Autism Symptoms in Children - Sensory Issues

What are some of the most common autism symptoms in children? Sensory issues. What are sensory issues? Sensory issues are when your child has all his senses turned to high. In other words, he is overly sensitive to noise, smells, lights, crowds, touch, and so on.
How does this autism symptom in children present itself? A child with autism who is sensitive to noise may scream in a crowd, cover his ears, or generally look agitated. He may not be able to concentrate in the classroom because of all the noise. He may get especially agitated at unexpected noises, such as fire alarms, fire trucks, sirens, and so on. The noise from a coffee grinder may even be enough to cause a meltdown (yelling and screaming.)
How to Minimize the Effect of These Autism Symptoms in Children
In these situations, you might try to only bring your child with autism to environments that will be reasonably quiet...when possible...and prepare him for the noise when this is not. iPods or earplugs, or both, can work wonders in this situation to minimize the effects of these autism symptoms.
Shopping Can Be Difficult
Sensitivity to crowds, bright lights or other visual information will become all too apparent when you try to shop in your local supermarket. Most children with autism have an awfully hard time with grocery stores. There is too much activity going on around them and it is hard for them to process it all. People chattering every which way, the noise of shopping carts squeaking, music and announcements over the PA system - these issues all trigger autism symptoms in children
Colors and shapes and so much visual information to take in can be over stimulating. Smells from the meat or fish departments, of perfume on others, or from cleaning materials can cause adverse reactions in some children with autism. If you have to bring your child to a grocery store, try to have something to distract them so that they don't get as overwhelmed.
Identifying these Autism Symptoms in Children
What are some other ways that you can tell if your child has sensory issues, which could be a symptom of autism? A lot of kids with autism have trouble with touch. They won't wear tight, restricting clothes, or clothes that are at all itchy. A lot of times they complain that the fabric just doesn't feel right. They often will need loose cotton clothes to be able to tolerate wearing clothes at all. If you find something that works, you should buy many different colors, because it may be hard to repeat in the future.
Avoidance of Physical Contact is one of the Common Autism Symptoms in Children
Many kids with autism will resist hugs and touching other people. They stiffen and avoid touch of any kind. Their skin is hypersensitive to what it encounters. Often, they will avoid getting dirty or playing outside because they don't like the feel of the dirt and ground on them. Many hate the beach because of the feel of the sand. Sensory integration therapy can help with this.
Sensory issues can be key autism symptoms in children to look out for, so you should take note if you notice any of the above.

Hopefully, with early identification and early treatment, life can be a little easier for those with autism and the people who love them. For additional tips and suggestions that can help your loved one live a fulfilling and happy life visit the AmericanAutismSociety.org. There you can sign up for their FREE newsletter with tips and info on autism.

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Helping The Child Who Has Sensory Issues

There's something up with a child you know. She is clumsy, picky, always on the move, or perpetually flopped in a chair like a wet noodle. He is impulsive, intense, and quirky. Maybe this child has a learning disability, ADHD, or autism, or maybe not. Why are everyday sensations so distressing to him? Can she really "hear" the fluorescent lights that she claims are distracting her?

It's very likely that this child you're concerned about has sensory processing disorder, also known as SPD or sensory integration dysfunction. An estimated 1 in 20 children have this disorder. Almost all children with autism have SPD as well.
This child's nervous system is wired atypically so that his body processes everyday sensations differently. His senses don't give him an accurate picture of what's going on in his body and his world, so he's prone to anxiety, distractibility, impulsivity, and frustration. A child with SPD will tune out or act out when overstimulated. The need for sensory input such as movement and touch can be so overpowering that the child truly can't control his need to seek it out. Many of us have difficulty tuning out background noise in a busy restaurant so we can focus on a conversation, or we prefer clothes that are tight or loose. These are sensory preferences. When a child's sensory issues interfere significantly with learning and playing, he needs the help of an occupational therapist, a sensory diet, and a sensory smart adult who can teach him how to feel more comfortable in his body and environment.

