Advice for Asperger's and Autistim Association
Time 2021-10-16 13:05:47Web Name: Advice for Asperger's and Autistim Association
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keywords: description:Identifying Sensory overload and sensory seeking behavior in people with autism and advice on how to deal with it.
I just wantto let you in on a few things that you may not be aware of. The autism spectrumis much larger than people know. There are people on the spectrum that are someof the leading geniuses of all time. People on the spectrum are already incritical positions that help keep our nations economy afloat. Employing peopleon the spectrum is not about charity; its about finding the right person forthe job and keeping them there. As a matter of fact, you probably already knowpeople who are doing important jobs whom you were not aware were on thespectrum. Autisticpeople tend to have several characteristics that make them able to do certainjobs better than your average worker. Some of these qualities are:organization, creativity, superior memory, hyper-focus, calculation ability,routine-focus, and brutal honesty. Ill try to some personal and generalexamples of each of these. Now, sometimes these extraordinary abilities cancome with a price, and Ill point this out as well. People onthe spectrum have a need for things to be organized. If I walk into a store andthe shelves are messy and disorganized, it truly bothers me. It bothers meenough that unless I am restrained, I will spontaneously start organizing them(my wife would frequently chastise me with the phrase, you dont work here,whenever we were out shopping.) The right person on the spectrum will keep yourinventory organized far better than the average worker without having to be askedor reminded. Downside: Organization is often not optional and can be confusingly inconsistent from an outside perspective. Having things out of place can leave a person on the spectrum distracted and confused until things are put in the right place. People you may know: If you have run across a person that can keep an entire store or warehouse organized and always seems to know where everything is without having to look, this person is probably on the autistic spectrum, even if they dont know it themselves. Creativityis also a hallmark of people on the spectrum. We tend to look at things from aslightly different perspective than the average worker, which allows us to dothings that can really catch the customers attention. Eye-catching displays, memorableslogans, more efficient ways of doing things, and even new products andservices that add to your business are things that someone on the autisticspectrum can bring to your business. Drawback: Creativity is a very hit or miss thing. Sometimes even the best seeming ideas just dont pan out. Also, autistic people can sometimes get stuck on an idea that turns out to be unworkable. A frank discussion may be needed to get us to move on. People you may know: Most new products are created by people on the spectrum as well as things like logos and artwork. Superiormemory is one of the most useful of the autistic quirks. People on thespectrum often become fascinated by something and will quickly become an expertin whatever that is. This often leads to an encyclopedic knowledge that cangive you your own in-house expert.Drawback: The subject has to catch our attention, and this is not really voluntary. It either fascinates us or it doesnt. This type of memory is also extremely quirky. I can remember amazing amounts of historical data but cant remember the names of people that I know quite well. Warning! If we start talking about a subject we love, we can talk for hours.People you know: If you know someone who knows everything there is to know about a particular subject, they are most likely on the autistic spectrum. Hyper-focusis another ability that can be very useful to an employer. Hyper-focus allowsthe person to become completely absorbed by the task at hand and to then do itat an amazing rate for long periods of time. I remember doing an inventory oncewhere I got into hyper focus and I started going so fast that the other peoplecould barely record what I was inventorying in time.Drawback: When someone is hyper-focused they stop noticing anything else around them. Its often difficult to get their attention and they may not notice you even yelling their name in their ear. Another problem is that they can forget about their physical needs like eating, drinking or taking bathroom breaks and have been know to collapse exhaustion or dehydration when in this state. Having a supervisor or co-worker look out for them and make them take breaks nay be needed.People you know: Artists are especially known for getting into creative moods where they will go on marathon creative streaks and forget about things like eating, sleeping or personal hygiene, but turn out amazing works. Somepeople on the spectrum have amazing calculation