwhelm, but that’s for another blog!
Speak with you soon until then,
Live every moment, Love beyond words and make a difference today
Emma Ottaway
The Ambitious Autism Ambassador
