Collection: Autism

Many children with autism have sensory processing difficulties and may struggle with responding appropriately in challenging situations.

For example, when visual input is too over stimulating, the child may have an inability to maintain eye contact during a conversation or have trouble locating objects that are located on a cluttered shelf. 

When auditory input is overloaded, the child may:

• Cover their ears in loud situations such as a fire drill, or hum/sing to themselves, or complain of the noise levels in rooms
• Hang on an adult, or lay between two surfaces
• Avoid touching certain textures
• Touch everything in sight as a way to re-regulate

When the taste and smell pathways are overloaded the child may:

• Avoid certain foods, or eat extreme tasting foods
• Avoid using the restroom at public places
• Breath through their mouths rather than their noses

When the proprioceptive system is overloaded the child may:

• Pull, chew or twist things
• Frequently breaking toy
• Unintentionally hurt peers
• Stand too close to others or objects with no understanding of personal space

When the vestibular system is overloaded, the child may:

• Exhibit thrill seeking behaviors
• Have extreme motion sickness
• Show difficulty with coordinated eye movement
• Seek being upside down

Having ‘just right’ responses to sensory input takes guidance and controlled exposure.