Making sense of the Making sense of the sensessenses

Autistic spectrum disorders Autistic spectrum disorders and sensory processingand sensory processing

Jacqui Jackson Bsc (1st class hons), Cert H.P., Dip., App. S.S., Dip., H.& S.W. Adv. Dip, S.E.N.

www.jacquijackson.com

Children and adults with autism as Children and adults with autism as well as other developmental well as other developmental

disabilities may have a dysfunctional disabilities may have a dysfunctional sensory system sensory system

(Ayres, 1972)(Ayres, 1972)

HyposensitivityHyposensitivity

Children with an under sensitive Children with an under sensitive sensory system actively seek sensory sensory system actively seek sensory stimulationstimulation

HypersensitivityHypersensitivity

Children with an over sensitive Children with an over sensitive sensory system often reject and shy sensory system often reject and shy away from sensory stimulationaway from sensory stimulation

The sensory systemThe sensory system

• Auditory Auditory

• VisualVisual

• TactileTactile

• Gustatory/olfactoryGustatory/olfactory

• VestibularVestibular

• ProprioceptiveProprioceptive

Some symptoms of sensory Some symptoms of sensory processing difficulties…processing difficulties…

Auditory systemAuditory system

• Oversensitive to sound/frequently Oversensitive to sound/frequently covers earscovers ears

• Under sensitive to sound/has no Under sensitive to sound/has no ‘volume control’‘volume control’

• Auditory processing difficultiesAuditory processing difficulties

Auditory processingAuditory processing

• Difficulties with sequencingDifficulties with sequencing

• Difficulties remembering what was Difficulties remembering what was heardheard

• Often has spelling problemsOften has spelling problems

• Often seems to misunderstandOften seems to misunderstand

• Difficulties discriminating between Difficulties discriminating between similar sounding wordssimilar sounding words

• Difficulties discriminating between Difficulties discriminating between background and foreground noisebackground and foreground noise

Visual systemVisual system

• Picky eaters – choosy about Picky eaters – choosy about appearance of food on plateappearance of food on plate

• Seems to ‘scan’ environment and Seems to ‘scan’ environment and itemsitems

• Visual processing difficultiesVisual processing difficulties

Tactile systemTactile system

• Avoids tactile inputAvoids tactile input

• Seeks out tactile inputSeeks out tactile input

• Dislikes certain clothing or prefers to Dislikes certain clothing or prefers to be nakedbe naked

• Dislikes labels and seamsDislikes labels and seams

• Walks on tiptoes Walks on tiptoes

• Unusually high or low pain toleranceUnusually high or low pain tolerance

Olfactory Olfactory (smell)(smell) and Gustatory and Gustatory (taste)(taste) systems systems

• Oversensitive to smellOversensitive to smell

• Tends to sniff/lick food and nonfood Tends to sniff/lick food and nonfood stuffsstuffs

• Picky with food/refuses many Picky with food/refuses many textures and tastestextures and tastes

• Eats non foodstuffs (pica)Eats non foodstuffs (pica)

• Smears/eats faecesSmears/eats faeces

Vestibular systemVestibular system

• Appears fearful of playground rides Appears fearful of playground rides and activitiesand activities

• Avoids balancing activitiesAvoids balancing activities

• Avoids sportsAvoids sports

• Easily sick when travelling or on ridesEasily sick when travelling or on rides

• Appears fearful of heightsAppears fearful of heights

Vestibular system (cont.)Vestibular system (cont.)

• Seems oblivious to heights, Seems oblivious to heights, fairground rides etc.fairground rides etc.

• Always ‘on the go’Always ‘on the go’

• Frequently engages in spinning, Frequently engages in spinning, jumping and bumping into thingsjumping and bumping into things

• Unusually high or low level of activityUnusually high or low level of activity

Proprioceptive systemProprioceptive system

• Problems with muscle toneProblems with muscle tone

• Coordination and motor planning Coordination and motor planning problemsproblems

• Tires easilyTires easily

Practical Approaches…Practical Approaches…

SeeingSeeing((Visual input)Visual input)

• Coloured lenses/overlays –Coloured lenses/overlays –www.readingandwriting.ab.ca/judypool/irlen.www.readingandwriting.ab.ca/judypool/irlen.htmhtm

www.visualdyslexia.comwww.visualdyslexia.com

• Correct lightingCorrect lighting

• Visual activitiesVisual activities

Listening and hearingListening and hearing((Auditory input)Auditory input)

