Solutions for sensory-type issues and reactions to input such as light, sound, touch, smell, sight, and balance. Includes guidance for sensory issues with clothing and bathing as well as ideas for sensory-friendly rooms and sensory-friendly classrooms.
A look at how parents can find the right dentist for their child with sensory sensitivity. Finding a dentist for children can be a struggle, but it poses additional concerns for parents of children on the autistic spectrum. Nationwide, more than 52 million people in the U.S. have special needs. Unfortunately, less than 10% of
in Sensory Solutions by Jennifer Palumbo, BA
A look at how food texture sensitivity occurs in children with autism.
in Sensory Solutions by Rachel Andersen
When kids on the spectrum struggle with listening, especially the processing and comprehension of sound, parents may wonder if it’s a characteristic of autism or an issue with auditory processing. Auditory processing disorder is a complicated condition courting controversy like most other sensory processing disorders. We tend to think of hearing in a simplistic way
in Sensory Solutions by Yolande Loftus, BA, LLB
Finding the perfect chewy for autism can benefit those children with a need to chew. However, there are many different chew toys available on the market that range from chewy tubes to chewable jewelry that are textured and help with different tactile needs. When searching for the perfect chewy, it’s hard to know where to
in Sensory Solutions by Donnesa McPherson, AAS
Three-year-old Jack was playing, happily lining up all his cars in a row, when his baby sister Josephine woke up from her nap, and started crying loudly. Suddenly, Jack felt extremely overwhelmed, panic took over, and anger towards his sister made him feel out of control. He needed to get away, but there was nowhere
in Sensory Solutions by Rachel Andersen
The joys of parenthood include the sheer delight that comes with finding something that helps our children through a particular struggle. For many children with autism, the challenges can be fierce, and often include sensory difficulties. Choosing autism noise canceling headphones can result in relief for our children, and also excitement of finding something that
in Sensory Solutions by Rachel Andersen
Tips and ideas for designing a comfortable home for children with sensory processing challenges. Autistic children may experience hypo- or hypersensitivities which profoundly impact their sensory perception. As a result, they may interact with their physical environment in distinctly different ways than neurotypical children. It’s also fair to say that no two autistic kids are
in Sensory Solutions by Martha Oschwald
It was March 2020 and the world had just shut down. My five-year-old had just been admitted into the gifted program at school but had not started in his new classes yet. Suddenly, I was supposed to homeschool a not-yet-diagnosed child on the autism spectrum who was smarter than me already. My ever-moving, always talking,
in Sensory Solutions by Rachel Andersen
To understand sensory cognition in children with autism, we first need a general understanding of the eight different sensory systems. We are all born with these systems, which include vision, smell, hearing, touch, taste, vestibular, proprioception, and interoception. How children interact and learn from the world around them is typically done through these senses. The
in Sensory Solutions by Donnesa McPherson, AAS
Silk, cotton, velvet and cashmere; does the thought of these fabrics against your skin evoke a strong tactile sensation? For autistic children, the feel of fabric is a powerful force with the potential to bring about a meltdown or deeply soothing comfort. A memory that lingers long after my grandmother’s death is the way patients
in Sensory Solutions by Yolande Loftus, BA, LLB
Our senses help in so many ways: balance, coordination, and hearing, to name a few. Here are a few activities that could help your autistic child have a balanced sensory experience. Our ability to perceive our environment is dependent on our brain’s ability to integrate sensory input that works together to help us receive, incorporate,
in Sensory Solutions by Lela Jackson, AA
Obtaining reimbursement for the treatment of sensory processing disorder may be tricky when a billable code to specify the diagnosis is a requirement. Certain classification systems may not even recognize the disorder—is the ICD-10-CM the code that legitimizes sensory processing disorder? Sensory processing disorder (SPD) has an almost ghost-like presence in the medical world. Some
in Sensory Solutions by Yolande Loftus, BA, LLB
Children with sensory processing disorder (SPD) and/or autism can experience either an overload of sensory input, or be sensory seeking. Both of these can cause overwhelm and lead to feelings of anxiety or stress, which is why it’s important to involve sensory breaks in these children’s schedules. Since autism is a spectrum, we find that
in Sensory Solutions by Andréas RB Deolinda, BA, BSc