and mathematical abilities.These people seem to eat and drink numbers. Because of this people on thespectrum make some of the best bookkeepers, accountants and auditors around.Drawback: No real drawbacks for this one.People you know: If you know someone who is more comfortable with numbers than people in one of the above professions, that is a good indication that they are on the autistic spectrum, although they may not know it themselves. Similarto the need for organization is the need for predictability. This most oftenmanifests itself as a reliance on routine. This can be very good in an employeeas they tend to be always on time and get things done in a set predictablepattern, which they never tire of. While most employees might find this boring,they find it comfortable and reassuring.Drawback: People who take comfort in routine predictability have a hard time with unexpected major changes. The more warning they have, the better they can accept the change.People you know: Anyone can get into a rut, but there are people who have no interest in getting out of theirs and in fact, get quite upset if their regular rhythm is disturbed. Brutalhonesty is also a common trait among autistic persons. People on the autisticspectrum tend to remember things by how facts and images relate to one another.If you ask a question, they will answer with the relevant facts. This leads toa straightforward and literal answer to the question asked (which can sometimesbe mistaken for sarcasm or aggression.) The tendency is to say exactly whatthey mean and mean exactly what they say.Drawback: Tact does not come easily to someone on the spectrum. An offhand question that is asked suddenly will usually get a brutally honest answer. Not that people on the spectrum are incapable of lying, but it is difficult to learn and reluctantly used. People on the spectrum do not tend to use subtexts or implications in their speech and do not usually recognize it in others speech. (i.e. hints and sarcasm are often lost on them which can lead to misunderstandings.)People you know: People on the spectrum make very good if hard-nosed judges and law enforcement officers. All in all,people on the autistic spectrum make very good niche workers. They are verycommon is positions like IT, engineering, and accounting, and are oftensuccessful in these and similar roles as well as artistic areas like actors andwriters. The one caution is that we are very specialized workers: we can dosome things better than anyone who is not on the spectrum, but the price we payis in generalized abilities and social interactions. If we arepushed to do the things that we find painful because anyone can do this, thenthe same thing will happen that would happen if you used a cell phone for ahammer, it would break. It doesnt mean that the cell phone is defective; itsjust being used for something its not designed for. Similarly,we have trouble with social pecking orders and socialization. If you push oneof us to act just like one of the boys, it will end in disaster. We are alsoespecially vulnerable to bullying and social sabotage. I have more than oncegone from the top employee to fired because of a new person that wasuncomfortable with me began spreading rumors and accusations, and every personon the spectrum that I have talked to has similar stories. All it usually takesfor this to stop is a word to leave them alone and let them do their job. Last ofall, I want to remind you that the autistic spectrum is wide. It goes frompeople like the character Rain Man who needed help to be able to survive topeople like
About sensory issues and stimming?I have been trying to get better information on adults with autism and Aspergers. So far, all I have had to rely on is my own experience and that of my kids. The stuff written by the experts is often wrong or misleading. So, Im turning to the online community to let me know what your experiences are. I have both Aspergers syndrome and a degree in psychology and I really want to understand this from our perspective.My first question is: Does everyone on the spectrum have sensory issues? (For my overview of sensory issues go herehttp://autismtothefourth.blogspot.com/2012/06/sensory-issues-in-autism.html) If you do, could you give me an overview about some or all of them. Stories welcome. Are there any people on the spectrum who dont have sensory issues? Feel free to reply in the box, sent me a question, send me an e-mail (scintor@aol.com).Anonymity will be protected upon request.I am not trying to publish anything right now (other than a blog) and am only associated with a local autism advocacy group (REACH for a difference of Abilene, TX). Anyresponses will be appreciated, even if this post gets old.John Mark McDonald2 comments: Labels:advice,Aspergers,Autism,sensory issues,sensory seeking,stimming Friday, June 29, 2012
Civil Discourse
This is a post for my local autism advocacy group in Abilene, TX: REACH for a difference.
