Sensory Processing

Sensory Processing

Sensory Processing- or Sensory Integration- can be a major difficulty for some people with autism. They can be over-sensitive to external stimuli such as sounds and touch and be under sensitive to internal stimuli such as balance (vestibular) or body awareness (proprioception). We need to be extremely sympathetic to these needs. Many people have some things that they are extremely sensitive to- such as some foods or the sound of nails on a blackboard or the dentist's drill. We have to understand that some things that non-autisitc people find perfectly normal- the sound of a computer fan- could be having the same effect on a pupil with autism as the dentist's drill may do for us!

Over sensitivity

Where the over-sensitivity is to something unusual in everyday life we would simply respect the pupil's needs and try to avoid it. Where the over-sensitivity is to something common that will limit the pupil's life opportunities we will help them to cope with it. Usually this will be by giving them control of the situation and gradually helping them to get used to the stimuli. 

Under sensitity

If a non-autistic person ever wakes up with a numb arm they have a need to stimulate the arm until they can feel it properly again. Many autistic pupils have the need to get extra stimuli- especially for balance and body position. Therefore many reward activities in school inbetween work activities are designed to meet these needs by allowing for movement including those that need balance. Some pupils may need additional input such as weighted jackets or lycra clothing to give them additional feedback from their bodies. 

Sensory diet

Pupils are taught to be more self-aware of their level of arousal. Learning is optimised by a middle level- not too excited and not too quiet. "Purposeful Choose" activities are designed to optimise each pupil's readiness for the next learning activity.