This is a guest post by Lawrence C. Harris
Imagine what it would feel like to wear a shirt made of poison ivy, and everything itches from the bottom of your neck all down your back, chest, stomach, shoulders, and forearms. Picture having a concert speaker directly next to your ear, blasting heavy metal as your skull vibrates. The feeling of people’s eyes burning into you as you’re at a family event unsure how to act “normal”. The feelings I describe are examples of sensory overload. These are day-to-day experiences in the life of many autistic individuals, especially for children.
Understandably, as a parent, you may be confused or frustrated when your child refuses to wear the new sweater you bought them or avoids family gatherings. In this blog, using my own experience living with autism and having two younger brothers on the spectrum, my goal is to help you:
A: Understand what sensory overload is
B: Identify it, even if your child is non-verbal or semi-verbal
C: Learn what you can do to support them, regardless of financial challenges
D: See what I personally do to manage sensory overload in my own life.
What Is Sensory Overload?
So what is sensory overload? In simple terms, it is when your mind and body experience a very high amount of stimulation to the point that it feels painful, or like a rush of intense emotions and feelings that words can’t fully describe. Everyone has experienced it before, such as when you first step into a pool and feel the temperature leave your body, or when you have a very bad itch or a migraine from listening to loud music. It can also feel like the fireworks of love, excitement, and a rush of “OMG I LOVE THIS” when watching your favorite movie. It just happens that for autistic individuals, this is a much more common occurrence, and without the skills to manage it, they have a much harder time functioning in day-to-day life.
I personally live in a major city, Philadelphia PA, so I will describe to you an average day. I hear loud, sudden car horns, the high-pitched screech of trains coming to a stop, people talking on the train, and the sounds of music and birds. The smell of trash, women’s flowery sweet perfumes, men’s sharp, woody colognes, body sweat, and people’s dogs walking past. That is a lot to take in all at once, so as a way of regulating themselves, children will often cover their ears, flap their hands, rock back and forth, or fidget. Sometimes, however, the overstimulation can be so intense that it causes your child to have significant challenges with going outside, socializing, or wearing certain fabrics because it’s just too much to handle.
How Do I Identify Sensory Overload?
“So Lawrence, how do I tell when my child is overstimulated if they’re non-verbal or simply have trouble expressing their feelings?” Observe their reactions to things or the behaviors they show in certain situations. To understand what may be overstimulating them at school, ask their teachers or staff: “Does my child consistently seem very annoyed, fidget, cover their ears, seem angry, or express strong emotions for seemingly no reason?” Then “does that usually happen when music is playing, other children are being loud, or when they must sit still for long periods of time?” The example of clothing textures is very easy to notice, your child may yell, hit themselves, or push you away when you try to get them to wear a wool or cotton shirt.
Personally, a few things I do when I begin to feel overstimulated include saying repetitive phrases, playing with my hair, and bouncing on my toes. Other examples to notice are how they behave at family events—look for patterns. It’s possible they are overstimulated by loud music, large groups of people, or being physically in a different place than they are used to. By noticing the patterns of what overstimulates them, whether by observing or asking your child directly, it is possible to create a more sensory-friendly environment and help them build the coping skills needed for school, social settings, and life outside the house.
Coping Strategies for Autism Overstimulation
In a world full of loud noises, buzzing overhead light bulbs, unfamiliar environments, social challenges, and strong smells, without the proper coping skills, daily life can become a sensory nightmare. A simple bus ride or the feeling of a plastic school chair is challenging enough by itself—now add multiple people talking at once, chalk scraping on a board, and the clicking of keyboards, and 30 minutes of algebra class can become physically painful. The impact on their grades is something that can be measured. At first, we may assume the issue is a lack of intelligence or work ethic, but in reality, it’s difficult to focus with so much going on at once.
Thinking long-term, imagine working a job like McDonald’s, surrounded by heat, noisy customers, sticky floors, and the smell of grease. With that in mind, it makes sense why, according to a 2022 report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 89% of people with disabilities, including autism, are unemployed compared to 3.6% of the general population.
“What can I do to help my child better handle overstimulation at home and school without having the money for specialized services?” As I’m sure you’re aware, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. However, there are many low-cost strategies you can try. After you’ve observed and gathered information from teachers, camp counselors, or other family members, you can begin finding solutions.
Autism and Sensitivity to Sounds
I get overwhelmed by loud noises, so I wear headphones when I am walking outside or riding the train. You can find many options under $50 on Amazon, whether specifically designed to be noise-canceling for people with autism or simply standard over-ear headphones. When they are out in public, such as on the school bus or grocery shopping with you, that can be helpful if they choose to wear them.
Sensory Issues With Clothing
For clothing, go to a thrift store or purchase multiple fabrics and see which ones they enjoy and which they refuse to wear. Now you know what to buy so that you do not waste money on clothing that is overstimulating to them. Cotton, polyester, and wool are all low-cost options that are easily available.
Thankfully, there exist things such as IEPs (Individualized Education Programs for students who have significant challenges learning the general education material) and 504 plans (accommodations for students who can learn within the standard educational environment). Schools must allow “reasonable accommodations,” such as noise-canceling headphones and fidget toys, assuming the child does not misuse them. I highly suggest learning about the options available in your area.
Managing Sensory Sensitivity in Autistic Kids
To close things out, here are some skills you can teach your child for managing sensory overload. Personally, I have always found it very helpful to write out my thoughts and emotions through journaling. Another strategy is to calmly remove yourself from overstimulating situations when possible or use a fidget toy of some sort. My little brother really enjoys rubbing a rag between his fingers.
Regardless of your child’s support needs, level of independence, or what overstimulates them, I wrote this blog with the intention of providing you with effective ways of understanding and supporting your child.
Although I primarily speak about helping teens and young adults improve their confidence, decision-making skills, and self-worth, lately I have been more open about my experience living with autism. If you’d like to learn more about what I do or contact me, you can do so using the links or email below:
https://www.instagram.com/lawrencec.empowers
[email protected]
Many thanks to Lawrence for this helpful piece!