Words are powerful tools. As with any tool, they are not inherently good or bad. It all depends on how they are used. Any particular phrase can be used to help or to harm. I have watched a word or phrase that was meant to be helpful or neutral become an insult more than once in my lifetime. It seems like the average 8 year old can turn any word of phrase into an insult with just a little verbal twist and flick.So when I see people drawing lines and taking sides over words, I tend to sigh to myself and shake my head sadly. As a writer I know just how powerful words can be. On the other hand, as on observer of the human condition, I know just how quickly meanings can change. There is no such thing as a safe word that is inherently good and respectful and there is no such thing as a word that is inherently bad or disrespectful. If you don't believe me, look at how easily and playfully the black community uses the word nigger among themselves. The problem is not the word, but with who uses it and how.I urge you to think about this before you draw a line in the sand about a particular word or phrase. The important thing is how you treat a person. Words are only a tool in doing so.
John Mark McDonaldNo comments: Labels:Abilene,advice,Aspergers,Autism,John Mark McDonaldLocation:100-148 S Pine St, Abilene, TX 79602, USA Thursday, June 7, 2012 Sensory Issues in Autism
Sensory Issues in Autism
An important thing to remember forpeople with autism of all ages is sensory stimulation issues. It is well knownin the autism community that people with autism can easily be over stimulatedby certain things. After that, things get a bit fuzzy. I have heard it said thatautistic people can be over or under simulated by certain types of stimuli. Frommy own experience, autistics tend to need a small amount of sensory stimulationof the right type (sensory seeking) and shielding from stimulation of the wrongtype (sensory overload) or overwhelming amounts of stimulation of any type. Tomake things more confusing, what kind of sensory stimulation is bad and what isgood can be different for each autistic person.
Sensory Overload
Sensory overload can be especiallydisabling for people with autism. The symptoms of sensory overload vary fromperson to person. Some of the common effects range from confusion, anxiety,irritability,shakiness, and restlessness to more serious effects like panic attacks,physical pain, physical illness, migraine headaches, aggression, paralysis,meltdowns, and breakdowns.
Sensory Seeking
Sensory seeking is being drawn to or calmed by certain forms of stimuli. People with autismare well known for "stimming." The most well-known forms of this arerepetitive motions or sounds that are used to reassure or entertain themselves.Stimming probably has the worst reputation of all the autistic behaviorsbecause it sets autistic people apart as being "weird, abnormal, orunnatural." This can lead to stimming issues to be treated all out ofproportion of their importance, or even worse being treated with fear andrevulsion. Yet for people with autism, sensory stimulation can be needed inorder for them to be able to function effectively. Therefore, the goal shouldnot be to eliminate sensory stimulation behavior, but to channel it into moreappropriate and productive activities.
Finding a balance
Being ableto balance sensory issues is critical for any autistic person to be able tofunction in a "normal" environment. In order to do this, you need toidentify what the sensory stimulation issues are for any given autistic person.This is especially difficult on caregivers of nonverbal autistics or autisticchildren that are too young to talk and analyze their own situation. In thiscase, the only way to figure this out is by observation. Let me give some exampleswith each sense of both sensory seeking andover-stimulation and somepossible tools that can be used in either case. It is worth mentioning that aperson can be sensory seeking and sensory overloaded by the same form ofstimuli at different levels.
Hearing
If an autistic person makes noise,hums, echolalia, repeats things, babbles or screams every time it gets quiet,it may be that they need sound stimulation. Some low background music withoutwords, like classical or ambient, could make a great deal of difference.Another idea is fans or other sources of white noise to keep things frombeing too quiet and to mask disturbing sounds. The idea here is for the sound to be truly background. If itis too interesting or intrusive, it defeats the purpose.On the other hand, if the person gets upsetevery time there is a noise (especially sudden ones), this could mean they arebeing overwhelmed by sound. A pair of headphones that completely cover the earscould be an amazing help to them. I really want to test the effectiveness of apair of noise canceling headphones with access to both music and a parabolicmicrophone for controlling audio stimulation.Beware that some things that appearto be sound-based, might actually be touch or even deep pressure. Loud soundsand especially low tones can often be felt as vibrations. Making noises throughbanging or drumming can be as much about how it feels as how it sounds.
