This Sensory-Friendly Tech Helps Me Function as a Neurodivergent Person

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

It’s taken numerous follow to identify my sensory sensitivities — and a long time to search out sensible methods for regulating them at house, paintings, faculty and in every single place in between. When I effectively arrange my senses, I have a tendency to sleep higher, have fewer temper swings, be extra productive and experience socializing.

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

For this text, I need to discover some sensory-regulating tech that has helped me and different neurodivergent other folks round me. 

I must first explain that sensory sensitivity hits each and every neurodivergent particular 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 be able to in finding your manner round more uncomplicated.

No-tech sensory law methods

Many no-tech methods can ease sensory problems. This is especially true for self-care like a balanced diet, workout, meditation, stimming, private hygiene and family chores. It’s easiest to paintings with a health care provider or therapist to spot sensory triggers and cope with their affect.

It’s ceaselessly really useful to percentage your sensory stimuli with the individuals who steadily have interaction with you, like members of the family and coworkers. Some issues are more difficult to house, particularly in a hectic place of work, however discovering reliable allies is necessary.

Allies let you be in contact authentic considerations with others: 

• Asking to take a seat in a quiet nook of the place of job quickly 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 chosen kitchen or spoil room.

There are too many no-tech sensory law hacks to listing right here, however optimistically, those examples can provide you with some concepts.

Sound sensitivity

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Sound is my greatest sensory cause by way of a mile. When there may be now not sufficient noise, I laser-focus on intermittent sounds round me, just like the refrigerator, pipes, electric circuits, air-conditioning and what different individuals are doing. On the other finish of the spectrum, a child’s piercing cry or overlapping conversations in a tightly-crowded room may also be downright debilitating.

Auditory under-stimulation

Most of the time, I’m understimulated, which brings new that 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 now not the usage of it for cooling. A valid device is an excellent better choice.

My go-to sound device is the LectroFan Evo, which comes with 22 non-looping sounds, together with white, red and brown noise along more than a few fanatics and ocean noises. It runs off USB, making it tremendous transportable — even though LectroFan sells a few battery-powered variants with fewer sound choices. I most commonly use the LectroFan Evo once I sleep, nevertheless it works smartly for ambient noise if wanted.

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

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

My spouse who could also be an ADHDer listens to audiobooks to go to sleep. She attempted earbuds for my sake, however they have 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.

You can in finding wi-fi pillow audio system, they is also too thick to be relaxed, even below a pillow. Plus, pillow audio system have a tendency to take a beating and inexpensive fashions take away some rigidity round put on and tear. Fortunately, a pillow speaker is senseless if you do not percentage a room with somebody.

Auditory overstimulation

I’ve two tech suggestions for auditory overstimulation: sensible plugs and noise-canceling headphones. With sensible plugs, you’ll be able to temporarily flip off any instrument inflicting sensory problems. You may also arrange an Alexa or Google regimen to regulate teams of gadgets. A easy voice command could make an international of distinction the instant you’re feeling beaten.

Noise-canceling headphones are a godsend for overstimulation. You do not even want to be being attentive to the rest. This is useful when my ever-present white noise fails to hide up low-frequency bass outdoor my house.

Whether you get over-the-ear headphones just like the Sony WH-1000XM5 is dependent upon your personal tastes and luxury. Still, quite a lot of noise-canceling earbuds are to be had if that is extra your pace. I normally 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 funds noise-canceling headphones if you do not thoughts a lower in effectiveness in comparison to pricier manufacturers or skip energetic noise-canceling altogether in prefer of listening to protectors with Bluetooth audio. My nephew with Autism adores his 3M WorkTunes, which offer plentiful noise aid for not up to $50 whilst he watches binaural beats videos.

Sight sensitivity

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

Visual understimulation

Many neurodivergent other people rewatch the similar TV presentations, and I’m no exception. Even if I’m now not actively looking at the display, there is a get advantages in having the additional visible selection whilst I do chores, learn or collect a Lego set.

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

You too can enjoy visible understimulation in puts with bland colours and subdued lighting fixtures, particularly place of job constructions. Consider including a couple of colourful decorations and additional gentle assets in your table.

Visual overstimulation

Light is a significant contributor to visible overstimulation, however it is not all the time about brightness. You must additionally imagine the colour and visibility of sunshine assets. Interior lighting fixtures is usually more uncomplicated to control since you’ll be able to craft an ambient lighting fixtures surroundings to satisfy your wishes the usage of sensible lighting fixtures and strategic sensible house routines.

For a low-tech possibility, imagine protecting a hat or shades at hand to maintain extra gentle — indoors and out of doors. I’ve worn cowboy hats at my table to maintain overhead fluorescent lighting fixtures.

Natural and external lighting fixtures are more difficult to regulate making it tricky to stick on activity or sleep smartly. Try placing up blackout curtains and sensible blinds in your house or dressed in a relaxed sleep masks.

Touch, style and scent sensitivity

I spend a shocking period of time regulating my different senses via fidgeting, sitting in strange positions that make my again harm, including manner an excessive amount of garlic salt to a meal or speeding to look if my cat effectively buried his day-to-day reward within the muddle field. 

Only just lately did I make the relationship that those have been coping mechanisms to maintain sensory issues.

Touch sensitivity

Our sense of contact performs a vital position in bodily ache and enjoyment. Without sufficient tactile stimulation, we begin to really feel frightened and remoted from the folks 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 rigidity in everybody. Still, it can be much more treasured to neurodivergent folks coping with social nervousness. Although a day-to-day provide of contact from others is your only option, weighted blankets can assist stability tactile understimulation.

Similarly, check out the usage of fidget toys when you have stressed arms and legs right through a gathering or whilst looking at a film. The easy, repetitive nature of fidget toys supplies simply the correct amount of tactile stimulation so you’ll be able to concentration on energetic listening.

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

Taste sensitivity

The sense of style is likely one of the extra manageable sensory inputs because it boils right down to what you set to your mouth. If you might be like me, flavorful meals and chewing gum can assist with understimulation. It is a superb alternative to check out a brand new scorching sauce or a food-grade silicone sensory chew.

If you battle to drink sufficient water, you must take into accounts why. Water filters and taste enhancers can assist alter the flavour in your personal tastes. The texture additionally issues, so check out the usage 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 wreck a meal, such a lot of folks 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 usage of an immersion blender for a smoother sauce.

People delicate to meals pieces touching every different can in finding sturdy divided dinner and portion-control plates with out decorations or graphics. We used to have melamine cafeteria trays from a thrift retailer, even though 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: casting off or overlaying them up.

Opening the home windows for recent air can temporarily take away smells if the outdoor air is blank sufficient, however this is not all the time an possibility right through less warm months. If you are living close to an business house or busy highway since, you might be buying and selling one scent for any 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 be able to deal with delightful smells, an air freshener or very important oil diffuser is a competent technique to curb odors. Cat homeowners would possibly experience how a Whisker Litter-Robot 4 reduces how ceaselessly you want to wash the muddle field, even supposing you continue to want to empty the smelly waste bin.

With any success, you will have discovered a couple of methods to assist arrange your senses and save you sensory overload. 

The knowledge contained on this article is for tutorial and informational functions best and isn’t supposed as well being or scientific recommendation. Always seek the advice of a doctor or different certified well being supplier referring to any questions you will have a few scientific situation or well being targets.