Port in the Storm: Sensory Strategies to Help Your Child with ASD

 Imagine living in a world where colors are too bright, sounds are too loud, and even the slightest touch feels like an electric shock. Navigating this world is difficult for you but, everyone around you seems to be doing it with ease. After a while, it all becomes too much to handle, but when you complain, no one seems to understand what you’re talking about. For a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), this the reality — a world full of sensory stimuli that are just too much. Let’s try to understand what sensory input has to do with ASD and some strategies to calm a child dealing with overstimulation used in the best treatment for Autism in Bangalore.

What is ASD?

Autism or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) refers to a range of neurodevelopmental disorders that affect social, behavioral, and communicative abilities. It begins in early childhood, as young as six months, and often causes abnormalities in social interaction, communication, and behavior. You may see symptoms such as lack of eye contact, no babbling or ‘baby talk’, not responding to their name, lack of smiles or warm expressions, lack of communicative gestures, lack of interest or enjoyment in social interaction, etc. One common symptom is sensitivity to sensory inputs. A child with ASD may get overwhelmed by bright lights and loud sounds, or be particularly sensitive to certain tastes and textures. When they’re subjected to too many inputs, they may be unable to process it, leading to a meltdown.

What is a meltdown?

The first thing to note is that a meltdown is not the same as a temper tantrum. Tantrums are a normal part of childhood and occur among neurotypical children as well as children with ASD. It usually arises from a child’s burgeoning idea of independence. A child throwing a tantrum is aware of their behavior and can control their actions, adjusting them based on the response of the adults around them. ASD meltdowns on the other hand occur when the child is overwhelmed or over-stimulated. The child is bombarded by too many sensory inputs and it overwhelms the central nervous system. Their body is unable to process these inputs and perceives them as threats, creating anxiety in the child. This builds up and leads to a meltdown. 

How to prevent or respond to a sensory meltdown

Every child with ASD is different. They have different needs and triggers, so even the best treatment for Autism in Bangalore will tell you to create a calming strategy that suits your child’s needs. The first step is to identify your child’s triggers. Are they sensitive to loud sounds? Or will a particular texture send them over the edge? Maybe they just can’t handle too many different inputs at once. Creating a routine sensory diet tailored to these triggers will help calm down any future meltdowns. A sensory diet is a set of calming physical activities that a child can do at home. For example, a circuit of jumping jacks, bouncing a ball 20 times, and rolling back and forth on the ground. For a child with ASD having this kind of routine to fall back on before or after entering situations that may be overwhelming can help them come down from an overloaded state. 

You can also encourage your child to stim when they begin to feel anxious or overwhelmed by emotion. A stim is a self-soothing behavior — a repetitive physical action like hand flapping, listening to the same song or noise on repeat, or chewing or mouthing behaviors. Stimming can help children and even teens and adults with ASD manage their emotions or cope with overwhelming situations. Most own-voices activists recommend that parents encourage any stimming behavior that they notice.

Finally having sensory toys and tools on hand can help a child help ground the child during a meltdown and help them manage their emotions better. Some examples of sensory tools include:

• Stress balls
• Fidget toys (fidget cubes, fidget spinners, tangle toys, etc)
• Chewables for biting and mouthing behaviors (several companies create toys specifically for people with ASD, but teething toys work just as well and are often more affordable)
• Weighted blankets or vests
• Sunglasses
• Noise-canceling headphones
• Soothing touch

The kind of tools that work best for your child will depend on their preferences. If you’re aware of their triggers and coping mechanisms you’ll already have a good idea of what will work and what won’t. For example, a child who is touch averse may not respond well to a soothing touch or weighted blanket in the middle of a meltdown. Work with your child to find a strategy that works for them.

The world can be a scary and confusing place for a child with ASD — full of sensations and situations that are too much to process at times. But with a little patience and understanding, you can help your child find calm in this storm. Look for the best treatment for Autism in Bangalore today to get learn more about sensory strategies and other techniques that can help your child with ASD live a full and rich life