Sensory Sensitivity Is Common in Neurodivergent People. These Tech Products Can Help

Sensory sensitivity is a not unusual trait amongst neurodivergent folks that may temporarily flip a excellent day into a foul one. As an ADHDer, somebody with consideration deficit hyperactivity dysfunction, I will be able to attest to the function of sensory enter in my lifestyles. In my case, sensory processing is sort of a steel detector transferring between under- and overstimulation at any second.

It’s taken a large number of follow to identify my sensory sensitivities — and many years to seek out sensible methods for regulating them at house, paintings, college and in all places in between. When I effectively organize my senses, I have a tendency to sleep higher, have fewer temper swings, be extra productive and experience socializing. 

There’s an implausible useful resource on sensory differences from the UK-based National Autistic Society if you wish to have some examples of ways sensory sensitivity gifts in folks.

For this newsletter, I need to discover some sensory-regulating tech that has helped me and different neurodivergent other people round me. I will have to first explain that sensory sensitivity hits each neurodivergent person in a different way, so my ideas might not be useful to everybody. 

To assist stay issues available for readers with Autism and ADHD, I’ll skip the ingenious headings so you’ll to find your means round more straightforward.

No-tech sensory law methods

Many nontech methods can ease sensory problems. This is especially true for self-care like a balanced diet, workout, meditation, stimming, non-public hygiene and family chores. It’s absolute best to paintings with a health care provider or therapist to spot sensory triggers and cope with their affect.

It’s frequently recommended to proportion your sensory stimuli with the individuals who continuously have interaction with you, like members of the family and coworkers. Some issues are tougher to deal with, particularly in a hectic place of job, however discovering reliable allies is necessary.

Allies assist you to be in contact authentic issues with others: 

• Asking to take a seat in a quiet nook of the administrative center briefly or completely.
• Requesting a partition to assist with visible distractions.
• Finding possible choices to bodily greetings like hugs and handshakes.
• Suggesting eating places with constant, sensory-safe choices in case you are feeling unadventurous.
• Politely asking others to devour meals in a delegated kitchen or wreck room.

There are too many nontech sensory law hacks to listing right here, however with a bit of luck, those examples can provide you with some concepts.

Sound sensitivity

Sound is my greatest sensory cause through a mile. When there is no longer sufficient noise, I laser-focus on intermittent sounds round me, just like the refrigerator, pipes, electric circuits, air-conditioning and what different persons are doing. On the other finish of the spectrum, a toddler’s piercing cry or overlapping conversations in a tightly crowded room can also be downright debilitating.

Auditory under-stimulation

Most of the time, I’m understimulated, which brings new which means to the “it is quiet, too quiet” film trope. The repair is as simple because it comes: white noise. At the very least, I counsel working a fan within the background of the room you might be in, even supposing you might be no longer the use of it for cooling. A valid device is a good more sensible choice.

My go-to sound device is the LectroFan Evo, which comes with 22 nonlooping sounds, together with white, crimson and brown noise along quite a lot of lovers and ocean noises. It runs off USB, making it tremendous moveable — even if LectroFan sells a few battery-powered variants with fewer sound choices. I most commonly use the LectroFan Evo once I sleep, however it works smartly for ambient noise if wanted.

Video, song and audiobooks can paintings for ambient sound as smartly. You might wish to curate choices that require minimum brainpower to keep away from changing into distracted.

When I paintings, I frequently concentrate to instrumental soundtracks or white noise podcasts on Spotify — lyrics and writing do not combine smartly for me. I sometimes revisit an Ambient Engine Noise video on YouTube {that a} colleague shared years in the past.

My spouse, who may be an ADHDer, listens to audiobooks to go to sleep. She attempted earbuds for my sake, however they had been uncomfortable. Eventually, she found out pillow audio system, like those ultra-thin models, that connect to a Bluetooth receiver just like the Anker Soundsync.

Although wi-fi pillow audio system are to be had, they could also be too thick to be comfy, even below a pillow. Plus, pillow audio system have a tendency to take a beating and inexpensive fashions take away some tension round put on and tear. Fortunately, a pillow speaker is senseless if you do not proportion a room with someone.

Auditory overstimulation

I’ve two tech suggestions for auditory overstimulation: good plugs and noise-canceling headphones. With good plugs, you’ll temporarily flip off any tool inflicting sensory problems. You may even arrange an Alexa or Google regimen to regulate teams of units. A easy voice command could make an international of distinction the instant you are feeling crushed.

Noise-canceling headphones are a godsend for overstimulation. You do not even wish to be paying attention to anything else. This is useful when my ever-present white noise fails to hide up low-frequency bass out of doors my house.

Whether you get over-the-ear headphones just like the Sony WH-1000XM5 depends upon your personal tastes and luxury. Still, numerous noise-canceling earbuds are to be had if that is extra your pace. I in most cases toss my Pixel Buds Pro in a pocket once I move out, particularly once I know I’ll be in a crowded position.

You can go for finances noise-canceling headphones if you do not thoughts a lower in effectiveness in comparison to pricier manufacturers or skip energetic noise-canceling altogether in choose of listening to protectors with Bluetooth audio. My nephew with autism adores his 3M WorkTunes, which give considerable noise aid for not up to $50 whilst he watches binaural beats videos.

