Many symptoms of intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) are not obvious from the outside looking in. One often overlooked symptom that many neurodivergent people have is challenges with sensory processing.
Making slight adjustments to someone’s routine or environment can help minimize the discomfort associated with sensory processing challenges. It can, however, be difficult to know which changes to make without a deeper understanding of your sensory needs.
We’ll go through some ways that sensory processing differences can affect an individual’s decision-making to help you make your loved one’s world more comfortable and inviting.
An easy way to classify the two ways we tend to feel and express sensory needs is as seekers and avoiders.
Seekers, as the name suggests, tend to need a greater amount of sensations and stimuli to feel regulated and fulfilled. They’re typically more comfortable in busy or loud environments, and they often seek out physical touch. In the olden days, they might have been referred to as “hyperactive.”
Avoiders, on the other hand, do not feel comfortable or safe in loud environments. They prefer calm and quiet.
People often become either seekers or avoiders based on their sensory needs in relation to sensory processing disorders. For instance, someone who is easily overstimulated in seemingly normal situations may retreat into their room, car, or another safe space.
Those with increased sensory sensitivity often seek more experiences to compensate for understimulation. As a result, they may be perceived as seekers.
In reality, though, both of these manifestations of behavior are related to the same underlying process: how your brain processes and responds to sensory stimuli. You may find yourself fluctuating between these two classifications depending on your current needs or even your mood.
Sensory needs are not something that only neurodivergent people have. Every human has unique sensory needs. Not everyone, though, has such distinctive sensory needs that they require adjusting their routines and environments to accommodate them.
Below are some common ways that unique sensory needs can shape individuals’ decision-making skills.
Knowing how to shape your broader environment is crucial if you or a loved one has hypersensitivity or hyposensitivity to sensations.
Loud, crowded environments full of bright lights and unfamiliar smells can be more than just annoying to some people – they can be downright assaultive to the senses.
As a result, a person with sensory sensitivities might avoid going out in public or isolate themselves if they do. That’s why it’s so important to recognize and adapt to sensory needs related to your environment.
Someone with light sensitivity, for example, might choose to work or play in darker rooms without fluorescent bulbs. Or, maybe you choose to buy tagless clothing and scent-free laundry detergent to avoid causing sensory overload.
Sometimes, our sensory needs can affect the choices we make over our daily routines. Recognizing how sensory needs affect decision-making in this area can be a key part of independent self-care.
One common issue related to routine that many neurodivergent people experience, for example, involves toothbrushing.
Not liking the feeling, taste, smell, or overall sensory experience of brushing teeth can easily lead to avoidance.
Those who are easily overwhelmed by stimuli may seek out soft bristles or begin their routine with gentle, light brushes across their lips.
On the other hand, those prone to understimulation might want to hum a short song while they brush to make things more exciting – and ensure that the tooth brushing actually happens!
Individuals with special sensory needs often feel stuck while in social situations. They may bounce between struggling to wait their turn to speak and feeling too overwhelmed (or behind) to engage. They might choose to avoid social situations due to frustration or fear of being judged by others.
If chatting doesn't provide enough stimulation, try using a fidget spinner or another stimming accessory to give your body something to do while your mind focuses. Fidget spinners can even be helpful for avoiders by offering a predictable, unchanging stimulus pattern.
On the flip side, noise-canceling headphones are always handy if you need to take a break from your environment (or to “turn down the volume” of your surroundings).
For many neurodivergent individuals and people with sensory processing disorders, the sounds, smells, and sensations around us can play a huge role in decision-making. They can encourage or discourage a person from doing things like going out in public, talking to new people, or even taking care of their needs.
As a result, meeting sensory needs can be a crucial part of self-advocacy and self-determination: the ability to be “in the driver’s seat” of your own life. You can’t pour from an empty (or overflowing) cup.
At NeuroNav, we work with individuals with IDDs and their families to make accessing California’s SDP easier. That includes helping you navigate supports related to sensory needs–like accessing tools, therapies, and professional support–and the impacts that they have on your life.
Through person-centered planning, an independent facilitator (IF) can help you create an individual program plan (IPP) that provides maximum fulfillment for you or your loved one.
Ready to learn more? Schedule your free, personalized consultation with NeuroNav to get started.