It’s not just neurodiverse kids who are impacted by sensory processing issues, there are many neurodiverse adults experiencing them too. Learning about the adult experience can shape how you help the children in your life and support the adults still struggling.
When I was a kid, no one knew about sensory processing. Twenty years of my life were consumed by the need for validation. I always felt different but I never knew why. When my kids were diagnosed with Autism I learned about sensory processing issues. Suddenly it all clicked! There was a name for what I had felt my entire life, I had sensory processing difficulties.
What is Sensory Processing
Humans have seven senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste, tactile, proprioceptive and vestibular. You have probably heard of the first five but the last two are often overlooked. Proprioceptive input is the sense we get from our muscles and joints. Vestibular is the sense that tells us when we feel dizzy. People who have a difficult time processing sensory information misinterpret the strength of different input to senses. Some people have one or two senses impacted, others have difficulties with all of the senses.
A person may be hypo-senstive or hyper-sensitive to any sense. Hypo-sensitive means that the brain turns down the volume on these senses. They may not notice input and are often referred to as “sensory seekers”. Hyper-sensitive means that the brain turns up the volume on these senses. They are extra aware of input and are often referred to as “sensory avoiders”. Others are both hyper and hypo sensitive based on the situation and input type.
A sensory profile refers to the unique combination of sensory issues a neurodivergent person experiences. Some senses could be hypo-sensitive, others hyper-sensitive, maybe both hyper and hypo and some not impacted at all. For instance, a person may be overly sensitive to sounds and avoid loud noises, be under sensitive to touch and seek out rough textures while having no issues with their vision.
Daily Life
Here is an overview of my sensory profile:
Oral input: severe avoider
Tactile input: severe avoider, mild seeker
Proprioceptive input: moderate avoider
Visual input: moderate avoider
Olfactory input: mild avoider
Auditory input: delayed processing
Vestibular input: neutral
Taste and Smell
I am a “picky eater”. I have a limited number of foods that I enjoy and eat them on a fairly consistent basis. I don’t get sick of eating the same meal for breakfast every day. Typically I’ll eat the same meal for two to four years before shifting to a different food.
These “staple” foods include most breads, pizza, pastas, potato based foods and salty snacks like chips or crackers. While my general palate is quite bland, when I am feeling tired or disconnected I tend to crave intense flavors to “wake me up”. Condiments are one way to accomplish this. I can use a plain staple and add an intense condiment to help my brain get back on track.
The texture of food is very important as well. I dislike slimey, tough and hard foods. Inconsistent textures are hard too, I would prefer that each bite be predictable.
To complicate things even more, my food cannot touch. This means that I space my food out on my plate. It also means that during food preparation, I need several cutting boards and utensils. I have to be careful of cross-contamination. Double dipping butter while cooking with onions would cause the butter on my toast to taste like onions days later.
Going along with this is my sensitivity to smells. There are times when I actually want to try a new food because it meets all my taste and texture criteria. But the smell will make me gag before I even get the chance to taste it. I get headaches in restaurants and stores that have strong smells.
Touch
Clothing is an area of constant stress for me. I spend hours searching for clothing that fits my style, has the right fabric, has seams and stitching that doesn’t bother me and doesn’t feel too constricting. I have to take a seam ripper to remove the tags from clothing and often make my own alterations to clothing to better meet my needs.
Since finding the right clothing is hard, when I find something that meets all my criteria I buy duplicates. I currently own a certain tank top in 14 colors. My closet has 6 of the same dress pants and I have the same sweatshirt in 9 colors.
My heightened sense of touch includes within my body too. If my hair feels “heavy” and gives me a headache. When my toe nails begin to touch the end of my socks I will become anxious to the point that I will start to cry.
Pain
I am very sensitive to pain. Growing up I would complain about a slight graze to the same degree as being hit. I woke up crying in pain nearly every day because the springs in my bed felt like they were stabbing me.
School was also difficult for me. Although I was smart, I could barely concentrate in school because of the pain. The seats were too hard. By high school I started to bring a small pillow to sit on in certain classes. In college, I was too embarrassed to bring a pillow so I would bring a jacket and fold it up like a cushion. During the winter it was fine but summers it was a little harder to explain why I had a jacket or sweatshirt with me.
Temperature
I am also sensitive to temperature. When I feel cold I typically “shut down” in the same manner as a reptile. I get quiet, I am not hungry or thirsty. I recognize my need for warmth and have adapted. I wear long sleeves in summer, a heated vest under my winter jacket and limit outdoor activities in the winter.
Proprioceptive
The best way I can describe being a proprioceptive avoider is that I hate all “heavy work”. Even carrying a full gallon of milk makes my muscles feel like there are tiny rips in them. It’s more of a dull constant pain that makes me dread doing laundry, or groceries. Even small tasks feel like I just did an intensive workout.
Wearing tight clothing also triggers this sense. Bending my knees in tight jeans puts pressure on my joints to the point that I buy my jeans a size larger than I need to reduce the discomfort.
Sight
Being a visual avoider has taken me years to fully figure out. I spent a lot of my life feeling overwhelmed and anxious and could not explain why. It wasn’t until I moved into my own apartment that I realized clutter overwhelms me. There is just too much to take in all at once. Storage cube bins have been a lifesaver!
I have also learned that I need to live in a space that has lots of natural lighting. I only buy bright “daylight” white colored light bulbs because the typical “soft” orange-ish colored lights are an issue. Smart bulbs allow me to schedule different light intensities and shades of white for different parts of my day.
Driving at night is very hard and I tend to avoid it whenever possible. I feel like I cannot see more than 20 feet in front of me even with my high beams on. When an oncoming car comes I am completely blinded and have a moment of panic because I cannot see my own side of the road anymore. My eye’s just cannot adjust to the lighting changing that quickly.
Tactile Seeker
While I am mostly a sensory avoider, there is one exception. I seek out touch—as well as avoiding it. Certain touches act like “white noise” in my brain that can block out my repetitive thoughts and any pain I might be experiencing. Rubbing, brushing, light scratching and massaging are all excellent white noise that help me relax when I am anxious, fall asleep and deal with extreme pain.
My brain can map out where every touch occurred for several minutes after it has ended. Think of how some people see lights trailing after they have moved, but for touch. This is one of the benefits of my sensory profile because it means every positive touch lasts beyond the actual touch. Fuzzy blankets are extra soft, hot tubs are extra relaxing and brushing my hair feels extra amazing.
Auditory Processing
When it comes to hearing, I do not seek or avoid, but I do have a ”delay” in processing. I hear someone speaking and respond, usually somewhat appropriately, and once I am done speaking I hear what they actually said. Think of how you see someone singing the National Anthem in a large stadium, you can see that they have hit the final note and start to clap before you actually hear the final note.
Support and Modifications
People with sensory processing difficulties have good days and bad days. Some days they may be minimally impacted and others it could be disabling. Factors like sleep, blood sugar levels, dehydration, hormonal fluctuations and emotional distress all contribute to increased sensory processing issues. Creating a stable and consistent schedule with sensory needs incorporated in helps many people with sensory processing difficulties
Sensory processing issues are not the end of the world. Plenty of neurodiverse people have them and find modifications to be successful. Modifications may be items like clothing or light bulbs but can also include career paths or housing selections. Finding the right partner and social supports are also helpful. Once a person is in their optimal environment, they can unlock their full potential.