Sight sensitivity

Aside from unsightly automotive headlights, sight-related sensitivities can also be trickier to spot. Ultimately, it boils all the way down to the way you understand mild and motion. Dull environments with out a lot visible selection can sap your motivation, whilst an excessive amount of mild — or the incorrect forms of mild — can save you you from enjoyable.

Visual understimulation

Many neurodivergent other folks rewatch the similar TV displays, and I’m no exception. Even if I’m no longer actively gazing the display, there is a get advantages in having the additional visible selection whilst I do chores, learn or compile a Lego set.

Comfort media like this makes context-switching more straightforward since there is a baseline stimulation to stay the thoughts energetic. Best of all, it really works with any streaming provider if the best display is to be had.

You too can revel in visible understimulation in puts with bland colours and subdued lights, particularly administrative center structures. Consider including a couple of colourful decorations and additional mild resources for your table.

Visual overstimulation

Light is a significant contributor to visible overstimulation, however it is not at all times about brightness. You will have to additionally imagine the colour and visibility of sunshine resources. Interior lights is most often more straightforward to control since you’ll craft an ambient lights setting to fulfill your wishes the use of good lights and strategic good house routines.

For a low-tech possibility, imagine retaining a hat or shades at hand to care for extra mild — indoors and out of doors. I’ve worn cowboy hats at my table to care for overhead fluorescent lights.

Natural and external lighting are tougher to regulate making it tough to stick on activity or sleep smartly. Try striking up blackout curtains and good blinds in your house or dressed in a comfy sleep masks.

Touch, style and odor sensitivity

I spend a stunning period of time regulating my different senses thru fidgeting, sitting in ordinary positions that make my again harm, including means an excessive amount of garlic salt to a meal or dashing to peer if my cat effectively buried his day by day present within the clutter field. 

Only not too long ago did I make the relationship that those had been coping mechanisms to care for sensory issues.

Touch sensitivity

Our sense of contact performs an important function in bodily ache and enjoyment. Without sufficient tactile stimulation, we begin to really feel nervous and remoted from the folk round us. It’s simply as simple to overload our sense of contact with unwelcome textures and bodily discomfort.

Studies have proven that hugging and self-soothing can scale back tension in everybody. Still, it can be much more treasured to neurodivergent folks coping with social nervousness. Although a day by day provide of contact from others is the best choice, weighted blankets can assist stability tactile understimulation.

Similarly, take a look at the use of fidget toys if in case you have stressed arms and legs all the way through a gathering or whilst gazing a film. The easy, repetitive nature of fidget toys supplies simply the correct quantity of tactile stimulation so you’ll concentration on energetic listening.

Texture is a supply of tactile stimulation that varies amongst neurodivergent folks. Smooth surfaces, creams, breathable clothes and comfy mattress sheets are frequently appropriate for soothing sensory overload, however some other folks might choose heavier and rougher textures.

Taste sensitivity

The sense of style is likely one of the extra manageable sensory inputs because it boils all the way down to what you set on your mouth. If you might be like me, flavorful meals and chewing gum can assist with understimulation. It is a great alternative to take a look at a brand new sizzling sauce or a food-grade silicone sensory chew.

If you combat to drink sufficient water, you will have to take into consideration why. Water filters and taste enhancers can assist alter the flavour for your personal tastes. The texture additionally issues, so take a look at the use of ice cubes or a soda maker so as to add selection.

Mouthfeel is an very important facet of meals to imagine in case you are neurodivergent. Unexpected textures can temporarily damage a meal, such a lot of people like our meals to really feel constant. Despite their flaws, processed meals are constant sufficient for many sensory-safe foods. Fresh elements can paintings with some preparation, like steamed greens or the use of an immersion blender for a smoother sauce.

People delicate to meals pieces touching each and every different can to find sturdy divided dinner and portion-control plates with out decorations or graphics. We used to have melamine cafeteria trays from a thrift retailer, even if admittedly extra for an ADHD impulse than meals separation.

Smell sensitivity

Smells from meals, trash, fragrance, frame scent and family chemical compounds are the worst offenders on this class. Unfortunately, you might be restricted to 2 choices for coping with overpowering smells: taking out or overlaying them up.

Opening the home windows for contemporary air can temporarily take away smells if the out of doors air is blank sufficient, however this is not at all times an possibility all the way through chillier months. If you reside close to an commercial space or busy highway since, you might be buying and selling one scent for some other. Investing in an air air purifier with an activated charcoal clear out can assist take away smells with out opening the home windows.

Air purifiers are nice for scent regulate, however they take time to reach effects. If you’ll take care of delightful smells, an air freshener or very important oil diffuser is a competent option to curb odors. Cat house owners would possibly experience how a Whisker Litter-Robot 4 reduces how frequently you wish to have to scrub the clutter field, even supposing you continue to wish to empty the smelly waste bin.

With any good fortune, you have discovered a couple of methods to assist organize your senses and save you sensory overload. 

The data contained on this article is for academic and informational functions best and isn’t meant as well being or scientific recommendation. Always seek the advice of a health care provider or different certified well being supplier referring to any questions you could have a couple of scientific situation or well being targets.