Fortunately, many of the accommodations that can make a huge difference in the life of a child who has sensory issues are simple and inexpensive. Here are just a few:

1. Cut out clothing tags, turn socks inside out or buy seamless ones, and avoid clothing with embroidery and elastic that may feel irritating to the child.

2. To help him tolerate the intense sensation of having his teeth brushed, offer the child nonfoaming toothpaste and try desensitizing his mouth and lips by using a vibrating toothbrush or even just gently pressing a hand-held vibrator against his cheek, jaws, and lips before attempting to brush.

3. To calm and focus a child with sensory issues, you may need to use deep pressure against the skin as you compress her joints. Hug her, or press pillows against her body or rolling her up in a blanket to play "burrito." However, always pay attention to what a child is telling you, in words or body language, about her response to sensory input. Don't upset her with unwanted touch.

4. In school or at home, allow him to sit on an exercise ball or an inflatable cushion, with a smooth or bumpy surface, to give him extra input to his body. This will meet the movement needs of a child who just has to be able to squirm and enhance his body awareness, allowing him to focus better.

5. Let the child separate different foods on his plate and eat them without mixing together foods of different textures. The skin in the mouth of a child with sensory issues can be exquisitely sensitive, making her a picky eater. You may have better luck getting her to eat a steamed green vegetable or raw carrot stick rather than a peanut butter sandwich.

6. Provide the child with quiet getaways to retreat to when the sensory onslaught of everyday life is too much. Let her sit alone with you in a car outside of a party or noisy restaurant, or in a quiet, darkened room, listening to relaxing music on a personal music player.

A pediatric occupational therapist, trained and experienced in helping children with sensory issues, can work with parents and teachers to plan and carry out activities for the child that can help him or her function better at home, at school, and away. She can also help problem solve and discover accommodations that will ease the child's discomfort. Whether working on a consultation basis, in a "sensory gym" nearby, at home or at school, the right sensory smart OT can make a huge difference in the life of a child with sensory processing disorder.

copyright 2009 Nancy Peske

By: Nancy Peske

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Nancy Peske is the coauthor, with Lindsey Biel OTR/L, of the award-winning book Raising a Sensory Smart Child: The Definitive Handbook for Helping Your Child with Sensory Processing Issues, recently expanded and rereleased by Penguin Books and available at bookstores everywhere. Her son was diagnosed with sensory processing disorder (sensory integration dysfunction) and multiple developmental delays at age 2. Learn more at www.sensorysmarts.com and sensorysmartnews.com

Foods for Picky Eaters and Children With Sensory Issues

In preschool, Cole and his classmates were introduced to the story of Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss. They were excited when their teacher actually cooked up ham and fried eggs with green food coloring. Inspired by the story, all the children took a bite to discover whether they, too, liked green eggs and ham-all, that is, except for Cole. Cole's sensory processing issues made it extra hard for him to tolerate any new food, so while he understood the point of the story, he wasn't going anywhere near that "icky stuff."

We all know kids need to eat a variety of healthy foods, but picky eaters often need more exposure to a "new" food than other kids do before they will take a bite. For children with sensory processing disorder and/or autism, who experience the world as a confusing and inconsistent place, where unpleasant and disorienting sensations can bombard them at any time, familiarity is very comforting. It may take much time and repetition to get a picky eater with sensory issues to try a new food.

To avoid wasting food as you are working on getting your child to try something new, serve him a tiny portion, perhaps even one small bite or spoonful, on his plate. Work toward having him tolerate the unfamiliar food on his plate without fussing. You may have to start by serving him the food on a separate plate, then later, serve it on his plate but make sure it's not touching any other foods. The next step is to insist that he touch it with his finger, then pick it up and touch it to his tongue. After that, the goal should be to have him place it in his mouth and chew it. Allow him to spit it out in a napkin if he finds it very distressing and intolerable. In this way, you can slowly but surely expand his food choices.

