SENDhelp
Most autistic people experience sensory differences, being either over-sensitive or under-sensitive to sensory input. These differences affect daily life profoundly. This guide explains the sensory profile in autism and how environments and support can be adapted.
Sensory processing differences are present in the majority of autistic people and are included as a criterion in DSM-5. Autistic people may be hypersensitive (over-responsive) or hyposensitive (under-responsive) across any or all sensory channels. The same person may be hypersensitive in some areas and hyposensitive in others. Sensory differences affect almost every area of daily life, influencing where autistic people can comfortably be, what they can eat, what they can wear and how they experience the world. Understanding sensory sensitivities is essential for anyone supporting an autistic person.
SENDhelp places specialist SEN teachers, teaching assistants and support staff in schools and provisions across North London, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire. If your school needs staff experienced with autism, we can help.
Hypersensitivity means that sensory input unremarkable to most people is experienced as intense, uncomfortable or overwhelming. Sounds that are mildly noticeable to others may be painfully loud. Lights standard in most buildings may cause eye pain. Certain textures in clothing or food may be intolerable. Strong smells may be nauseating. Touch meant as reassuring may feel painful. Understanding these experiences helps others avoid causing unintentional distress.
Hyposensitivity means the autistic person receives reduced sensory feedback and may seek stronger sensory input to register sensation at a comfortable level. A hyposensitive autistic person may not notice pain, temperature extremes, hunger or the need to use the toilet until these are very intense. They may seek out strong sensory experiences such as deep pressure, loud music or intense physical activity. Hyposensitivity has different safety implications from hypersensitivity but is equally significant.
Sensory differences in autism can affect all seven senses. These are: vision, hearing, touch, smell, taste, proprioception (the sense of where the body is in space) and interoception (the sense of what is happening inside the body including heartbeat, hunger and thirst). Proprioceptive and interoceptive differences are less commonly discussed but are significant for many autistic people and affect self-regulation, coordination and body awareness.
Sensory overload occurs when accumulated sensory input exceeds an autistic person’s capacity to process it. It can build gradually over the course of a day or be triggered suddenly by an intense stimulus. Sensory overload can manifest as a meltdown, where the person loses control of their emotional or behavioural responses, or a shutdown, where the person becomes withdrawn and unresponsive. These responses are involuntary. Creating environments with reduced sensory demands significantly reduces the frequency of sensory overload.
Sensory differences affect almost every area of daily life for autistic people: clothing choice, food preferences, home environment, preferred activities, ability to use public transport, ability to work in open-plan offices or attend busy venues, and health management. Understanding and accommodating sensory needs is not about giving special treatment: it is about removing barriers to participation caused by environments designed without autistic sensory needs in mind.
Sensory integration therapy and sensory diet programmes, developed by occupational therapists, can help autistic people manage sensory differences. Environmental modifications including reduced lighting, noise-cancelling headphones, sensory breaks and sensory rooms can significantly reduce sensory overwhelm. Autism charities including the National Autistic Society provide guidance on sensory needs and accommodations.
For related information see our articles on Stimming in Autism Explained and 3 Main Symptoms of Autism.
Sensory sensitivities in autism refer to differences in how the brain processes sensory input, which can result in hypersensitivity (over-responsiveness) or hyposensitivity (under-responsiveness) to sensory stimuli. These differences can affect any or all senses and significantly affect daily life.
Sensory overload is a state of overwhelming sensory input that exceeds an autistic person’s capacity to process it. It can cause a meltdown, where the person loses control of their responses, or a shutdown, where they become withdrawn and unresponsive. Reducing sensory demands and providing calm, low-stimulation environments are the most effective responses.
Practical measures include providing a quiet space to decompress, reducing fluorescent lighting, allowing noise-cancelling headphones, giving advance warning of changes, providing a predictable classroom layout, allowing the child to sit away from sensory sources of distress and providing fidget tools or movement breaks. An occupational therapist with sensory expertise can advise on a sensory audit of the classroom.
Visit our Understanding Autism hub for more guides on signs, diagnosis, causes, sensory needs, masking and co-occurring conditions.
The information in this article is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. If you have concerns about autism or any neurodevelopmental condition, speak to a qualified healthcare professional. SENDhelp Education Limited accepts no responsibility or liability for any loss or damage arising from reliance on this content. Any links to third-party websites are provided for convenience only and do not constitute endorsement of their content.
To stop receiving marketing emails or SMS’s from SENDhelp, kindly complete the form below. We strive to promptly remove your information, aiming to complete the process as soon as we receive your submission.