kindness

Sensory Processing

/ racheltheunissenwriter / 1 Comment

I started to write about this last week but as it’s such a huge topic I decided to dedicate this week to it. If you don’t know what sensory processing is, here is a definition for you from Wikipedia.

“Sensory processing is the process that organizes sensation from one’s own body and the environment, thus making it possible to use the body effectively within the environment.”

This is a bit confusing but essentially it means the way you interact with the world through your senses.

Traditionally we think of ourselves as having five senses – Sight, Hearing, Smell, Taste and Touch. For processing purposes I would include two extras – Proprioception and Interoception. These two you might not be familiar with.

Proprioception is perception or awareness of the position and movement of the body. This is why some people love a weighted blanket, the pressure on their body is helpful in regulating their emotions, it makes them feels safe. For some people a tight hug will do the same!

Interoception is an awareness of what is going on within your body. Our daughter is on the hypo (low sensitivity) end of the spectrum for this sense. This is why we have to be very aware of what might be going on with her in terms of mood as it might be that she is in pain and isn’t aware of where it’s coming from. She once had a burst eardrum and didn’t know it, we knew something was wrong but it took a few days until we worked out what it was. I’m sure you can tell that having low sensitivity here is dangerous.

When it comes to sensory processing we are all on a spectrum of how we handle each sense. We can have varying levels of sensitivity for each sense. My husband for example has a hyper (high) sensitivity to sound. He literally flinches as certain sounds, a spoon against a cup, a scrape of a knife on a plate, an unexpected loud laugh from a child! Where as I would say I have hypo (low) sensitivity to sound. Kids can make as much noise as they like and I can carry on with what I’m doing uninterrupted!

It’s really helpful recognising where your own sensitivities are as you can then begin to get more sympathy for those with sensory processing disorders. Often those on the Autism Spectrum easily become overwhelmed when there is a lot of sensory information to handle.

Think of walking into a supermarket. Immediately you’re hit with the bright lighting and signs everywhere, some swinging from the ceiling, as well as people all around in clashing colours. Then the sound of different voices chatting, babies crying, possibly music playing, beeping of the checkout and trolley wheels rolling. The smell of the cafe or the pumped through smell from the bakery, along with the food smells and the body odour of people all around. The feel of the trolley handle, the label on your clothes, your socks’ seams, the possibility of being bumped into. Needing to be aware of what you’re doing with your body as you walk around, how to avoid bumping things with the trolley, using the self scan machine, or brave a stranger by checking out with someone, the consideration of whether your body needs anything, are you hungry or thirsty, do you need to go to the bathroom, are you getting anxious? That’s before you even think about what you’re there to buy.

Feeling stressed yet? Imagine that on a daily basis in every setting you enter and maybe you’ll begin to see why it can be hard for a child to hold in their emotions. They may be able to do it while they’re in the store or at school but get them home and a meltdown is imminent.

The better we understand how overwhelming the world is for those with Sensory Processing Disorders the more compassionate we’ll become. We won’t roll our eyes when we hear of a supermarket having times of low sensory input for certain shoppers, we’ll applaud them. We won’t tut at the parent as they handle a child lying on the floor crying with their hands over their ears.

There are so many different ways we interact with the world that we can make easier for those with processing disorders. If it’s your own child you can cut the labels out of their tops, you can buy them seamless socks, you can set the washing machine to be on when they’re not in earshot.

It’s good to gradually try to decrease or increase sensitivity to help us to cope better in the world. Sean for instance won’t say anything about a single tap of a spoon on a cup but when it gets to the fifth or sixth time he will need to ask if it’s really necessary!

Tolerance is preached everywhere so let’s learn to be kind to ourselves as well as those around us. We’re all so different and different doesn’t mean wrong!

Journey to Autism Diagnosis – Part Six – Diagnosis and Beyond

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Now we have a diagnosis, the real work begins. I’ve researched and done training in sensory parenting and watch dozen’s of YouTube Video’s.

You might have read our story and recognise your own in some of the things I’ve shared. Don’t panic, some of the most gifted entrepreneurs who have ever lived have had ASD. There are some really fantastic positives to this way of thinking. Here’s a great video that busts some myths about autism. Ten things you should know about autism.

The most helpful YouTuber on the subject of Autism is Tony Attwood. He has some really helpful information particularly on ‘Girls with Autism’ and why this is such an undiagnosed group.

One of his most useful tips is in trying to help identify emotions. He suggests to find a special interest of theirs and use that to help. For our daughter, she loves the Harry Potter stories, so when something happens, good or bad, we’ll ask her which bit of the story it reminds her of. That then gives us an idea of where she’s at.