We tend to have a narrow view of our senses. Very early in our education we are taught about the five senses (there are more!) and how these help us take in the world around us. For many of us, simplistic environmental perception remains how we think about our sensory system. The more we learn
in Sensory Solutions by Yolande Loftus, BA, LLB
Have you ever washed your face and found the act of your hands touching your skin causes an involuntary painful sensation? This experience is known as tactile hyperesthesia. Hyperesthesia is defined by heightened sensory experience in any of the five senses causing pain stimulation, but what’s the connection between hyperesthesia and autism? The sensory experience
in Sensory Solutions by Andréas RB Deolinda, BA, BSc
Impaired somatosensory processing is often found in neurodevelopmental conditions. Researchers are paying closer attention to the meaning of deficits in this sensory system and its possible impact on autistic individuals. We’re all a little touchy about, well, touch at the moment. The pandemic’s social distancing made human touch a rare commodity. It left many craving
in Sensory Solutions by Yolande Loftus, BA, LLB
Is the world too bright, too loud, too smelly…too everything for a brain in overdrive? Most parents have witnessed a tantrum or two. A meltdown, or an autistic brain trying to control sensory overload with a challenged filtering system, cannot be equated to a tantrum. A tantrum is usually about getting something: attention, candy or
in Sensory Solutions by Yolande Loftus, BA, LLB
When searching for information about your autistic child’s sensory challenges you may find many articles about hypersensitivity. But what about hyposensitivity, and the accompanying sensory seeking behavior of a child who finds the world an underwhelming place? As research discovers more about the autistic brain, we can’t help but marvel at some of the skills
in Sensory Solutions by Yolande Loftus, BA, LLB
A look at how addressing your child’s sensory needs could help him/her get a better night’s sleep. In the special needs community, I know sleep is a very important topic. Many parents are aware their kids are desperate for more sleep, but they just can’t seem to get these precious hours. For children with autism,
in Sensory Solutions by Melissa Doman, BA, CSSC
Imagine you walk into a dodgy diner…the sulphurous smell of onions hits you as you open the door, you start sweating because there is no air conditioning, and the more you sweat the worse the chaffing of your too-tight collar gets. You jump, startled as deafening music starts up suddenly, it feels like the drum
in Sensory Solutions by Yolande Loftus, BA, LLB
We all process the world using our senses. Whether we’re sitting, walking, talking, or eating, more than one of our senses is involved so that each action is coordinated and understood accordingly. So what happens if a child’s senses aren’t cross-functioning smoothly? Well, that’s when it might be worth considering sensory integration therapy (SIT). Some children
in Sensory Solutions by Andréas RB Deolinda, BA, BSc
When researcher Baron Cohen and his colleagues professed that synesthesia is more common (three times greater) in autism, many new questions surfaced for the curious parent. Another team of researchers used their study results to conclude that autistic individuals did not have a dysfunctional mirror neuron system. In this case, participants with autism could successfully
in Sensory Solutions by Safia Fatima Mohiuddin
Sensory processing disorder (SPD) is often confused with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) due to the similarities and connections that exist. While the two have many similarities, SPD is often a comorbid symptom of ASD, but not all children with sensory processing disorder have autism. What is autism? Autism is a developmental disorder which, according to
in Sensory Solutions by Sharon Longo, BA
As with much of the wealth of knowledge we have about children with autism, their sensitivity to sound has not been fully explained. Yet we do know that it is one of the most common symptoms. Sensory sensitivity is common in itself but an overreaction to sound in particular is often the most obvious and
in Sensory Solutions by Kelly Beins, BHSc, OTR/L
A sensory gym is a room that is completely dedicated to sensory play. Sensory gyms normally include equipment that is designed to provide vestibular and proprioceptive input. Some of the elements include therapy balls, trampolines, swings, and more. When you give your autistic child access to a sensory gym, you will find that they gain
in Sensory Solutions by Kelly Beins, BHSc, OTR/L
There has probably been at least a thousand people who have wondered what goes through the mind of someone with autism while he/she is in high school. The only thing most teen students on the spectrum could agree on is that it overflows into way too much junk in our heads. I don’t mean “junk” as in homework, I
in Sensory Solutions by Clara Ham
