INSIDE PERSPECTIVES of AS & Neurodiversity

 

 

 

SENSORY PROCESSING

 

 

    Many on the autistic & neuro diversity spectrum have sensory differences - either in perception or processing, or a combination of both. These differences are probably the cause of many of the seemingly odd reactions and preferences common to people with ASD, ADHD etc. 

 

 

SID/SPD

 

   The basic assumption behind SID (‘Sensory Integration Dysfunction’) or SPD (‘Sensory Processing Disorder’) appears to be that there is an ideal level of sensibility/sensory receptiveness which ought to be the same for everyone, regardless of age, temperament etc. The hypothesis is that the incoming information from the senses are received correctly but processed abnormally, leading to either of the following:

 

·  Hyper-sensitivity (‘sensory over-responsiveness’).

·  Hypo-sensitivity (‘sensory under-responsiveness’).

·  Sensory-seeking.

·  Sensory discrimination difficulties.

·  Balance & motor problems.

 

   In some cases of extreme hyper- or hypo-sensitivity, I believe this hypothesis has merit, especially when it comes to the more somatic senses like touch, sense of movement (vestibular system) and position (proprioception) - which also seem to be the most easily treated with Sensory Integration Techniques.

 

   However, there are also natural, genetic variations in sensory sensibility that are perfectly normal for that particular body type or temperament. To generalise a little:

 

·  An extrovert, sensory, tactile, intense, high-energetic ‘Hunter’ type individual may have an innate and perfectly valid need to get hands-on sensory experiences of the world in order to be adequatly stimulated and informed.

 

·  An introvert, intuitive, creative, Highly Sensitive Person is often born with a more delicate nervous system and more well-developed or finely tuned senses all around. A case of enhanced sensory perception rather than ‘abnormal sensory processing’. Such a person usually only needs a calm environment and to be treated with care to feel & function just fine.

 

   “Why is it not okay for a person to be delicate?  Why do we prize delicate objects, but not delicate people?  Why do we recognize that a delicate silk shirt must not be treated the same as a pair of jeans but do not recognize that a delicate child has special care instructions?

 

   “If we accidently put our delicates through the regular wash and they fall apart we admit it is our fault the clothing is damaged.  When we give delicate people the same treatment as others and they fall apart we criticize the delicate person for not being tough enough.”

- Ilah, adult probable Aspie from USA

 

 

SENSORY SENSITIVITY / HSP

 

   Exceptional sensitivity to sounds, vibrations, smells, tastes, textures, touch, temperature, wind, air pressure & humidity, certain colours, bright light, fluorescent light, flicker, clutter, movement, crowds, stress or pain, is very common among autistic & neuro diversity spectrum people, but you can be a Highly Sensitive Person and have extra well-developed senses without being autistic. According to Elaine Aron, this is a perfectly normal trait that is inherited in 15 to 20% of the population.

 

   Naturally, being able to consciously perceive more than most people can be both painful, enjoyable or useful, depending on the situation: 

 

   “I have always, in the past, enjoyed good smells, but I'm finding that my sense of smell is a growing problem as I age. I'm getting more and more sensitive with it, to the point that I almost can't take any smells at all. I can detect smells that no one else can... and believe me, it isn't fun!! Even the smells of my own husband and children are often unbearable to me.”

- Cathy, adult Aspie from USA

 

   “I am very sensitive to quick temperature changes. For me it is horrible to first have a shower in lipid water and then dry oneself in room temperature, I freeze to death before I get my clothes on. My facial skin doesn’t seem to have the same protection against cold that others have. When I go out in freeze temperatures I feel like I’d like a thick robber’s hood with just holes for the eyes. My skin is sensitive to heat too, I don’t feel well when it’s warm, over 20 degrees Celcius in the summer, and in the winter not under zero Celcius. Autumn and spring are my seasons, in other words.”

- ‘Flinta’, female Aspie from Sweden

 

   “Certain textures cause my gag reflex to kick in. When I was little I would vomit when I touched these certain textures. Wool is one of those things. I still cannot touch these textures without dry heaving.”

- Bonnie D., adult Highly Sensitive Person from USA

 

   “I can even get bothered by some people who to me drink too loud. You can actually hear some people drink, they make so much noise when they swallow and they give me the shivers...”

- Alfonzo, adult Aspie from Belgium

 

   “I am extremely choosy about what I wear, and only wear things that are comfortable. Nothing can be too tight, or too loose, and I can't have any thick seems. I have to cut out all the tags out too. Sleeping isn't easy, as every wrinkle must be flattened, or I will wake up with bruises. I also need multiple heavy blankets to be comfortable.

 

   “Then there is the sense of smell. I am like a bloodhound... I smell everything, and way too strongly. I can find things you wouldn't believe, just by ‘sniffing’ it out. Unfortunately I am also very sensitive here, and live with headaches, nausea, and dizziness, caused by the scents I encounter. I too wish purfume would be outlawed. Especially since the people who wear it seem to think bathing in it is required.

 

   “Lastly there is light. It is not a good thing, yet neither is dark. I like dusk to be exact. I bit dark, but not quite yet. Bright lights just make my eyes close, involuntarily. I don't like the sun, I get heat stroke easily (though I don't burn at all) and the brightness makes me dizzy and lightheaded.”

- Tracy, adult HSP from USA

 

   “I am very prone to motion sickness. Air travel is a real horror for me because I almost always get airsick.”

- William, adult Aspie from USA

 

   “I was just thinking about sensory issues and how sometimes they can be uncomfortable, certain noises, smells that just smell too much and the dislike of certain tactile stimulus; but then I thought about some of the positive advantages too.

   “For example, I have a heightened sense of hearing and can hear low level noises that nobody else seems to hear. On many occasions I have been able to detect and find problematic areas before others have been aware of them. For instance, electrical and mechanical products, sounding slightly different from how they usually sound, which can give me advance warning that they are about to break down, or experience difficulties. I can hear things that have been left on from the low level hum and seek them out and switch them off, to save battery power (if they are battery operated).

   “Also a heightened sense of smell, which my son has too. We both detected a gas leak that no-one else seemed to smell. I thought I was going nuts when no-one else could smell it, but it was fortunate that my son and I did, as there did turn out to be a leak.”

- Julie, adult Aspie from England