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