A big concern that Tony Atwood raises for girls with ASD or Asperger’s is poor mental health and vulnerability to abuse. Sean and I have talked about this a lot and it’s definitely a concern of ours. But as this is a difficult subject to talk about with a teenager who doesn’t like to talk about these things, we’ve found the best way to to do it through story.

I spend about an hour most nights reading to her. We have been through the Harry Potter series twice and the Hunger games. In both these books there are lots of relationships to analyse and ask – ‘Why do you think he/she did that?’ ‘Is he/she really being kind or just pretending?’ ‘How would you do it differently?’

This isn’t perfect, we’re still learning on this journey, but our main aim to try to keep lines of communication open. We talk about the fact that we don’t keep secrets from each other because they are often negative but we do have surprises and they’re fun! A useful distinction.

Another struggle for those with ASD can be around eating. Typically food would need to be beige in colour to be accepted, not always and not for our daughter. Taste falls into the sensory category and there can be a range from hyper (high) sensitivity to hypo (low) sensitivity. This means it either has to have no flavour or lots! For us it needs to have lots. Our approach has been to try to get flavourful food that isn’t full of additives and sugars. When she was little I would bake cheese scones with a bit of cayenne pepper in! It helps that I enjoy to cook as it means we have a lot of variety but I will always signpost what we’re eating for the week.

Sensory issues whether hyper or hypo affect every sense, taste, hearing, sight, smell and touch. There are two others, these are, proprioception and introception. There’s so much to say on the issue of sensory awareness so I’ll write about that next week.

But going back to food, the important thing is that we help her to eat something and educate about healthy eating and by sometimes standing our ground about some foods that are off limits. This is tough and we have an issue of hoarding and hiding food, apparently common, even with all this though we feel blessed to have a daughter who is willing, on the whole to try new foods.

There are so many helpful books, TED talks and YouTube videos that will help you in your journey to learn more. I mentioned in a previous blog about a BBC documentary called ‘Our Family and Autism’ which is so helpful when it comes to coping with a diagnosis whether that’s for a child or as an adult. This website -> https://thegirlwiththecurlyhair.co.uk/ is really helpful and has loads of links to learn more.

As I said earlier, next week I will focus on Sensory Processing and all that we’ve learnt in that area. I hope sharing all this has been helpful, if you have any questions or other links that may be helpful please put them in the comments.

Covid is in the house!

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This weekend my oldest son tested positive for Covid on a lateral flow test which lead to a positive PCR test. It’s had a huge impact on friends whom we had seen in the 48 hours previously and means many of them are also having to self isolate. It’s resulted in thinking a lot about Covid and the restrictions we’ve been living under for the last year and a half.

I have friends who fill all the spectrum of feelings on this. I have friends who are working flat out in the NHS, seeing heart-breaking situations, including people dying alone of Covid in hospital unable to be visited by family. Truly devastating. I have other friends who believe it’s all a hoax and we should ignore it all and stand up against the government and global elite. I have friends who have barely left the house for fear of catching it and even now are reluctant to return to normality. Teenagers who now have crippling anxiety and are unsure who to trust or believe.

Fear seems the common denominator. Fear of catching Covid, fear of being controlled, fear of being misunderstood. One of the phrases I’ve seen a lot is that ‘Media is the Virus’. It’s interesting that people are deciding that’s only the case now. It’s been a problem for decades. I would actually include Social Media in that. Fear spreads quickly, it sells newspapers, it gets you to click, it makes them money! Not just Covid but everything.

I don’t hold extreme views in either direction and my heart breaks for anyone who has been affected by what’s happened over the last year. Overall my stance has to be one of compassion and non-judgement. At some point we’ll know the truth and maybe those who are in fear of the virus are right or maybe those in fear of control. I imagine it’s somewhere in the middle.

If we can use this time to be kind to one another, not throwing stones and accusing people of ignorance or recklessness. To understand we’re all imperfect people who make mistakes. Ultimately I believe God is in control, so I don’t fear death, nor do I fear control. I stay close to Him and trust that He will bring the truth to light. I will live under the authority of the government of the country I live in – Jesus told his disciples to pay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar (now there was a corrupt and evil government).

Let’s choose not to judge people for their views on Covid and instead remember the privilege we have, especially in the UK, the right to protest, the ability to stay home, the right to free speech and to be able to disagree. But let’s not lose the ability to disagree and still be kind.

In a year of disappointments and frustrations I want to choose thankfulness, not denying the pain but living with it and allowing it to shape me into a better person and push me closer to God.