Our sensory systems tell us about our body position, how we move,
what we hear, see, smell, touch and taste. Most children with a
diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Disorder react to their surroundings
in different or unusual ways because their sensory systems react
differently.

Your child may be over sensitive to some sensations. This means
that he may find just a small amount of sensation too much to
cope with and may become over aroused or distressed.

• A lot of children will avoid the situation they find difficult or
  refuse to play.
• Some will go into what we could call ‘shut down’, by
  withdrawing into their own world or falling asleep.

Oversensitive/Undersensative

• Your child may be both over sensitive and under sensitive
  at the same time eg he may be upset by the noise of the
  vacuum cleaner but at the same time appear not to notice
  when someone is speaking.
• Sometimes when a child is tired or upset, his tolerance for
  sensations change eg the feel of his woolly jumper that he
  accepted before is now impossible to wear next to his skin.
• As your child grows and develops his sensory preferences
  and dislikes can change.
• Your child’s response to certain situations, his behaviour, his
  preferred play, will all help you build up a sensory picture.
  This in turn may help you understand why he behaves in an
  unusual way at times. Using his sensory preferences can
  also help you tune in and connect with him during play.
• It may help to keep a diary where you can record how he
  behaves in certain situations, what seems to trigger over
  arousal, what he likes to eat and play with and what calms
  him down.