Sensory Sensitivity in ChildrenUnderstanding Why Your Child is Highly Sensitive to Sounds, Smells, and the Way Things Feel

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Children with autism or other developmental disabilities often process sensory information differently. Sometimes they over respond to what they see, hear, smell and taste. This can cause them lots of anxiety and lead to meltdowns. Below are some tips on what you can do to help reduce their sensory overload and ease their discomfort. 

Over-Responding to Sounds

  • Try having your child put on noise-canceling headphones to help muffle or shut out sounds. 
  • Create a quiet space for your child to retreat to when noises become too overwhelming. 
  • Talk to family members about your child’s sensitivities so that they understand and can try to keep noise to a minimum. 

Over-Responding to Textures in Clothing

  • Pick clothing in textures your child likes. 
  • Try giving your child loose clothing to wear. 
  • Allow your child to pick out their clothing. This will also help increase your child’s independence. 

Over-Responding to Food Textures or Taste

  • Be flexible—not everyone’s sense of taste is the same.  
  • Relax—picky eating is common. (Note: This tip doesn’t apply if your child will only eat one or two things or has a nutritional problem due to how or what they eat.) 
  • Start slowly when introducing new foods or new textures, and reward your child for trying new things. For example, one bit of food they don’t like can be rewarded with a bit of food they do like. 
  • Forget the clean-your-plate rule. That one never works! 

Over-Responding to Lights

  • Make sure to keep your child’s exposure to bright lights to a minimum. 
  • Consider making your child’s bedroom a place that gets less light. 
  • Try sunglasses to help shield your child’s eyes from bright lights, even in the house. 

Where to Get Help 

If your child has severe sensory problems, occupational and speech therapy and behavioral therapies can be helpful. You can also talk with your child’s doctor.

Below are some additional resources that you may find helpful: 

Star Institute: Understanding Sensory Processing Disorders 

The Sensory System by SensoryFun! Toolkit 

Sensory Issues 

Sensory Symptoms Checklist