Atypical Sensory Processing: What is it?
Our senses come together to create our reality. Sight, sounds, touch, smell and taste are all sensory inputs from the environment around us. For some individuals, information coming through our senses can feel more or less intense than others. What is sensory processing, and how does it affect people with autism spectrum disorder?
What is sensory processing?
Sensory processing, also known as sensory integration (SI), is how a person perceives, organises and responds to information from our senses.
Sensory receptors are all over our bodies, passing information to our brain 24/7. When these specialised sensory sensors receive intel, they emit electric impulses, transmitted by neuronal fibre right to the Central Nervous System, all in a matter of nanoseconds. Once this information reaches the central nervous system, the neurons process the data and compute an appropriate response.
Sensory processing is how the brain receives messages from visual, auditory, touch, taste, smell, movement and body awareness receptors, turning them into behavioural and motor responses.
What is atypical sensory processing?
Also known as sensory processing disorder (SDP), atypical sensory processing is where the brain processes sensory stimuli differently. It can affect how the brain processes information from just one sense, like sight or sound, or it could impact all five senses.
An individual with atypical sensory processing can be hypersensitive (over-responsive), hyposensitive (under-responsive) or experience both in reaction to a range of sensory inputs. For example, hypersensitive might look like you are very sensitive to stimuli, or hyposensitive, you might require more stimuli to be responsive compared to others.
Oversensitive sensory processing can look like:
Lights are too bright
Sounds are too loud
Clothes are too itchy
Touch is too hard
Afraid of play
Food texture feels gross
Struggling with balance / bumping into things
React to sudden changes (movement, bright lights or loud noises)
Different behavioural responses
Under sensory processing can look like:
Can't keep still
Thrill seeker
Struggles to recognise personal space
Loves visual stimulation
Trouble sleeping
Likes to chew on things
Can spin without getting dizzy
Slow responses to pain/discomfort
Why do people with autism experience different sensory processing?
The brain works like a computer, transporting information from sensory receptors to the brain via electric wires. For neurodivergent brains, like people with autism, these wires work differently from a neurotypical brain, with studies showing between 69-95% of people with autism experience atypical sensory processing.
Since sensory processing was included in the most recent Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) (2013), it is considered a core attribute of ASD. Brain scans of individuals with autism found they have a slightly thinner temporal cortex, which is responsible for interpreting sounds, sights and other interactions.
Kids and adults can struggle with sensory processing and not be on the autism spectrum, although sensory processing disorder isn't classified as a stand-alone neurological condition. Some doctors are reluctant to view sensory processing as a condition and are more likely to see it as a symptom of autism, ADHD, anxiety or developmental delays. Many occupational therapists and parents have reported success in treating sensory discomfort without another diagnosis; however, the condition still requires rigorous study into evidence-based treatment options to see if it is a diagnosis in itself. For more on the debate over whether sensory processing constitutes a disorder, check out this article.
How can we be more accommodating of people with sensory differences?
If a person is struggling due to their sensory processing, individual therapy can be helpful in learning ways to manage their challenges. As one person's sensory profile (a measure of response to certain stimuli) is different to the next, there is not a one size fits all approach to accommodating someone's sensory needs.
If you know someone is experiencing atypical sensory processing, or notice someone feeling uncomfortable, don't be afraid to ask what you can do to help them be more comfortable now and in the future. By opening up a dialogue around someone's sensory needs and being less judgemental towards stimming behaviours, we can help more people participate comfortably and safely in the community.