SENSORY
Videos
Videos about the struggles with sensory input for Autistic people and tips that worked for individuals.
Autism spectrum disorder - understanding the sensory crisis by Dr. Tracy Marks
A phycologist answering a question from a viewer about anti-depressants and sensory crises. A sensory crisis is another name for issues related to sensory processing. Covers the history of Autism and what it is considered. Also includes a brief description of the levels and medications that have been used to treat ASD symptoms. She goes and lists the usual medications that are used with people who have autism. She circles back to the question and talks about how the sensory crisis or processing is affected. Also gives examples on how to calm down from a sensory overload. Includes information about alexithymia - difficulty recognising and expressing emotion - and talks about emotion cards which can help improve emotional knowledge.
3 Tips to navigate sensory overload by The Aspie World
A autistic adult shares some things that help him through having too much sensory input. He describes what sensory overload for autistic people is. His first tip is to have noise canceling headphones to block out too much noise. His second tip is to choose comfort over trying to fit in. For example, wearing sweats instead of jeans to the airport or school. His last tip is to have sunglasses because it helps dim things and you can look at someone without making direct eye contact.
Sensory overload: (what you need to know) by The Aspie World
An autistic man describes how to overcome sensory overload and how to help others through sensory overload. He answers three questions at the beginning and gives answers that are relevant and informative. He goes over sensory processing disorder and it links to autism. He includes a description on what sensory overload is. He adds real world examples in his answers and descriptions. He includes that every autistic person has different sensory preferences so knowing yourself of them is an important part for keeping away sensory overload. He includes techniques that he uses to help create a calmer environment and how they work for him.
Sensory overload and autism explained by Priory
A psychiatrist explains what sensory overload is and some tips to get through the overload. She gives an in depth description and real life scenario on sensory overload. She includes how sensory overload can lead to anxiety. She includes tips on how to calm oneself down while having too much sensory input. She also gives tips on how to prepare yourself for chaotic environments. She talks about the importances of a routine to minimize the chances of sensory overload. She also discusses how one can distract themselves to get through certain circumstances. In her video she discusses how one can do certain things to help them strive in workplace environments. The last part of her video covers professional help.
Autism in the classroom sensory environment by Autism live
Gives a quick explanation on why autistic children need to experience different types of sensory input. Gives examples of how autistic children can be helped through the day. Give cheap, do it yourself, ways to create stimulating experiences for the child.
Why sensory stimulation is great for children on the autistic spectrum by Mark Hutton M.A.
Describes what teachers and parents need to be looking out for in their environment that can cause a meltdown. Talks about how parents can talk to the teacher and advocate for their child and so they can get on the same page. Includes specific things that the child may need in their environment like visual schedules and rules. Talks about how the environment affects the child.
Academic Papers
Published papers regarding stimulation differences, sensory overloads, and stimming.
Under-stimulation resembles overstimulation: effects on school children’s attentional performance, affect, and environmental preference
by Henk Staats, Silvia Collado, Miguel A. Sorrel
Study on how simple pictures of the environment (urban and natural) can help restore attentional and emotional capabilities. They gathered classrooms of students ages 8-11 and had them rate presentations b ased on their beauty. The students were watched for their reactions if they looked happy/calm or bored/agitated. The result of the study was that including visual interruptions of something calming can decrease overstimulation.
Evaluative Study on Consequences of Cognitive and Sensory Overload : A Socio - Psychological Perspective
by Prof Dr.C.Karthikeyan
This paper covers a variety of topics that are related to sensory overload and meltdowns. It shows diagrams on certain parts of sensory processing and what effects certain conditions show. Includes brief descriptions and risk factors for Hyperactivity-impulsivity, chronic fatigue symptom, autism, synesthesia, dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, sensory processing disorders, dyspraxia, and stress. They also offer an in depth look into ADHD, chronic fatigue syndrome, and Post-traumatic stress disorder. Gives an overlook into cognitive load theory and the effects of heavy cognitive load effects. Describes symptoms of sensory overload and how that can lead to sensory meltdowns. Describes different therapies for related disorders. Brief description of how to calm a child going through sensory overload.
The meaning of Autistic Movements
by Stephen Petty and Amy Ellis
This paper discusses the results of a study on blogs written by individuals who have autism and over the age of 18, and their thoughts and opinions on stimming. They cover four different areas that stimming can help. The first is, identity and stigmatized movement which revealed that there was a negative stigma around stimming and that can cause autistic individuals to feel like they were not being themselves. The second one was, ownership of demands which includes how moving the body in a scheduled workout leads to reduced anxiety, gaining control, and allowing for individuals to do the same actions over and over again. The stimming movements allowed for the authors to gain focus. The third area was body regulation in which movement was found to help regulate sensory processing. Therefore it can be used to release or gain energy. The last area was emotional regulation. This area showed how physical activity helps some express their joy or increase the emotion they are feeling and can be used to help regulate emotions when in certain situations or environments.
Sensory experiences of children with autism spectrum disorder: In their own words
by Anne V Kirby, Virginia A Dickie, and Grace T Baranek
This is a paper about interviews that happened with autistic children in their natural environments ages four through twelve. The responses to the interview were not specific and the kids had very face value answers as if it was natural. The children noted that over time certain situations that were overwhelming once, became easier after exposure or needed to adapt. They often tell stories by comparing different experiences or nosies. The children often use their reactions to describe something. They also expressed that when they felt a negative experience they had a physical response like pain during a loud noise. Almost all of the children in the interview had fear or anxiety surrounding negative experiences, leading them to be limited in their day to day activities.
“It feels like holding back something you need to say”: Autistic and Non-Autistic Adults accounts of sensory experiences and stimming
Rebecca A. Charlton, Timothy Entecott, Evelina Belova, Gabrielle Nwaordu
Begins with a introduction teams that will be used and what the main topic of the paper is:an analysis of why people stim and how stims are caused by the environment. Describes studies that connect stimming to non-autistic and autistic adults and how stimming is connected to people. Includes a segment on social perceptions on stimming. They then get to their study which is to investigate how often people with autism, suspected autism, and non-autistic people stimmed and showed sensory sensitivity. In the results it showed that all who had sensory overload faced physical, cognitive, and emotional effects. They also found that stims were often used to express emotion and support self-regulation. Included in their study they talked about how they suppressed their wanted stims because of societal pressure, substituted stims, and the negative emotions they were faced with when suppressing certain stims.
Creating a sensory friendly classroom
by Kaitlynn Stearns
A doctoral capstone project for occupational therapy that is focused on creating sensory inclusive classrooms and the importance of them. In the introduction they cover why it is important to have a sensory friendly classroom. In chapter two they talk about the rights and acts that support the disabled in school. They include a part about the role of occupational therapists in schools. Talks about the sensory differences of people and the different types of sensory habits. Talks about the impact of a student's environment to their learning, like distractions. Includes information on importance of schedules, classroom culture, and social context in the classroom. Gives descriptions of different ways to provide for the sensory needs of children. At the end they describe their methodology and the theory they used. There is a chart that outlines some of the things in classrooms that could be improved. In the conclusion they circle back to the importance of meeting children's sensory needs in classrooms