Sensory Sensitivity
April 26, 2008 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Health
Mid-70s weather last week and Charlie’s still wearing his blue fleece jacket with the hood pulled far over his head, or his fleece vest with the zipper all the way zipped, or his fleece gloves (which, having survived several turns in the washing machine, are decidedly un-fleecy). He’s not been wanting to shed his winter gear at the end of April because, for the past several months, it’s become his routine to wear all those items whenever he goes out.
There’s another reason besides the strong force of habit for why Charlie has been keeping his fleece “armor” on. Charlie—-like seemingly every person on the spectrum I’ve known—seems to take in sensory data (sounds, sights, smells, textures, tastes, even the quality of the air) in ways that can be more intense than what might be considered usual. His response to these—-putting his hands over his ears, sniffing food, wearing fleece in late April—-are meant to comfort himself by lessening the extremes of what he experiences.
Researchers at Temple University have found that autistic children who have undergone sensory integration therapy have fewer “autistic mannerisms”—defined as “repetitive hand movements or actions, making noises, jumping or having highly restricted interests”—than children who received “more standard treatments” (go to Physics.org for more details). Sensory integration therapy often involves “sensory-based activities” which enable children to “better regulate their behavioral responses to sensations and situations that they find disturbing or painful.”
Deep pressure—-a back rub, smooshing his face into the couch cushions—seems to comfort and relax Charlie, and comfort and relaxing are what such activities have mostly provided for him. Other include rolling on his stomach on a therapy ball and stomping (in leaves, in dirt, in sand); I’m inclined to think that swimming and playing piano and cello also appeal to Charlie because they provide all-out sensory experiences. Lessening his “autistic mannerisms” has not been the main goal of using such sensory techniques. Maybe it’s a sort of by-product but helping Charlie to manage his anxiety and feel more at ease with himself, and to be able to focus, are daily endeavors for us—sensory accommodations that make, well, sense to me, more and more.
The researchers’ findings were presented at the American Occupational Therapy Association’s 2008 conference.
Describing the Sensory Abnormalities of Children and Adults with Autism
Journal Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
Issue Volume 37, Number 5 / May, 2007
Pages 894-910
————————————
Abstract Patterns of sensory abnormalities in children and adults with autism were examined using the Diagnostic Interview for Social and Communication Disorders (DISCO). This interview elicits detailed information about responsiveness to a wide range of sensory stimuli. Study 1 showed that over 90% of children with autism had sensory abnormalities and had sensory symptoms in multiple sensory domains. Group differences between children with autism and clinical comparison children were found in the total number of symptoms and in specific domains of smell/taste and vision. Study 2 confirmed that sensory abnormalities are pervasive and multimodal and persistent across age and ability in children and adults with autism. Age and IQ level affects some sensory symptoms however. Clinical and research implications are discussed.
There is agreement on the presence of hyper/hypo sensitivity in autistics, along with adverse reactions to simultaneous stimuli. However treatments to address these issues have decidedly mixed results
It’s also possible that Charlie doesn’t feel hot or doesn’t realize that he is uncomfortable because he is hot.
There is a young autistic person in my family who has much less sensitivity to heat than most people. He’ll wear a coat on a warm day and say that he is not hot at all.
My daughter hates clothes, especially pants. So, at home, it’s often her in no pants (we have found some super-soft skirts, that she is usually okay with wearing!). I figure, we’ll get there one day, when she feels okay with pants. She covers her ears a lot too, usually doesn’t like windy or sunny days, and other sensory assaults.
Ditto on why we’ve done a lot of sensory “integration.” Our daughter loves it (giggles like you never heard, while she is bouncing on a ball or swinging!!), and it helps her (her mood, motor skills, eating even). It’s never been to make her stop doing something. The flapping, jumping, spinning–it’s just never really bothered us. She loves movement and deep pressure, it’s all been us learning how best to approach her and help her (she dislikes being kissed with puckered lips, but pressing your lips to her head–that’s okay, firm hugs feel really good, soft pats hurt, etc.). She has a lot of sensory issues, and we just accommodate as much we can, go with HER flow.
My daughter on somedays is very ticklish, on others not at all. Last night after she had eaten a bowl of frozen blueberries, I started teasing her about her bluuuuueberry lips. She burst into giggles, a few tickles made her squeal with delight.
