When The World is Overwhelming: How to offer helpful support to individuals who experience sensory challenges

Cover image - woman overwhelmed with crowd passing around her in the blurred background. She is holding head and looks to be upset with her eyes closed and mouth open.

Intro

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 5%-16.5% of the population experience sensory processing issues. Sensory challenges can affect people in different ways. People can experience mild to severe sensory challenges, experience too much sensory input, or they may not get enough sensory input.

It can affect a person’s daily functioning, and make it difficult to complete everyday tasks. Some diagnosis that we may see experiencing sensory challenges at a higher rate are autism spectrum disorder, sensory processing disorder, ADHD, bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorders. It is important to remember that just because a person you are supporting has a diagnosis listed does not mean they have sensory concerns. However, it is important to know if the individuals you are supporting have extra sensory needs.

Hulu Highlight

In the new Hulu documentary, directed by Kiana Moore, cameras follow a mother of 2 neurodivergent children, a dentist who has made his practice sensory friendly, and a gentleman who is navigating the world of sensory overload. The documentary brings to light that neurodivergence and sensory challenges do not make you less than, just unique. It reminds us that the world can be welcoming to everyone, if we make the effort to meet people where they are.

What does this mean?

Many of the individuals who we support process the world around them differently, and it can cause them to feel overwhelmed, anxious, scared, and even angry. People who experience sensory challenges may struggle more when they…

are transitioning to something new or different
go to a different place or an event they have never been to before
have new staff working with them
feel the environment around them feels like it is too much

Even though people may struggle with these things due to sensory challenges, it does not mean they do not want to experience new things or meet new people. It means that we may have to figure out with the person if there are ways we can accommodate the environment, so it is more comfortable for them. If the world is too much for someone, sometimes the best way to support them is to meet them where they are and help them make the world a little less overwhelming.

Hyper- or Hypo-?

Knowing what type of sensory challenge, a person has can be an important part of understanding how to support them in the best way. People who have sensory challenges tend to be hypersensitive or hyposensitive to sensory input.

Hypersensitive

A person who is hypersensitive to sensory stimuli experiences the world loudly, with too much sensory input. Some signs that you might see in someone who is hypersensitive include:

Eloping from loud environments
Covering or plugging their ears
Aversion to specific clothing
Easily startled
May have poor balance
May have aversions to foods due to smell, textures, or taste. They may have a short list of “safe foods” that they are willing to eat consistently
May not want to be hugged or touched, they might like a lot of personal space
May be sensitive to bright or flashing lights
May have a low pain tolerance
They may pick up on sounds that we might not be able to hear (If they tell you there are sounds that are bothering them, believe them.)
They may take off their clothes due to feeling uncomfortable
They may like to wear the same clothing over and over again because it feels good to them

Hyposensitive

Individuals who have hyposensitive sensory needs do not receive enough sensory input from their environment. People who do not receive enough sensory input feel out of sync with their world, like their body is constantly floating and they have no control. People who do not receive enough sensory input tend to find it in other ways. Some signs that someone is hyposensitive are:

Hitting their body off the wall/furniture when they are walking
Very limited personal space
Tend to touch others frequently
May engage in self-injurious behaviors just to get more input
Might prefer listening to sounds or music at a very loud volume
May prefer very spicy foods or put a lot of food into their mouth at once
Might not respond to pain or temperature changes
Possibly rock back and forth
Could look at objects very closely
May talk very loudly or scream
May struggle with fine motor tasks like buttoning shirts or tying shoes. Even if they could button or zip one article of clothing, this does not mean they wont struggle with something else. Offer help when you think they need it.
Might not be able to focus on verbal directions and may ask to be repeated frequently
Might enjoy deep pressure (weighted blankets or weighted vests can be helpful)
May like being in constant movement such as jumping, running, or pacing the room

Changing Needs

It is important to remember that sensory needs can change. For example, when someone is in an unfamiliar environment, they may pick up on sensory input that might not have bothered them before.

For example, you go to the mall to shop. This is typically a preferred place for the individual because the time you usually go isn’t busy and they really enjoy shopping. However, when you go that day, the mall is holding an event that drew a large crowd. The preferred place for your individual might now be uncomfortable for them due to the larger crowds, louder volume of noise, and the temperature increase due to the number of people who are there.

It is important to pay attention to a person’s change in behavior and check in with them to see if they are OK. Just because they were OK in the environment before does not mean that it can’t change. If you check in and the person is not OK, make sure you respect that and take it seriously.

