“When I was young I always seemed to feel things more than others. If I grazed my knee, I would feel pain for hours and hours. I used to tantrum over smells and noises and I would always be told to snap out of it.” Paul, autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
Most children have balanced senses – they will see, hear and feel within the same range. They appreciate the feel of different fabrics, enjoy a range of tastes and tolerate different levels of noise. If they fall, they will recover quickly and continue the activity they were enjoying.
Autistic children, however, have sensory imbalances which can make life tough. It has been recognised that autistic children will present over or under-sensitivity in the areas of sight, sound, touch, taste, smell and body awareness. This can make school a very difficult place to be. The anxiety caused by their sensory imbalances can lead to unwanted classroom behaviours such as rocking, swaying, spinning, fidgeting and clicking or humming noises. So how does sensory imbalance present itself at school and what impact will this have in the classroom?
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