Sight
If an autistic person likes to hidein dark places, or seems reluctant to go out into the sunlight or other brightplaces, or they shy away from flashing lights or bright colors they may havelight sensitivity. A pair of sunglasses, even indoors, can be a real help.Another idea is dimmable lights or indirect lighting. Personally, visualoverstimulation is the fastest way to give me a migraine headache.If they are drawn to the light andthings that are brightly colored, they made need more visual stimulation. Anotherpossible indication is if they get stuck, like a deer in the headlights, byvisually interesting things like TVs or moving patterns. Bright colors orshimmering, iridescent or spinning things could be very comforting to them. Usingvideos and educational TV programs might be especially effective in gettingthings across to them. It is always been especially difficult for me to ignoreTV's. Whenever a TV is on, it catches my attention and I am forced to watch iteven if the content is uninteresting, distressing, or repulsive.
Touch
If an autistic person is constantlyrubbing or scratching themselves they may need more tactile stimulation. Evenmore disturbing signs of the need of tactile stimulation are so-called selfinjurious behaviors like hitting themselves or head-banging. A sensory stimulationbrush such as occupational therapist use could be very helpful. I used to lovecorduroy pants, embroidered patches, or those old-fashioned 3-D books that hadthe plastic ridges on them that I could run my fingers over. The idea here issomething that is tactilely interesting that they can handle in public andstill be considered appropriate. Swimming can be also very useful as it helpsto be able to feel as the water goes over the entire surface of the skin.On the other hand, it is not uncommon to beoverwhelmed by things like clothing touching the autistic persons skin.Warning signs here are things like constantly taking off their clothes, wearingtheir clothes inside out or rejecting rough blankets or towels. In this caseremoving clothing tags and making sure the inside lining of the clothing issmooth and not scratchy can be very important. Autistic people who aresensitive to touch often say that light touches leaves an itching sensationthat may last long after the touch is over. My son still likes to wear hisclothing inside out as often as he get away with it.Another thing to watch out for here issensitive skin. If they are constantly scratching at her skin until it's redand raw, they may be sensitive to things like the chemicals in fabric softenersor the scents in laundry soaps. I have sensitive skin and it leaves me itchingnearly constantly and I have to be constantly aware of whether or not it'sappropriate to scratch in public.
Smell
Smell can also be the big sensorytrigger. If they are constantly burying their nose in things, they may besmelling them. In this case scented candles or Glade plugs might be useful. I have also seen small dolls that scented powders put into their stuffing. Conversely, they may be overwhelmed by smell. If they avoid the kitchen orrooms that have just been cleaned or any other strong smells, scents may beoverwhelming to them. In this case, Frabreze becomes your friend. Sensitivitiesto smell can often result in an autistic person getting violently ill in the presenceof a noxious smell.
Taste
The last of the primary senses istaste. Taste is a tricky one because eating is such a sensory rich activity. Eatinginvolves smell, touch, heat, cold, visual appearance, and deep pressure as wellas taste. Teasing what is taste and what is other sensory issues can be a bitdifficult. To make things even more complex, taste is divided into fivesensations: sweet, bitter, sour, salty, and meaty (or umami). People with autism are notoriously pickyeaters. They are often so repelled by certain foods that trying to get them toeat them is like telling them to drink poison. Other times they may get sofixated on a certain food that they dont want to eat anything else. My sonwould not eat anything brightly colored for many years. Personally, I cant eatpotato salad because I cant stand texture of the smooth potatoes with crunchybits in them. I also love sweet and salty tastes and can hardly stand bitter orsour tastes and can barely taste meaty tastes at all. Just to make things morefun, neither my son nor I can stand hot spices because the burning sensation iscompletely overwhelming to us.
