Sensory differences: Sensory input is gathered from our environment using our senses (sight, sounds, smell, taste, touch, vestibular, and proprioception). Vestibular is our sense of balance and proprioception is knowing where our body is in space. Autistic employees may experience sensory differences. This means they may process and organize sensory input differently than Neurotypical brains. Some Autistic people are hypersensitive (they have a low threshold) to certain sensory input. They may have difficulty filtering out sensory input which can lead to overstimulation. This makes it difficult to regulate body sensations and emotions. People with autism may be hyposensitive (have a higher threshold) for certain sensory input and need more input to notice things.
Sensory Input: Sound
Hypersensitive: Decrease input
- Limit noise
- Soundproofing
- Limit noisy fans/lights/equipment
Hyposensitive: Increase input
- Play the radio
- Music devices
- Call their name loudly
Sensory Input: Visual
Hypersensitive: Decrease input
- Increase natural lighting
- Ambient lighting
- Dim lighting options
- Tidy work station
Hyposensitive: Increase input
- Bright lighting
- Visually busy workstation
- Don’t notice a mess
- Computer screens
Sensory Input: Smell
Hypersensitive: Decrease input
- Limit perfumes/ aerosol sprays
- Limit scented lotions/creams
- Designate lunch spaces
- Designate smoke areas
Hyposensitive: Increase input
- May prefer intense smells
Sensory Input: Touch
Hypersensitive: Decrease input
- Avoid scratchy uniforms with tags
- Flexible dress code
- Avoid wet sticky textures/latex
Hyposensitive: Increase input
- Increase stations with tactile, textured, messy materials
Sensory Input: Vestibular/Proprioception
Hypersensitive: Decrease input
- Limit tasks using equipment that moves, turns or spins
- Limit obstacles
- Clear pathways
Hyposensitive: Increase input
- Provide movement breaks
- Increase tasks that use equipment that moves