Often, when a person is experiencing distress we are not likely to consider the sensory environment as the cause.
But imagine this…
🎡 Bright lights pulsing down.
📣 Loud sounds of music, people and machinery.
🍿 A mix of smells of fairground rides and popcorn.
🤡 The face paint feeling itchy.
🥵 And it’s really hot in here.
For an autistic person who finds it difficult to process everyday sensory information, this might lead to experiencing sensory overload or overwhelm.
Sensory overload may result in feelings of worry, anxiety, stress and even physical pain. This might lead to withdrawal, feeling distressed or meltdowns.
There are things that can help, and often small environmental changes can make a big difference. Understanding your own sensory profile, or the sensory profile of your child or family member, can help to guide adjustments that may be needed.
