Pinnacle Guru · Published archive
Collab Topic - Behavioural Therapy
Published
What do sensory issues look like? Many people with autism show certain behaviors when they are experiencing a sensory issue: Increased movement, such as jumping, spinning or crashing into things. Increased stimming, such as hand flapping, making repetitive noises or rocking back and forth.
Sensory sensitivity behaviors can vary widely from person to person, but here are some common examples:
*Visual:*
- Avoiding bright lights or fluorescent lighting
- Being distracted by visual stimuli, like patterns or colors
- Covering eyes or squinting in response to certain visuals
*Auditory:*
- Covering ears or being overwhelmed by loud noises
- Being highly sensitive to certain sounds, like buzzing or humming
- Difficulty filtering out background noise
*Tactile:*
- Avoiding certain textures, like sand or velvet
- Being over-sensitive to touch or light touch
- Seeking out deep pressure or firm touch
*Olfactory:*
- Being highly sensitive to certain smells, like perfumes or cleaning products
- Avoiding strong-smelling environments, like public restrooms
- Being attracted to strong smells, like essential oils
*Gustatory:*
- Being a picky eater due to texture or taste sensitivities
- Avoiding certain flavors or smells
- Seeking out strong flavors or textures
*Vestibular:*
- Avoiding spinning or swaying movements
- Being over-sensitive to changes in balance or equilibrium
- Seeking out intense vestibular experiences, like roller coasters
*Proprioceptive:*
- Avoiding certain physical activities, like team sports
- Being over-sensitive to body position or movement
- Seeking out intense proprioceptive experiences, like rock climbing
These behaviors can be coping mechanisms, self-regulation strategies, or attempts to avoid overwhelming sensory experiences. Understanding and acceptance are crucial in supporting individuals with sensory sensitivity behaviors.
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