Other senses
Beyond the five primary senses,there are other senses that autistic people can be drawn to or are oversensitiveto.
Balance and Motion
The sense of balance and motion isone I've seen many autistic people to be drawn to. They tend to love to run,dance, or spin and never get tired of it.Rockingchairs come in all sizes and can be very comforting.On the other hand people who aresensitive to motion may get easily carsick and find things like roller coastersat theme parks to be torturous. I remember that when I was a small boy, I usedto spin until I got so dizzy that I fell down, over and over, and it never mademe feel ill.
Deep Pressure
Another obscure sense is deeppressure. Those who are drawn to deep pressure tend to love hugs and massagesin infinite amounts, while those who are sensitive to it can hardly stand morethan a light touch. This particular overstimulation can lead to a majormisunderstanding about an autistic person rejecting affection, when inactuality they just can't stand the sensation of deep pressure. There aretherapies involving wearing weighted jackets and ankle and wrist weights tohelp with deep pressure stimulation.
Warmth and Cool
The sensations of warmth and coolare also senses. When I was young I could not get enough of warmth. I wasforever wearing coats on warm days, never wore shorts even 100º+ weather andcould not get enough of long hot showers. It drove my poor mother crazy. As forcool, being drawn to a cool breeze, cool water or even an obsession withpopsicles might be indications. Just a couple of notes here, warmth and burningare completely different sensations, as are cool freezing: I love the sensationof warmth but hated the burning sensation. Also, just because you love warmthdoes not mean you'll hate cool and vice versa.
There might be other senses thatautistic people are drawn to, but these are all I'm aware of. I would also liketo remind you that these are simply examples of personal experience and otherpeople I've seen or read about. There are plenty of other ways in which autisticpeople show they are drawn to or overwhelmed by sensations.
Combined Sensations
Besides this, they can also bedrawn to or overwhelmed by different combinations of sensations. I mentionedthat I was drawn to certain rough textures, but this was especially true when Icould use them to make a sound that I could hear and could also feel thevibrations as deep pressure. For someone trying to unravel this from outsideobservation they can be very complex and confusing.
Change Over Time
One last thing to note is thatsensory issues can and do change over time and the methods of coping certainlychange with growth. An autistic child of four may be overwhelmed by touch tothe point of never wanting to wear clothes and spend much of their timespinning. The same person at fourteen may have difficulty with eating any foodthey consider slimy, but loves to run whenever they find room. At the age oftwenty-four, the same person may love to wear light, flowing clothing and havebecome a professional dancer. Some sensory issues disappear over time whileothers become problematic seemingly out of nowhere.In any case, sensory issues tend tobe a big deal for people with autism throughout their lives. Understandingsensory issues can be key to understanding how to help an autistic person toimprove grow and thrive in their environment.10 comments: Labels:Abilene,advice,Aspergers,Autism,breakdown,John Mark McDonald,meltdown,migraine,sensory issues,sensory overload,sensory seeking,sensory stimuli,stimmingLocation:Abilene, TX, USA HomeSubscribe to:Posts (Atom)About MescintorAbilene, Texas, United StatesMark McDonald is an advocate for people with autism who specializes in increasing understanding between those on the spectrum and those who are not. He is both a person with Asperger's type autism and the father of two children on the spectrum as well. He is associated for Reach for a difference of Abilene. He is currently in the process of setting up a website to help those on the spectrum as well as those were affected by it. He is also trying to set up an effective advocacy group for college students on the spectrum in the Abilene area. If you have any questions or comments on the above article or any other topic relating to autism, you may contact him at Scintor@aol.com, http://www.facebook.com/Scintor or (951) 850-7284.View my complete profileBlog Archive 2012(5) August(1)Why people on the autism spectrum make good workers. July(2) June(2)
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