Sensory Processing Disorder

What is a sensory processing disorder?

Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) is an additional need and disability that affects how your brain processes your senses. It can affect all of the senses, sometimes all at once or sometimes individually.

How does SPD affect me?

It takes a while to process information and the things I do in day-to-day life. It can take me longer to do things because I am thinking about it constantly.

Some examples of things that are difficult:

• Sound
  • It’s a struggle to find things that are not too loud.
  • Fire alarms are a very fast and loud sound that really hurts my ears. Ear defenders can help block out the sound – they are not for listening to music!
• Touch
  • Some textures can be overwhelming.
  • I don’t like people to touch me without asking me beforehand unless it is an emergency.
• Sight
  • Sunlight can be too bright!
  • Flashing lights can make it difficult for me to see and I can find that they are sensory overloading.
  • Smoke (Fire) – can’t see where you are going/irritates the eyes and makes them itchy.
• Taste
  • I don’t like lumpy mash! How food feels in my mouth is really important. It can change over time what textures I like and those I don’t: I used to not like nuts but now I do!
  • I don’t drink squash at all now, I try to cut it out. Water on its own is good.
• Smell
  • Nail varnish, petrol, and cigarettes are smells that are too strong. If they come close to me, I need to get away.
• Other
  • Crowds can be claustrophobic as there is not much room: there is so many people around that you can’t move around properly.
  • New places and new people because there is lots of new information I have to process!

Even though I find some sensory experiences difficult, I also use sensory experiences to help myself and keep myself calm. Some things that I enjoy:

• Sound
  • Classical Disney music, normally piano music because I find it a quiet, mindful sort of sound.
  • Nature sounds, especially quiet song birds.
• Touch
  • Squishy Fidget toys and cuddly soft toys are very comforting, ground me, and help me to feel secure. Cuddly toys are really helpful when you need to go to sleep.
  • Blankets are really useful too. I like blankets to be smooth and soft to touch, dark blue in colour. I like blue when I am trying to sleep.
  • I like it when people I trust and know tuck me into bed, link arms with me, or sometimes give me a hug!
  • Petting my dog, Honey, can help me calm down quickly. Lots of people find pets helpful!
• Sight
  • I like looking up at the stars in the sky at night. Which also helps me go to sleep because it is dark.
• Taste
  • Soft and smooth textures – like when you are eating yoghurt.
• Smell
  • The smell of homemade food, for example cauliflower cheese as well as chips. It is really comforting!
• Temperature
  • I prefer cold temperatures, for example in sensory rooms where they are often normal to cold temperatures with a heater if you need it.

How you can support someone with SPD?

If they are struggling, you can:

• Take them to a quiet room.
• Help them find their fidget toys, or provide them with some.
• Play some music that they enjoy.
• Offer them a glass of water.
• If they need you to, repeat information.
• Do not judge them.
• Do not stare at them.
• Be patient and understanding.
• Call their support person if they become non-verbal or give them something to write on.

My ASD

What is ASD?

People with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) experience the world differently. They have different strengths and weakness and they may behave differently to the people around them. Everyone with ASD is different!

My diagnosis

My mum and me were receiving support from White Lodge because I was finding it very hard to communicate and I was having ‘moments’. For me, moments are when I struggle with a lot of things and I get frustrated. The staff at White Lodge recommended that we see a doctor that they knew, who diagnosed me with ASD when I was 3 and half years old, which was very helpful.

Girls with ASD are underdiagnosed because they don’t meet people’s expectations due to stereotypes. My mum did not anticipate my diagnosis with ASD.

My life has changed quite a bit since I was diagnosed. Obviously not everyone has ASD, I am aware that I am quite different to other people. In my experience there are both positive and negative impacts of having ASD.

Positive impacts

• I am different to other people
  • It would be boring if we were all the same!
• I think about problems differently and come up with different solutions.
• I express myself differently to others
  • Some people with ASD communicate differently. For example, some people can’t use their voice.
  • I speak three languages to help me communicate: spoken English, sign language (Makaton/British Sign Language), using feelings boards/bracelets/cards.
• Due to my experiences in life and my participation in ATLAS, I am able to appreciate other people’s perspectives.
• When I speak to people that I know well, I have a lot to share about my interests and experiences
  • I know a lot about sensory toys!

Negative impacts

• I find it hard to make eye-contact
  • People might not think I am talking to them or that I am talking to somebody else if I don’t make eye contact.
• I find it hard to keep a conversation, for example to keep focus and keep on subject.
• I find it hard to manage my feelings, emotions and thoughts.
• Loud noises, crowds, small spaces, lock rooms, flashing lights and the dark are difficult for me to cope with.
  • Flashing lights can include discos lights and even emergency vehicles!
• I am very sensitive to touch.
  • I don’t tend to like people touching me, it feels uncomfortable. I don’t always know if people are going to be gentle and nice when they touch me and that makes me anxious.
• Transport can be difficult because I don’t like long journeys.
  • All the sounds and people can be overwhelming.
  • Sometimes people come too close when I am travelling.
• It can be difficult to speak to people that I don’t know.

Final thoughts

When you meet someone with additional needs, such as ASD, you shouldn’t make assumptions because you don’t know that person.