Sensory

Although it’s not a part of the typical diagnosing criteria, many people with Autism have difficulty processing sensory information.  This includes information received through touch, taste, sound, sight, and smell. 

Touch:  There is most likely a tag in the back of your shirt, and until I mentioned it, you most likely didn’t notice it.  However, to someone with an ASD, that tag can be excruciatingly painful, highly distracting, and prevent the person from focusing on anything else.  In fact, many people with Autism remove these tags or purchase “tagless” clothing.    Some people with ASD prefer deep pressure over light touch, and can be startled or “overstimulated” by unexpected touch, especially on the back of the head, neck, or shoulders.  Some have a higher or lower pain threshold than their neurotypical counterparts.  This means that something that would typically cause a person great pain, such as a broken arm, may cause the person with ASD little to no pain.   If you plan to hug a person with Autism, it’s best to ask them if it’s okay first.  

Sound: Individuals with ASD may have difficulty filtering information in noisy environment.  For some, just one other light sound, such as a paper rustling across the room, can make it hard to understand what the person directly next to them is saying.   The buzzing of a light fixture or the hum of an air conditioner may be enough to totally overstimulate the person with Autism. Many on the spectrum find even the quietest noise to be too loud, and when a sound is perceives as extremely loud or unexpected, the person may cover their ears or react in some other unusual manner. 

Taste: Slimy textures can be very difficult for the person with ASD to deal with.  Many people with ASD tend to be very picky eaters.  Some even eat the same thing for every meal in order to avoid certain tastes and textures.  Their gag reflex is abnormally sensitive than most people’s.   The person may insist that their food not touch, such as their mashed potatoes and peas, whereas others don’t mind or actually enjoy combining these two foods.

Smell:  Smells can be overwhelming to the person with Autism.   Even scents that are pleasant to others can overtake the senses of someone with ASD.  Perfumes and air fresheners are particular offenders, as well as the smells of certain foods the person may have an aversion to.

Sight: The flickering of a light can make the person with Autism nauseous, distracted, and dizzy.   Stimulating lights and colors can be attractive to the person on the spectrum.