Choose one healthy food to try to work into your picky eater's diet. Make it one that is somewhat similar to a food she already will eat. If she will eat peas, try corn kernels, which are similar in size and texture. Often it's the "feel" of the food that matters most to a child with sensory issues. Recipes for toddlers and children that sneak vegetables into sauces may work if there are no lumps or bumps in the sauce, but your child's sense of taste may be so exquisite that she notices something's different about her pizza today.

If your picky eater with sensory issues resists mixed textures, which is a common problem, work on introducing simple foods without condiments and that have simple textures. A slice of tomato that has been deseeded, a piece of roast chicken with the skin removed, or a hardboiled egg yolk or egg white separated from the rest of the egg offer simple textures.

Some parents find some success in getting their child with sensory issues to tolerate two different textures or temperatures by serving a sugary treat such as ice cream with broken cookies mixed into it or hot fudge drizzled over the top. But don't be surprised if her sensory issues cause her to place her need for familiar foods with simple textures over any desire for something sweet! You may actually be better off working on getting her to eat plain celery sticks or cucumbers slices with the seeds and skins removed. What's more, simple, healthy foods are easy to prepare and keep on hand to be introduced again and again.

If the child has a favorite junk food, such as French fries or corn chips, introduce healthier versions of these foods and healthier foods that are similar in texture and shape. Steamed red potatoes with the skins removed have a texture similar to that of French fries, for instance, while crunchy foods such as carrots or snap peas give sensory input similar to that of chips. Serve raw vegetables and fruits as snacks and appetizers before meals if it is difficult to get her to eat her broccoli rather than just her macaroni and cheese. Encourage your child to find favorite fruits, vegetables, and whole grain foods and serve them to her often.

Keep in mind that children who severely limit their food choices, particularly if they self-limit to foods containing gluten (an ingredient in foods derived from wheat and some other grains) and casein (a protein found in milk and milk-based products), may have a food intolerance or celiac disease. In fact, these children often have digestive or skin problems as a result of their food intolerances, and crave the very foods their bodies can't tolerate well. If you suspect this is the case, consult with a nutritionist who is knowledgeable about sensory issues and eating difficulties in children. In extreme cases, a feeding clinic program can help.

copyright (c) 2012 Nancy Peske

The information contained here is provided as a public service. It is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as personal medical advice. Although every effort is made to ensure that this material is accurate and up-to-date, it is provided for the convenience of the user and should not be considered definitive.

Nancy Peske is the coauthor of the award-winning book Raising a Sensory Smart Child: The Definitive Handbook for Helping Your Child with Sensory Processing Issuesand an advocate for kids with sensory processing disorder. She writes a blog for parents of children with sensory processing disorder at http://www.sensorysmartparent.wordpress.com and offers inspiration and information for parents at http://www.sensorysmartparent.com

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Autism Treatment for Kids - What Is Sensory Integration Therapy?

There are many different kinds of autism treatment for kids, but one that we will focus on here is sensory integration therapy.

Kids with autism have many sensory issues, but there is help available. Occupational therapists are able to use different methods of sensory integration therapy to try to address some of these problems.

Auditory Integration Therapy Helps Kids with Autism

If your kid is very sensitive to sounds and noise, therapists can do something called auditory integration therapy. Your kid listens to different tones and frequencies of music, using headphones. These tones are prepared specifically for your kid. Your brain needs to adjust itself to hear these tones, so in this way, this process can actually, over time, change the way the brain processes auditory information. As a result, this can make your kid less sensitive to auditory stimuli.

Wilbarger Deep Pressure technique

Many kids are sensitive to touch, and often have trouble with the feeling of clothing, or have similar tactile problems. These kids may do well with a technique called the Wilbarger Deep Pressure technique. Your kid's skin is brushed with a special brush, in a very specific way. This stimulates receptors and nerves in your body and brain and in time can help you tolerate the feeling of touch more. Please note that this should only be done with a professional who is trained in this technique.

There are also other methods of autism treatment for kids that would fall under the category of sensory integration therapy.

Some Kids are Under Stimulated While Others are Over Stimulated

Keep in mind that some kids are under receptive to sensory stimuli, and need to do activities such as balancing, spinning, running, rolling on a ball to get themselves "going" and start "feeling okay."

