| Ever been bugged by an especially itchy wool | | | | Wear soft, heavily washed, loose-fitting clothing, such |
| sweater? Or been horrified at the shrill sound of | | | | as t-shirts and baggy shortso Avoid body piercings |
| fingernails being dragged down a chalkboard? | | | | and tattooso Find showering unpleasant due to |
| Just imagine if your day was filled with such | | | | oversensitivity to sensations of water and changes in |
| experiences, and you and your loved ones were at a | | | | temperatureo Remove tags from clothing, which can |
| loss as to how to understand or help. | | | | be itchyo Choose specific brands of clothing, |
| Most of us familiar with the basic symptoms | | | | underwear and shoes which provide minimal |
| associated with Asperger Disorder understand that | | | | restrictiono Find ways to gain tactile input which is |
| people with Asperger's often seem hypersensitive. | | | | soothing, such as hair-pulling, hair twirling, hand tapping, |
| Children with Asperger's today often readily voice their | | | | etc.o Enjoy stroking soft materials, such as the fur of |
| discomfort with textures, noises and scents they find | | | | cats |
| uncomfortable, and this discomfort has become, if not | | | | Clients who struggle with visual hypersensitivity often:o |
| an accepted diagnostic criteria, a very familiar | | | | Avoid visually overwhelming environmentso Wear |
| phenomenon for parents. | | | | sunglasses or hats to minimize bright lightso Remove |
| In their April, 2009 article Talent in Autism, Simon | | | | lamps or bulbs in work areas to reduce glareo Cover |
| Baron-Cohen et al describe sensory hypersensitivity, a | | | | fluorescent lightso Close blinds during work time to |
| form of enhanced perceptual functioning typical of | | | | prevent interruption by visual stimuli such as |
| many individuals with autism spectrum conditions | | | | passers-byo Keep work areas neatly organized to |
| (ASC). Indeed, the article states that "studies using | | | | prevent becoming visually overstimulatedo Find visually |
| questionnaires such as the sensory profile have | | | | predictable environments, such as video games, |
| revealed sensory abnormalities in over 90per cent of | | | | rewarding and comfortable |
| children with ASC." How individuals process information | | | | Clients with auditory oversensitivity often:o "Tune out" |
| (both cognitive and sensory) may be highly impacted, | | | | when conversation becomes too overwhelming to |
| even organized according to, these differences: and | | | | attend too Avoid interacting in crowded settings, such |
| the differences may cause distress, but also | | | | as parties, or use substances to mediate |
| predispose to unusual talent. | | | | oversensitivityo Rely on electronics, such as iPods, to |
| Sensory: oversensitivities often reported by adults with | | | | provide predictable auditory stimulationo Wear |
| Asperger's include: | | | | noise-cancelling headphones when concentrating or |
| Tactile: oversensitivity can cause the individual to feel | | | | meditatingo Spend quiet, solitary time to "recover" from |
| physical sensations such as light touch, itchy fabrics, | | | | overstimulating experienceso Avoid telephone and cell |
| hugs and bare feet as unbearable. | | | | phone use to minimize unanticipated auditory inputo |
| Visual: oversensitivity can cause the individual to find | | | | Hum, sing or make noises to cancel out noises beyond |
| fluorescent lights, bright sunlight, flashing lights and | | | | individual's controlo Listen to music excessively |
| overly stimulating visual environments (e.g. casinos) to | | | | If you have noticed your own or a loved one's sensory |
| cause great discomfort. | | | | hypersensitivity, be sure and treat it as condition to |
| Auditory: oversensitivity can cause the individual to find | | | | take seriously. Some researchers (see Belmonte et al., |
| auditory input to be impossible to ignore. Foreground | | | | 2004) hypothesize that this sensory "magnification" |
| and background noises can compete with one another, | | | | may result from neural overconnectivity in sensory |
| leaving the listener unable to selectively attend. Shrill or | | | | parts of the cerebral cortex. While research on brain |
| high pitched noises, such as those of dental drills, | | | | structure and development differences is still being |
| children's squeals or shrieks, and blenders can cause | | | | conducted, sensory oversensitivity in adults with ASC |
| extreme discomfort. Discordant music can cause | | | | is well documented, and is most likely physiologically |
| discomfort. | | | | based. |
| Gustation: oversensitivity can cause the individual to | | | | Implementing some simple interventions can help the |
| feel uncomfortable with new tastes, or to find them | | | | individual with Asperger's feel much more comfortable |
| intolerable. Children with gustational oversensitivity can | | | | in the world. An increase in sensory comfort can have |
| prefer the same foods over and over again, refusing | | | | drastic effects on cognition, avoidance behaviors and |
| new foods and finding new flavors distressing. | | | | the ability to attend to other stimuli. Many of my clients |
| Olfaction: Current research does not support evidence | | | | report irregular sleep/wake cycles, with much "down |
| of oversensitivity for the sense of smell. | | | | time" spent recovering from situations which cause |
| Clinicians who work with adults with Asperger's often | | | | sensory overload. Taking care of yourself ahead of |
| find that this sensory hyperacuity has been coped with | | | | time when facing a sensory challenging setting can |
| and channeled in creative ways. | | | | prevent "sensory hangover", and is part of taking care |
| Following are some of the coping mechanisms | | | | of yourself. |
| reported to me by clients who have struggled with | | | | Stay tuned for more on how sensory oversensitivity |
| sensory oversensitivity without knowing exactly what | | | | may be a contributing factor to talent and giftedness |
| the problem was. | | | | so often seen in adults with Asperger's. |
| Clients who struggle with tactile hypersensitivity often:o | | | | |