If I just had tried tickling her it would have had no effect
M has had some sensory therapy before. We have also read lots of books on it and bought lots of sensory tools. Our favorites are the weighted blanket, chewy tubes, fidget pencils, steam roller and a weighted lap pillow. There are so many great things out there. Our favorite site to get them from is Southpaw Enterprises.
Unlike Charlie M hates winter clothes and we have great difficutly getting her to wear a winter coat. Once it is warmer she is ready to shed the winter coat. She does like wearing hats and shades though.
@Marla, I’ve written before about how helpful polarfleece has been—
http://www.autismvox.com/ode-to-polarfleece/
We have so many fleece blankets and I’ve just concluded the best winter coat for Charlie is fleece, fleece, fleece. He won’t keep on a hat in the summer, unlike Maizie!
@abfh, I’ve wondered that Charlie might not be noticing the changes in the temperature—-the weather cooled down again today and he needed to wear his fleece vest and coat.
@mayfly, Charlie used to love to eat frozen vegetables and French fries—-he knows how to heat them up on his own in the microwave now but occasionally he still likes them frozen. Something about the texture and the iciness.
My son Matthew was wearing his fav pants today and then lying on the couch with a fleece blanket and the temp was at 95 today in LA. I was able to get him in pj shorts and t shirt to sleep but he was irritated without socks on his feet and kept showing me his feet, so I showed him mine. When he got inside the sheets he loved moving his feet around. Tomorrow it is set for 98 and I will start him out in shorts and see how long it takes to go back to his gray adidas pants.
Oh, I forgot to mention that whenever Matt wears a jacket it has to be snapped or zipped, he cannot just wear it without it being up all the way.
I am the opposite and always warm and have fans on year round due to my eczema and asthma. My HFA son is always cold, but did wear shorts today and finally took off socks around dinnertime.
I’m the opposite of Charlie too and prefer to be on the cool side to “all zipped up”!
My son Dan has Aspergers’ Syndrome. He really hates the heat (It is only around 20 degrees) and has told me that ’summer is his least favourite season’. It really makes him anxious to be uncomfortably hot. Is this possibly an ASD trait? It used to be that it was impossible to get him to take off his coat regardless of the temperature.
@Jenny Howell,
My son is ok in the summer heat but he does like summer a lot because he loves the beach and swimming. He generally seems indifferent to hot or cold temperatures—it’s the humidity that bothers him the most. Still working on him leaving his winter coat home and wearing something lighter!
Ah yes – get Dan onto a beach and he’s happy regardless of the temperature. He discovered snorkelling last year in Greece (temp around 40 deg. C!) and it saved us all! Actually – I’ve got him in sandals and 3/4 trousers now and he’s a lot happier, so I may have over reacted. Here’s hoping – I love the summer.
…..my stepson, age 10, is said to have autism but his only symptom that I can tell is that he can cry easily…..but he has learned to control that pretty well in the past few months. He is very smart and does so well in school that he doesn’t even study and gets almost perfect grades. He acts, talks, etc. like any other 10 year old I have seen. Is it really possible he has autism?
@Shannon Bates,
Who has said that he has autism—-parents, a teacher, a pscyhologist or other consultant? Does he cry from frustration or because he can’t figure out what to say, or some other reason? Does he have other difficulties socially? Very best—-
Kristina Chew, PhD…..he was taken to a doctor who said he has it, but it just seems strange to me. Cries when he doesn’t get his way or tired but I think that is probably normal for his age. His mother says he has problems socially at school but I think that is because of his weight. When he is with us he will talk nonstop to anyone that will listen and plays with kids his own age fine. I am afraid he is being told he has difficulties, which makes him think he can’t do things. The fact a doctor said he had autism has me baffled. He has been tested at school and they say he is fine.
@Shannon Bates,
Is it his pediatrician? Medical professional and educational professionals may come to different conclusions; they are seeing your stepson in different settings.
Does he overeat and hence has a weight problem? My own son (well, I guess many of us!) loves to eat and just does so for comfort and when he is stressed.
Is it possible that it’s felt that getting some sort of diagnosis might provide your stepson with services or therapies that might help him? Is he at the grade for his age level?
Sorry for all the questions and please don’t feel you have to answer them. Thank you for writing in here, too.