Sensory sensitivities in autistic teens become more evident when they go through puberty and face increased social demands, resulting in frustration and difficulties in daily interaction.
Early detection and addressing these sensitivities can help make teens feel more comfortable and confident. Let’s look at various situations in which these sensitivities affect social interactions and what can be done to help them.
Understanding Sensory Sensitivities in Teens with Autism.
What Are Sensory Sensitivities and How Do They Relate to Autism?
Sensory sensitivity is explained by how a person’s senses respond to stimuli. Individuals with autism frequently exhibit increased sensory sensitivity. They may have a stronger sense of sound, texture, taste, and smell than others. This increased sensitivity can make it difficult to process and respond to environmental information, which negatively affects their everyday life.
Sensory Issues | Autism Speaks
Common Sensory Triggers in Teenagers with Autism
- Light: Bright light or direct sunlight.
- Touch or Texture: Your child may dislike the sensation of labels or any inner lining on the inside of clothing. They might not wear shoes or brush their teeth. They may dislike haircuts or be uncomfortable with physical affection. And they may only wear certain types of loose-fitting clothing.
- Taste: Your child may prefer foods with specific textures or tastes.
- Smell: Your child may complain about smells such as deodorants or perfume. Or they might smell something no one else does.
- Sound: Your child may cover their ears in response to loud noises such as vacuum cleaners or hand dryers. They may become stressed in environments with a lot of competing noises, such as shopping malls.
How Sensory Sensitivities Affect daily life and social Interactions in Teens
The Impact of Sensory Processing Issues on Daily Life
The sensory processing issues can directly impact daily life activities like getting dressed, a sudden guest visit and even answering subjective social questions such as, How are you?
The Impact of Sensory Processing Issues on Social Interactions
These kids often face significant challenges in social gatherings due to many reasons like heightened sensitivity to light, and sounds or even the high social communication needed. This gives them a feeling of fullness and emotional burnout. And they use social withdrawal as a coping mechanism. In parties or classrooms, the noise causes congestion leading to anxiety and stress. Individuals with sensory sensitivities may struggle with nonverbal communication, finding it difficult to make eye contact, interpret body language, or process facial expressions.
“I can’t stand bright lights or loud noises; they make me feel trapped. It’s hard for me to focus on people when I’m overwhelmed by the noise or the lights. Social situations can be exhausting because my brain is overloaded with sensory input.”
— Temple Grandin, The Autistic Brain (2013)
Strategies for Supporting Social Interactions in Teens with Sensory Sensitivities
Creating Sensory-Friendly Environments for Socializing
To assist people with sensory sensitivities, sensory-friendly environments are essential to promote social comfort and reduce overload. This can include modifying spaces to reduce harsh lighting and background noise, and providing quieter areas for breaks during social gatherings. Noise-canceling headphones dimmed lighting, and sensory kits with fidget tools are also options for managing sensory triggers.
Teaching Social Skills with a Focus on Sensory Needs
Teaching social skills focusing on sensory needs includes gradually introducing individuals to social situations while remaining aware of their sensitivities. Encourage gradual exposure, beginning with less stimulating environments and progressing to more complex social settings, to help them gain confidence and comfort. Role-playing and social stories are also useful tools for preparing people for interactions because they allow them to practice and visualize social cues, body language, and responses in a low-pressure setting. These approaches provide the structure and support required to navigate social complexities more effectively.
Helping Teens Communicate Sensory Sensitivities to Peers
They maintain a minimal friend group, whom they trust completely. Communicating their sensitivities to their close friends will help them find support from their side.
How to Foster Open Conversations About Sensory Needs
It is essential to promote open, respectful discussions about sensory sensitivities, allowing teens to express their needs without fear of being judged. Facilitating these conversations can begin by normalizing sensory differences and assisting teens in understanding that their sensory experiences are valid. Teaching them how to express their discomfort with specific environments or stimuli allows them to better advocate for themselves in social situations.
Encouraging Self-Advocacy for Sensory Preferences in Social Settings
Encouraging self-advocacy for sensory preferences is vital for teens to navigate social situations comfortably. This includes giving them the ability to directly communicate their sensory needs, such as asking for quieter spaces, wearing noise-canceling headphones, or requesting breaks when overwhelmed. Teens who develop self-advocacy confidence can assert their preferences without feeling awkward or embarrassed. Teens can learn to manage their sensory sensitivities in ways that respect their boundaries while continuing to participate in social activities.
The Role of Family and Educators in Managing Sensory Sensitivities
Families and educators can work together to establish a more inclusive setting for teens with sensory sensitivity by putting in place individualized accommodations depending on their sensitivities. Another useful tactic is teaching classmates about sensory sensitivity, which enables them to recognize and honor the teen’s requirements in social situations. In addition to fostering self-awareness and self-advocacy in the teen, routine check-ins between the teen, family, and school personnel guarantee that accommodations are effective and permit modifications as needed. To assist teenagers in adjusting to changes, schools can also provide organized, sensory-friendly activities like outdoor gatherings or small-group conversations, as well as visual aids. Combining these techniques allows parents and teachers to create spaces where teenagers feel encouraged and accepted.
Sensory sensitivities: autistic children and teenagers
An autistic child’s everyday life might be impacted by sensory sensitivity, which may hinder their emotional health, school experiences, and family activities. To help your child with unique sensory demands, think about seeking advice from experts like occupational therapists, nutritionists, or speech pathologists. It’s crucial to have your vision and hearing examined by an optometrist or audiologist if you suspect any problems. Consulting a pediatrician or psychologist can help you create successful support plans if your child’s conduct is hurting them.
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