Signs of Overwhelm

Some signs that a person may be feeling overwhelmed in their environment are:

Trying to run away
Hitting their body off of the walls
Hitting themselves
Covering their ears
Crying
Increased movement like jumping or spinning
Losing focus
Trouble following any direction
Yelling
Telling you that they are angry
Telling you that they don’t feel well
Increased self-stimulatory behavior (hand flapping, spinning, touching objects, vocal sounds)

Photo of lava lamps and Liquid Dripping Timers which can be sensory objects calming or mesmerizing for individuals seeking sensory stimulation perhaps for people with autism or anxiety. Text over the picture is "What sensory items help?"

Support

Sensory experiences surround us every day. It is important to be aware of a person’s sensory needs to be able to provide the best support to them. Everyone has different needs, so it is also important that you learn what they are from one person to another.

Ask the person what they need, what bothers them in the environment, and what you can do to help. It is important to help the person feel confident to be a self-advocate and express their needs to others. It can be helpful to practice how to communicate what they need before you go to a new environment.

For example, if they go to an event, even if it is something that they are excited about, practice a few phrases they can say if the environment is overwhelming. Phrases that may be helpful are I need a break, or I am overwhelmed; I would like to go home. Communication is powerful and can help someone feel in control when the world seems out of control.

A person who experiences sensory challenges does want to be social, experience the world, and try new things. They just might need some accommodations in their environment to make it happen.

“We need to start normalizing the accommodations and the different environments, instead of trying to normalize people”. -Dr. Virginia Spielmann, Occupational Therapist, ED, Ph.D., OT/RL

Tips

Consider these tips to support a person’s sensory needs:

Approach everyone’s sensory needs differently. Everyone’s experience is unique.
Make sure you are aware of the person’s sensory needs so you can be more aware of what is helpful to them.
Make sure you are aware of signs that the person is not regulated or is having a hard time, so you can help as soon as possible.
Check out a new environment before you go to see what it is like.
Explain to the person what the environment might look like before you go somewhere.
Make sensory “to go” bags that contain sensory tools that may help the person when they are out and about.
Before you go to a new event or environment, ask the person if they are comfortable going.
If you need to go to a new environment and cannot avoid it, like a medical appointment, prepare the person as much as possible. Explain the environment or event to them, write a social story about the outing, remind them of what they can do if they feel overwhelmed, etc.
Remind them that they can take a break from the environment if it is too much for them.
Make sure you have their communication devices with you so they can express their needs in whatever way is best for them.
Try to find sensory friendly events in your area that may be more comfortable for the person.

Photo of a variety of sensory fidget toys like rubics cube, busy cube, fidget spinner, stretch tubes, poppers, tactile tanglers or snakes, puzzle with beads, etc.

Some local sensory friendly events and activities you can try

Getting out in nature can be very calming to people. Finding local hiking trails, parks, and camping grounds can be a good option to get a change of scenery in a setting that is not as overwhelming. Check out these other places in Pennsylvania and their accommodations.

The National Aviary

National Aviary offers a sensory guide, which gives you an explanation of what sensory experiences you may have in each room. Their staff is trained in sensory friendly practices, and they have sensory toolkits at the front desk upon request.

https://www.aviary.org/visit/accessibility/sensory-guide

Andy Warhol Museum

The Andy Warhol Museum offers many sensory friendly events, hours, and exhibits throughout the year. https://www.warhol.org

Carnegie Museums

The Carnegie Museums in Pittsburgh offer sensory events and hours throughout the year. https://carnegiemuseums.org

Home

PNC Park

PNC Park in partnership with Kulture City now has a sensory room located in Suite 62 to offer anyone with sensory needs a break. Acrisure Stadium as well as PPG Paints offer sensory toolkits to anyone who needs them upon request.

https://www.mlb.com/pirates/ballpark/disability-access-guide

AMC Movie Theaters

AMC movie theaters offer sensory friendly screenings to many of their movies. Times and dates are regularly posted on their website.

https://www.amctheatres.com/programs/sensory-friendly-films

Kulture City

Kulture City is an organization that provides certifications to venues, organizations and events to better understand the needs of people who have sensory challenges in order to make the world more sensory friendly. Their app can help you locate sensory friendly organizations, events, and locations close to you.

https://www.kulturecity.org/app/