Autism & sensory sensitivities | Divergent Voices - hosted by Purple Ella

In this episode of Divergent Voices, our host Purple Ella and Neurodevelopmental Specialist Hannah Hayward, discuss different types of sensory sensitivities, as well as strategies for managing them.

This video was created by Clinical Partners for the NHS. The series is part of autism unlocked - a dedicated space for autistic people and their families to receive expert advice and guidance on a range of issues.

In this episode:
01:34 - Exploring lesser-known senses (proprioception, interoception and the vestibular system)
06:44 - Sensory sensitivities and periods
09:16 - How to figure out your sensory needs
12:23 - Hypersensitivity vs hyposensitivity
17:13 - Tips for making sensory adjustments and accommodations

Additional Resources:
Blog post explaining different sensory sensitivities:

Useful links:

#autism

[amandasymon]

I am crying because at long last I understand what the heck is going on with me! I am a 65 year old women and I at long last understand why I find life so very difficult 🤯 I am not sure how I can get some help but you two have helped me immensely - I truly cannot thank you enough 🙏

[gamewrit]

Lately I've been framing this discussion as "sensory needs" instead of "sensitivities, " in certain contexts, since we all have sensory needs.

[sarahjensen]

My sensory issues are mostly related to artificial environments. Getting out into nature gives me a break, which really helps me feel better and tolerate the stress of toxic environments when I can't avoid them.

We are the canaries in the coal mine of our society. Everyone is stressed by the way we live right now, but "experts" pretend that we can't understand why road rage and mass shootings are a problem. Constant sensory overload takes a toll on everyone.

[NotAyFox]

The irony of sensory differences is that one assumes everyone around them has similar experience with sensory inputs and so, to undiagnosed autistic people, it rarely occurs to look for those differences specifically. It's only after we're told explicitly that our sensory experience is different that we start to pay attention to our sensory needs and how they affect our daily lives and start to ruminate on how they negatively impacted our past life experiences.

[markh]

Lots to absorb here, personally I find bright lights, especially while diving at night painful as well as the mentioned strip lights, background noise is a real pain as I cant focus on people talking to me but I love loud music... And total peace and quiet, food textures are a big thing but my sense of taste is not great... Except for acidic foods which I love. Thanks for sharing. 🙏

[WilliamFontaineJr]

Absolutely great content. Another Purple Ella excellence.

[Sundayjean]

Great discussion! The pain was really resonated. There’s a lot of pain that I don’t feel but I become really disregulated. The last time it happened the dentist left a nerve exposed for 2 weeks. I was a mess by the time I went back and it wasn’t until after they put the permanent crown on that I realized what was causing the dysregulation.
Right now I’ve just come through a a hurricane; I’m safe but there’s a massive hole in my ceiling. And I feel like I can’t fully get back into my body, even though I know a ton of tools.

[lisaweinmeyer]

So many great comments in this video. My sensory issues are quite severe, and learning that temperature was also common, was a relief. I change at least three times a day. My clothes get too warm from my own body heat! Changing clothes often, or putting a top in the freezer, work for me. Interestingly, my visual senses are hyper sensitive to movement, and the world is constantly moving! My son (now in his twenties) has acute hearing sensitivity. He once grabbed a baseball bat, and was headed for our clock! I rushed ahead and took out the battery...all was well after that.

[gamewrit]

Severe PMS would wreck me for up to 14 days a month, but it's significantly improved now while taking a daily progesterone only pill (pop, without estrogen).

[bobbyb]

These are some of the things that really make me question about possibly being on the spectrum on top of my ADHD. Food tastes and textures, smells, clothing texture and bunched socks, bright or flickering light, sounds that no one else seems to notice, etc.

[emilythorne]

I'm currently overwhelmed 😪 Thank you for making sence

[gamewrit]

The texture of food matters to me, too, as much as the taste.

I wear my socks inside out. Wear 100% cotton clothes as much as possible. I use Earth Science dye and perfume free shampoo and conditioner, and hello brand kid's strawberry toothpaste without sulfates (sulfates burn and sting) but still has flouride.

I wear a baseball cap whenever I go into a clinic or store to shade my eyes from the fluorescent lights, and take my headphones with me almost everywhere.

[laurabaker]

Love this video! Ella is amazing! Subbed, liked and shared 😊

[gordy]

Ella I got my Adhd assessment moved to a priority case, from 3 years to 3-6 months, so if anyone is having difficulties discuss it with the people at your local centre, maybe Ella can cover this in a video, maybe a list of things which can make you more at risk can bump you up the list. 👍

[briena]

So much interesting facts, I will definitely rewatch this video a couple of times! Thanks for keeping it short and on point, but also so helpful and easy to follow!

I often wonder how all this is connected to serotonin. I know that when I get an overload, I get a migraine afterwards. And sometimes I wonder, if getting sensory overload means some kind of trigger to flood serotonin in the body for whatever reason.

[helenbuckley]

I have a self smooth bag and weighted blanket. I am very sensitive to new places and not knowing where their toilert is. I have also sensory blocklet.

[vazzaroth]

Hmm, weird how, as soon as you needed a bunch of tech people in your office, suits and jackets are no longer the norm, eh? (I work in IT and it's a point of pride that 'my people' don't subscribe to such hollow authority worship personally)