Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) is a neurological disorder that causes difficulties with processing information from the five senses: vision, auditory, touch, olfaction, and taste, as well as from the sense of movement (vestibular system), and/or the positional sense (proprioception). For those with SPD, sensory information is sensed, but perceived abnormally. Unlike blindness or deafness, sensory information is received by people with SPD; the difference is that information is processed by the brain in an unusual way that causes distress, discomfort, and confusion. (Source: Psychology Today).
Anyone can have sensory issues. I do. I hate, hate, hate when my socks get wet. If one drop of water gets on them, I peel them off as fast as I can. I would rather go barefoot than to deal with that torture. And don't get me started on certain food textures...
People with autism often have sensory processing disorder. Lulu has some sensory issues. She likes to crash into things (pillows, couches, etc.), doesn't like certain noises (like my singing - everyone's a critic!), has a limited repertoire of foods that she will eat (though I will say that it is improving!!), will only wear stretchy pants (she hates denim)...the list goes on. She has benefitted from a weighted vest at school, and sometimes uses a weighted blanket at home.
After her autism diagnosis, it was decided that the formal living room would become a sensory room, with the help of my parents and brother. We had a ball pit, trampoline, sensory table, crash pad, and hung a 360 degree hook from the ceiling that we could hang a swing (we had four different swings that we can switch around...a platform swing, a teardrop swing from Ikea, a horse swing and an adult version of an infant-style swing). There were also many sensory toys and educational games. Both girls loved it, and played in there often. When Lulu would be in her "climb everything" mode, it sometimes helped to redirect her to the trampoline or the swing. It was a great room to have on rainy and cold days!
Annie liked it in there too...she had a reading nook and an art corner, so some days I would only see her when she surfaced for food. But she also went in there to hang with Lulu. They seemed to have a great time in there.
As they got bigger, and Lulu's needs changed, we would give away things that were no longer appropriate for Lulu. Now she’ll hang out on the sofa with her tablet and headband headphones (when they aren't broken).
Obviously one does not need to create a sensory room for their autistic child. But having some sensory toys or other items available, as well as access to a swing or weighted blanket, could go a long way to helping an autistic child (or anyone with SPD) calm down and regroup.
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