Everyone has their limits when it comes to the brightness of the lights above them, or the intensity of the sounds they’re immersed in. Children are more vocal than adults about the discomfort they can cause. For children with autism, this goes a thousand fold, as the sensations can be unbearably acute. Sensory sensitivities and preferences are pivotal aspects of the experience for many children on the autism spectrum. These differences in sensory processing for children with autism can enormously influence their daily interactions, lives, and overall well-being. At Monarch House, we can help you identify various sensitivities and create strategies to work around them. 

Here are ten ways that these sensitivities and preferences affect children with autism Mississauga.

1. Food Sensitivities and Preferences

Peas can be too mushy. Corn can be too hot. Bagels with seeds can just feel strange in the mouth. Many children with autism have unique food preferences or aversions based on texture, taste, or smell. This can make mealtimes a challenge, and put some serious restrictions on their diet. Occupational therapists and behavioural therapists at Monarch House can help parents and caregivers work on food tolerance for children with autism by introducing new foods slowly and in low-stress settings.

2. Overstimulation In Crowded Environments

To us, the “din” of a crowd of people is just background noise. To your child with autism it can be cacophonous. Neurodivergent children often experience heightened sensitivity to sensory input such as sounds. Crowded areas—like hallways at school, or malls—can overwhelm a child with autism. This can lead to anxiety, meltdowns, or withdrawal. As you might know already,  travelling with children with autism comes with its own challenges. Being cognizant of sensory sensitivities you might encounter along the journey can help you and your child’s caregivers choose quieter, less stimulating environments for outings.

3. Difficulty With Personal Hygiene

It’s hard to brush your teeth when the taste of the toothpaste makes you gag, or when the bristles feel like barbed wire against your gums. Some children with autism struggle with the sensory experience of grooming activities, such as combing their hair, flossing their teeth, doing toilet training, or taking a bath. These crucial routines are hindered because of sensory discomfort, which doesn’t help anybody. At Monarch House, we can help you find alternative methods or tools that are more sensory-friendly that can facilitate better hygiene practices.

4. Preference For Predictable Environments

Children with autism usually aren’t big on surprises when it comes to their daily routines. Knowing what is going to come, and when it is going to happen, is soothing, and it gives them a sense of control. Sudden changes in routine  in their environment or daily schedule may lead to distress. Establishing structured routines helps your child feel secure and mitigates sensory-related anxiety.

5. Challenges In Social Situations

If you’re going to be social, or meeting new friends, you want to be comfortable while you do it. Otherwise you’re too distracted to get into the zone. Same goes for your child with autism. Sensory sensitivities can affect their social interactions. For example, if your child is overwhelmed by bright overhead fluorescent lights and the loud sound of a door constantly opening and closing, they may retreat inwards or become outwardly agitated. It’s up to you, the caregivers, teachers, and our occupational and behavioural therapists at Monarch House to work to create a calm, controlled social environment. This can help facilitate better interactions and social skill development for children with autism.

6. 6. Communication Difficulties

There’s a domino effect that happens when your child initially shows some aversion to a sensation due to a sensory sensitivity. It affects how your child interacts with that experience, which in turn affects how they present themselves while in that situation. In this way, sensory preferences can impact how your child communicates. For instance, if your child is sensitive to touch, they might resist physical interactions like handshakes or hugs, which can affect social bonding as others may find them aloof. Understanding  these preferences can enhance communication skills for children with autism and help them forge a connection.

7. Impact On Learning and Focus

Desk seats can be too hard. Classmates chattering, too noisy. Overhead lights, too jarring. School can be a challenge for a child with autism when their sensory sensitivities are causing them to be distracted all the time. It has been well documented that sensory overload can interfere with your child’s ability to concentrate in a classroom setting. Monarch House’s psychotherapists, behavioural therapists, speech therapists, and occupational therapists can work closely with you and your child’s educators to implement sensory-friendly strategies and suggest alternate teaching methods for children with autism. Some examples are allowing breaks for your child or providing noise-canceling headphones.

8. Emotional Regulation Challenges

We all have a breaking point. With younger children, when they snap, they have a temper tantrum and throw themselves on the floor. With children with autism, they might shout out, or shut down altogether. Either way, they can exhibit intense emotional reactions to stimuli. Sensory sensitivities can cause these heightened emotional responses in children with autism.  What might seem like a minor issue to us could easily trigger a significant emotional outburst in your child if they are sensitive to that particular thing. One specialization we have at Monarch House is teaching emotional regulation for children with autism. Our occupational and behavioural therapists identify the issue and look into coping strategies. Recognizing triggers can help your child manage their emotions more effectively.

9. Sleep Disturbances

We need eight hours of sleep as adults. Children need more, between ten and twelve. However, it’s very common for many children with autism to experience difficulty sleeping due to sensory sensitivities. Sleep difficulties in children with autism can stem from too much noise, too much light, or even the coarse texture of the bedding. All of these elements can disrupt their sleep. You can promote better rest by designating a calming bedtime routine and creating a sensory-friendly sleeping environment 

10. Creative Expression

Being acutely sensitive isn’t always a negative experience. On a positive note, children with sensory preferences may express themselves creatively in unique ways. They might be drawn to art, music, or movement that resonates with their sensory experiences. Encouraging these forms of expression can help them connect with others and foster self-esteem.

For some, fingernails on a chalkboard is an unbearable experience. For others, it’s unpleasant, but endurable. Some people don’t mind at all. Everyone is different when it comes to our tolerance for sensory discomfort. For children with autism, every loud sound, to them, can be as grating as those fingernails are, to us. For that reason, it’s important to be understanding and empathetic towards neurodivergent children when it comes to sensory sensitivities. Understanding how sensory sensitivities and preferences affect your child with autism is critical for you, other parents, educators, Monarch House staff, and other caregivers. By creating supportive environments at places like Monarch House, and adopting strategies customized to their needs, we can work together to enhance their daily experiences and overall quality of life. Through empathy and awareness, we can help these children with autism Mississauga thrive in a sensory world.