Everyday sounds, smells and sensations that many people hardly notice can be overwhelming to individuals with autism. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or therapist of a child, teen or adult with autism, understanding sensory overload is key to supporting them as best as you can. In this blog post, we’ll cover what sensory overload is, what it can look like, possible triggers, and some steps you can take to help your child or student avoid sensory overload. 

What is sensory overload?

Common in kids and adults with autism, sensory overload occurs when too much sensory input (such as sounds, smells, tastes and/or sensations) overwhelms the brain. The brain is unable to filter out less important sensory input, so it struggles to process all of the input at once. 

Sensory overload can trigger an intense emotional response, such as fear, anxiety, and/or anger. It can also cause a physical response, for example pain, nausea, headache or dizziness.

Sensory overload can be sudden or gradual. It can happen in different places in the home, classroom, or community, and can occur at different times. However, if you look more closely you will often find that there is a pattern to sensory triggers for the individual. For example, you might notice that a child or teen with autism often experiences sensory overload after a particular event or activity. My Easy Read Sensory Processing Guide contains practical advice to help you support the sensory integration needs of your child, teen or young adult with autism.

What does sensory overload look like in a child with autism?

The outward signs of sensory overload vary from person to person but can include:

• A flushed or pale face

• Sweating

• Fast breathing

• Fast pulse

• Freezing (catatonia)

• Shaking

• Crying or screaming

• Dizziness or fainting

• Loss of appetite

• Nausea

• Increased stimming, for example, pacing, rocking, or flapping 

What causes sensory overload in autism?

Sensory input from the environment = too much info for the brain to process = brain overwhelmed = input on the autonomic nervous system.

Because of how their brains are wired, autistic people process sensory input differently than other people. In a neurotypical person, the brain quickly gets used to unimportant sensory input, such as the feeling of clothes against your skin, or the smell of someone’s perfume. This is called habituation, and allows people to focus on taking in new information, while filtering out irrelevant background information. Children, teens and adults with autism often have reduced habituation.

Examples of sensory overload triggers 

Different people with autism will have different sensory overload triggers Here are some examples of common triggers which might affect your students or child:

Visual 

• Busy places - lots of people, traffic, things moving

• Busy walls - patterns, decor, posters, schedules, prompts

• Patterned clothing 

• Busy pages - lots to read, look at, borders, colors

• Bright lights - flickering fluorescent lights can be particularly problematic

• Bright screens - bright colors, quick movement

Sound

• Volume - loud voices, everyday sounds

• Pitch  - a baby crying, a young child’s voice, a yappy dog

• Overlapping sounds - several low level sounds all happening at once

• Sudden sounds - doors banging, items being dropped, phones ringing, alarms

• Animals - birds chirping, dogs barking

• Voices - familiar & unfamiliar people

• Music 

Smell

• Food smells

• Perfumes

• Unpleasant odors 

• Cleaning products 

Taste 

• Foods which are too strong, spicy, salty or sweet 

• Medications 

Touch

Difficulties with processing touch can make everyday hygiene challenging because of the tactical input caused by

• Washing themself 

• Hair brushing

• Hair and nail cutting

• Clothing textures 

• Hugs

• Bumps

• Touching foods

• Touching dirt or mud

What does sensory overload feel like for people with autism?

How sensory overload feels varies from person to person, and also varies over time. Often it can: 

• be very frightening

• have a physical impact, and cause the individual to feel unwell or exhausted afterwards

• have an emotional impact

It is common for older kids and adults with autism who are aware of their triggers to do their best to avoid the situations and activities which they know will trigger their sensory overload. Refusal to take part in an activity at school or at home, such as going to the gym hall, or a family visit, is often an autistic individual’s way to keep themself safe.

How can you tell if your child has sensory issues?

• They get distressed by ordinary daily activities e.g. washing and dressing

• They are a picky eater

• They have restrictive routines because they attempt to avoid their triggers

• They have a lot of anxiety

• They have big emotions and ‘overreactions’ to normal sensations

• They avoid play activities 

Parents and teachers need to be like detectives to work out which sensory inputs are causing overload. I have written an easy-to-use fill in Sensory Preferences Checklist for families who do not yet have access to a Sensory Trained OT.

How can I help my child with sensory overload?

• Stay calm, and keep your voice soft

• Reduce instructions and comments

• Try to see what’s going on from their point of view 

• Acknowledge their distress and/or anxiety

• Avoid saying “it’s ok” because to them it is not ok

• Don’t punish or threaten them 

• Don’t force them to take part in activities which cause overload 

• Adapt the environment where possible to reduce demands

• Remove triggers where possible

Sensory Overload Strategies to use at home 

There are some simple strategies which parents can implement to help reduce sensory overload in child with autism, such as:

• Creating a low-arousal, calming environment

• Providing a quiet space to go to

• Less clutter in rooms/plain decor

• Adapt plans and expectations 

• Figure out triggers

• Explain sensory overload to family, friends, therapists, and anyone else who will interact with your child

• Reduce demands

• Be understanding and have empathy

• Provide sensory equipment, toys, exercises and activities which help lesson overload

• Offer choices

• Think about sensory food issues - taste, texture, and smell 

• Implement a Sensory Diet

Sensory strategies teachers can use in the autism classroom

There are some simple strategies which teachers, paras and therapists can implement to help reduce sensory overload for students with autism, such as:

• Adapt the classroom environment

• Reduce clutter - store activities which are not being used in plain boxes and bins, or behind curtains

• Reduce visual information on walls - use only necessary posters and visual supports

• Offer ear defenders or noise cancellation headphones 

• Avoid or reduce perfumes

• Use soft furnishings to absorb sounds

• Remind everyone on the classroom to lower their voice

• Have a quiet space for students to retreat to 

• Provide movement breaks 

Resources to check out

• Sensory Preferences Checklist

• Easy Read Sensory Guide 

• Sensory Overload Worksheets

I hope you’ve found the information in this post helpful! Please note - I am not an OT, and none of the information here should replace therapy from a qualified Occupational Therapist.

Kirsten