Other kids, however, are over sensitive to sensory information, and need to avoid it as much as possible. But no matter which is the case, there are activities, often referred to as a "sensory diet," that can help change the way your kid's brain processes sensory information. Activities that look like play, done with a competent therapist, can actually change the way your kid's brain works.

Sensory Diet

There are many other things, often referred to as a "sensory diet," that can help kids with sensory issues. Simply put, some kids are under receptive to sensory information, and need to engage in activities like spinning, balancing, running, rolling on a ball and so on to get themselves going and start "feeling okay." Others are too sensitive to this information and there are activities that can help re-engineer the brain so that they can process it better. Often something that looks like play can actually be changing the way a child's brain works.

Sensory integration therapy is an important autism treatment for kids.

And parents should learn as much as you can about sensory issues. Tips from other parents and professionals can be extremely helpful. A great site that has tips and suggestions for additional treatments is the AmericanAutismSociety.org. There you can sign up for their FREE newsletter with tips and info on autism.

Bedtime Tips For the Child With Sensory Issues

Quality sleep is crucial for quality functioning, and yet we are a sleep-deprived culture. Adults drink coffee and push themselves past their tiredness, while children will naturally push themselves to be more alert and then not be able to calm down. Kids with sensory issues usually have poor self-regulation, meaning they can't easily bring themselves from one state of alertness to another. When tired or feeling lethargic, they will rev up to a hyperactive state and remain there. They may even endanger themselves as they get toward bedtime and become more giddy and unmindful of where their body is in relation to people and objects. Accidents are more likely to happen just before bedtime when kids are getting wired as they are getting tired.

For safety's sake, and to get kids in bed on time to get the necessary amount of sleep, begin the bedtime routine at least 30 minutes before their actual bedtime, if not longer. A few minutes between the announcement that it is time to go to sleep and lights out is not enough time for a sensory child's body to adjust. Turn off the television and DVD early; both are hypnotizing, and the minutes will slip away as he watches "just this last scene" and the next, and the next.

Dim the lights. The bright lighting that is right for playing with toys in the bedroom is too stimulating before bed. Read bedtime stories by lamplight not by the overhead light.

Stick to a routine. Make sure teeth are brushed, bath is over with (note that bathtime at night is too stimulating for some sensory kids), and pajamas are on before settling in to bed. This way, you can avoid a struggle over him having to jump out of bed to brush in front of the sink. Let your child pick a favorite story or nonfiction book. You might also talk about the events of the day in a positive way. For instance, if your child pitched a fit after school because she had to go to the dentist, talk it through and validate her feelings, and have a short discussion on how to make things easier the next time she has an appointment. Help her to go to sleep believing that tomorrow she will do better, with your support.

Think about blocking out background noise. Close doors so she can't hear the television or a conversation going on in another room.Consider using a fan (not necessarily blowing on your child, just "on"), aquarium, white noise machine, soft music, or even a radio turned to static to block out background noise that will keep her awake.

Provide deep pressure input. It may help to massage her limbs, squeezing them gently and then releasing, to calm her body. You can teach her to tighten her muscles, then release them, body part by body part, in order to self-calm any time she needs to go from an alert to calm, or sleeping, state. She may need hugging, pillows pressed against her, or a weighted blanket to help her body to fall asleep. If you want to use a weighted blanket, consult a sensory smart OT about the proper weight and use. Or, use heavy cotton blankets, if they don't make your child too warm.

All of these strategies will help your child with sensory issues relax his system and have an easier time going from an alert to a calm, then asleep, state.

Copyright (c) 2010 Nancy Peske

Nancy Peske is the coauthor of the book Raising a Sensory Smart Child: The Definitive Handbook for Helping Your Child with Sensory Processing Issues. She blogs about parenting kids with SPD and sends out a weekly newsletter of practical tips for parents and professionals who work with children who have sensory processing issues, available via her website http://www.sensorysmartparent.com

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