Sensory Needs in Children with Autism

Children with autism often have sensory needs or preferences that can affect their ability to focus and interact with other people. In this video, Hanen Speech-Language Pathologist, Fay McGill, talks about the different types of sensory needs that you may see in children with autism, and offers some general ideas for how you can help a child cope with sensory needs.

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The Hanen Centre is a not-for-profit organization committed to promoting the best possible language, social and literacy skills in young children. We believe that parents and caregivers have the biggest influence on children’s early language learning and that the best learning happens during the everyday interactions they have together. We created this channel as part of our efforts to share practical, research-based information with these important people in children’s lives so that they can nurture the early skills that make a life-long difference for all children.

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[kafka]

To parents of autistic kids: I also strongly recommend connecting with adult autistic people! Especially locally.

They might be able to give you more information on solutions - and give you tips on local autism friendly environments as well as warn about inaccessible places!

For an example, I am an adult autistic person. Because of this, I know which parks have too much car noise from roads close by, or too many people - and which parks are more secluded. I know which malls have more and less echo, and feel more or less overwhelming.

We can give so much tips and advice and many of us are very happy to help give your kid the accessibilized childhood that many of us never got

[joncheung]

Slow gentle touch is a key mechanism in the neurodevelopment of the social brain. It stimulates the C-tactile Afferent fibres in the Touch sensory system. Stimulation of the C-tactile fibres stimulates up to 13 out of 24 brain regions.

Apparently in autism, slow gentle touch doesn't stimulate the social brain as strongly or that their touch sense is too hypersensitive to receive this input to develop the social brain

These brain regions are called:
- amygdala
- Insula
- dorsal anterior cingulate cortex
- orbitofrontal cortex
- dorsomedial prefrontal cortex
- ventrolateral prefrontal cortex
- frontal operculum
- right temporoparietal junction
- left temporoparietal junction
- angular gyrus
- superior temporal gyrus
- fusiform gyrus
- right posterior superior temporal sulcus

Stimulating the c-tactile fibres develops:
- the empathy circuit
- face-to face social interaction
- social behaviour
- understanding and following social norms
- interoception
- self-awareness
- mirror neuron function
- putting yourself in someone else's shoes by metaphorically projecting yourself outward onto that person's position
- self-other differentiation
- body awareness
- readng people's intentions
- interest in socializing
- the social side of the parasympathetic nervous system
- the capacity of the default mode network to deactivate when it needs to deactivate
- the salience network also known as the social affiliation network
-

This is a gamechanger mechanism. It is a key component in developing the capacity to be social beings

[DarkKnight-lxib]

I have autism and nobody seems to understand how I feel, when I say to people talk a bit quiter because it hurts my ears some people talk louder to annoy me

[sejaljaviya]

Thank you
Very nice helpful information

[dianewhitcombe]

I have autism so very help fall thanks

[rydersgaming]

I have adhd but I’m the smartest in my class but my Teacher is really Rude and Doesn’t understand how I feel

[khizarhassankhan]

My son is 5.5 yrs and likes to climb, jump,run