Understanding Sensory Differences in Autistic Children
As a parent, you may have encountered the term "sensory differences" and how they relate to autistic children. Understanding these differences is important, as they significantly influence how children perceive and interact with the world around them.
What Are Sensory Differences?
Sensory differences refer to the varied ways a child's brain interprets sensory information, such as sounds, lights, and textures. These variations are common among autistic children and can affect their emotions, concentration, and learning processes.
Research indicates:
74% of autistic children exhibit documented sensory differences (Kirby et al., 2016).
Sensory characteristics can serve as important markers for early autism identification (Wiggins et al., 2019).
Common Sensory Differences
Children may experience sensory input in one of two primary ways:
Hypersensitivity: Some children may feel overwhelmed by minor sensory inputs, such as loud noises or bright lights, which can be distressing.
Hyposensitivity: Others may not react to sensory stimuli unless it is particularly strong, often seeking out intense experiences like spinning or jumping.
The Impact of Sensory Differences
Sensory experiences can profoundly influence various aspects of a child's life, including:
Emotional responses and behavior: Sensory overload may result in meltdowns or withdrawal from social situations.
Attention and learning: Sensory distractions can make it difficult for children to focus, whether at school, home, or during therapy sessions.
Social interactions: Sensory challenges can impede social engagement and effective communication.
Dysregulation occurs when a child feels overwhelmed or uncomfortable due to sensory inputs. In these states, children may struggle to concentrate, communicate, learn, or achieve a state of calm. Research suggests: Emotional dysregulation in children often results from sensory differences, contributing to challenging behaviors (Sung et al., 2020).
How You Can Help
Modify the Environment: Implement adjustments in your child’s home, school, or therapy setting, based on their specific sensory preferences or needs.
Supports: Offer tools/supports, like noise-cancelling headphones, swinging, a weighted blanket or toy, fidgets, or a soothing break area.
Collaborate: Talk with your child’s OT and/or speech therapist about the challenges you and your child are facing at home to work together on a plan to implement strategies to meet your child’s sensory needs.
Promote Self-Awareness: Help your child recognize what sensory inputs make them feel better or worse and how to communicate that. AAC, sign, verbally, etc. all communication is welcome here!
By recognizing and addressing your child's sensory differences and needs, you can help them feel more at ease, decrease challenging behaviors, and enhance their overall learning and development. If you have any questions or seek additional resources, please don’t hesitate to reach out to a professional!