• Reduce auditory interference in Reduce auditory interference in environmentenvironment

• Auditory integration therapy Auditory integration therapy (listening programme)(listening programme)

• Music therapyMusic therapy

• Listening activitiesListening activities

Tasting and SmellingTasting and Smelling((Gustatory/Olfactory input)Gustatory/Olfactory input)

• Aromatherapy (choose scent/oil Aromatherapy (choose scent/oil according to child’s response)according to child’s response)

• Tasting/smelling activitiesTasting/smelling activities

• Sensory activity before trying new Sensory activity before trying new foodsfoods

TouchingTouching((Tactile input)Tactile input)

• Desensitization by Desensitization by gradualgradual exposure exposure to various textures such as shaving to various textures such as shaving foam, sand (wet and dry), sugar, jellyfoam, sand (wet and dry), sugar, jelly

• Oral motor activitiesOral motor activities

• Gently ‘squashing’ child between two Gently ‘squashing’ child between two cushionscushions

• Play with different textured toys eg Play with different textured toys eg squishy balls, plush toyssquishy balls, plush toys

Body PositioningBody Positioning((Proprioceptive input)Proprioceptive input)

• SwingingSwinging

• TrampoliningTrampolining

• Ball poolsBall pools

• MassageMassage

• Weighted quilts/jacketsWeighted quilts/jackets

• Proprioceptive activities eg Proprioceptive activities eg ‘squashing’ ‘squashing’

Balance and MovementBalance and Movement(Vestibular Input)(Vestibular Input)

• Walking on balancing beamWalking on balancing beam

• TrampoliningTrampolining

• Rolling/balancing on large ballRolling/balancing on large ball

• Balancing boardBalancing board

• DancingDancing

• SwingsSwings

• Vestibular activitiesVestibular activities

Useful readingUseful reading

• Jackson, L., (2001) Jackson, L., (2001) A user guide to the GF/CF diet A user guide to the GF/CF diet for autism, ADHD and Asperger Syndromefor autism, ADHD and Asperger Syndrome. . London. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.London. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

• Jackson, L., (2002) Jackson, L., (2002) Freaks, Geeks and Asperger Freaks, Geeks and Asperger Syndrome – A user guide to adolescenceSyndrome – A user guide to adolescence. London. . London. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

• Jackson, J., (2003) Jackson, J., (2003) Multicoloured Mayhem – Multicoloured Mayhem – parenting the many shades of adolescents and parenting the many shades of adolescents and children with autism, Asperger syndrome and children with autism, Asperger syndrome and ADHDADHD. London. Jessica Kingsley Publishers. London. Jessica Kingsley Publishers

Useful reading (cont.)Useful reading (cont.)

• Kranowitz. C., (2003) Kranowitz. C., (2003) The Out of Sync The Out of Sync Child Has Fun.Child Has Fun. London. Perigree London. Perigree

• Bogdashina. O. (2003) Bogdashina. O. (2003) Sensory Perceptual Sensory Perceptual Issues in Autism and Asperger Syndrome – Issues in Autism and Asperger Syndrome – different Sensory Experiences – Different different Sensory Experiences – Different Perceptual worlds.Perceptual worlds. London. Jessica London. Jessica Kingsley PublishersKingsley Publishers

Useful reading cont….Useful reading cont….

• Chara A and Chara P (2004) Chara A and Chara P (2004) Sensory Smarts – A Sensory Smarts – A book for children with ADHD and Autistic book for children with ADHD and Autistic Spectrum Disorders struggling with sensory Spectrum Disorders struggling with sensory integration problems.integration problems. London. Jessica Kingsley London. Jessica Kingsley PublishersPublishers

• Emmons and Anderson (2005) Emmons and Anderson (2005) Understanding Understanding Sensory Dysfunction - Sensory Dysfunction - Learning, Development and Learning, Development and Sensory Dysfunction in Autism Spectrum Sensory Dysfunction in Autism Spectrum Disorders, ADHD, Learning Disabilities and Bipolar Disorders, ADHD, Learning Disabilities and Bipolar Disorder.Disorder. London. Jessica Kingsley Publishers London. Jessica Kingsley Publishers