What is a sensory system? Many people think the sensory system is made up of five senses; however, the sensory system is comprised of eight senses. Below is a list of the eight senses that contribute to SPD: 1. Visual (sight) is a child’s ability to see things such as colors, shapes, depth, lighting, and
in Sensory Solutions by Annette Nuñez, PhD
I have a clothing issue with my little one. Since Christmas, she has been wearing Peppa Pig shirts and dolphin shorts only. Her school requires her to wear a uniform, and I can’t get her to wear it. Has anyone experienced this with their child? Her therapist said it’s not sensory as the shirts she
in Sensory Solutions by Kelly Beins, BHSc, OTR/L
As we all learned in elementary school, there are five basic senses that we use to process the world around us; touch, hearing, vision, smell, and taste. Our sense organs (e.g., eyes, nose, etc.) receive information from the environment and relay that information to the brain for interpretation. Throughout the day, each of us processes
in Sensory Solutions by Nicole M. Magaldi, PhD
Children on the autism spectrum often require support to process sensory input. Some children display strong reactions to stimuli, while others tend to show little response to input. This may vary from day to day or even hour to hour. Children who have a strong reaction to sensory stimuli may avoid the bathroom because of
in Sensory Solutions by Toni Cook, EdD
Teachers often take a great deal of pride in the way they decorate their classrooms. They spend their free time developing decoration ideas and collecting items to make their sensory rooms look and feel welcoming to children. But, what happens to children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) when they enter brightly colored classrooms with numerous
in Sensory Solutions by Matthew Fisher, MD
What is a sensory room? A sensory room or sensory integration room is designed to provide calm, focus, and comfort to people with sensory processing problems, which often includes people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, known as DSM-5, mentions the atypical response to specific
in Sensory Solutions by Kim Barloso, AB
If you are caring for a child with autism, you are probably aware of sensory issues when it comes to clothing. Kids on the spectrum can be overly sensitive to clothing tags, seams, and textures that are not comfortable for them. Fortunately, some clothing companies are now making autism apparel that is affordable and available
in Sensory Solutions by Kim Barloso, AB
Experiencing nature improves physical, sensory, social, and emotional health and wellbeing and a garden is an ideal space to engage with nature. While research has and continues to demonstrate these benefits, little has looked at the impact on individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In time, we hope to fill the void and conduct some
in Sensory Solutions by Amy Wagenfeld, PhD, OTR/L, SCEM, FAOTA
What is a weighted vest? A weighted vest is a garment worn over clothing with extra weight added within the vest. This is done either by using heavy fabric or filling the vest’s pockets with weighted objects such as steel bars or sandbags. It is designed to add between five to ten percent of a
in Sensory Solutions by Kim Barloso, AB
Sensory play is important for the development of all children—and that’s even truer for children on the autism spectrum who might have sensory integration issues. Whether it’s climbing a tree, squishing Play-Doh through their fingers, blowing bubbles, or burying their feet in the sand, sensory play stimulates the senses and helps children discover and understand
in Sensory Solutions by Jackie Nunes
Imagination is so much important. If you were to imagine dragons, dinosaurs, and without imagination, learning would be colorless and finite. For many parents, the main goal is to lead a child towards independent living and academics skills; after all, learning is the first step into the world. Being a special needs parent is demanding,
in Sensory Solutions by Fizza Shaikh, LBA
Hello, my fellow sensory seeking moms and dads! Let me start by introducing myself. I am the mother of two young autistic children who require TONS of sensory input to stay regulated throughout the day. Over the years, I have experimented with what works well for them and what brings on the no-good -very-bad meltdowns!
in Sensory Solutions by Jamie Schwed
How can I make bath time more fun? My child hates taking a bath and it’s a nightly battle in our home. — Raja Hi Raja, Why don’t kids appreciate a warm bath the way we do!? It is so tough when daily tasks are a fight and I can empathize with the dread you
in Sensory Solutions by Angelina M., MS, BCBA, LMFT
My son, 17, is rubbing his elbows rather harshly against the arms of chairs or the console in the car. Sometimes it is his knees that are “getting the treatment” and you don’t dare stop him or he will lose it and go into crisis. I am wondering how to help him with this sensorial
in Sensory Solutions by Sarah Kupferschmidt, MA, BCBA
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