Transcript: Sensory processing and stimming

Sensory processing disorder

Sensory processing disorder is when your brain finds it hard to process some of the signals coming in from your senses. That can make you more sensitive to them than most people, or less sensitive. Most of us can name a sight, sound, smell, texture or taste that gets on our nerves, but we can cope with it. For people with sensory processing disorder, some sensory input is hard enough to get in the way of everyday life.

It’s worth knowing that sensory processing disorder isn’t a formal medical or psychiatric diagnosis.

It often comes alongside autism, and sensory differences are part of the diagnostic criteria for autism.

Someone who avoids sensory input might be easily distracted or startled by background noise. They might not like being touched, might avoid bright lights, or might only eat certain foods.

When an autistic person reaches sensory overload, they can become visibly distressed, with signs a lot like a panic attack. They might feel anxious or scared, sick, or very tense.

Signs of sensory processing difficulties

• Moving more, such as jumping or spinning
• Stimming more, such as flapping hands, making repeated noises, or rocking
• Talking faster and louder, or not talking at all
• Covering their ears or eyes
• Finding it hard to notice signals from inside the body, like hunger, pain or needing the toilet
• Refusing certain foods or clothes, or only accepting certain ones
• Finding it hard to talk or respond, as the brain uses its energy to cope with what’s coming in. This is called a shutdown.
• Emotions building up until they’re overwhelming, or needing to get out of a situation. This is called a meltdown.

Sensory processing difficulties can affect how someone socialises. If the lights are too bright or it’s too noisy, they might not be able to follow a conversation or join in with an activity, and it can all feel like too much. So some people prefer calmer places and activities, with less going on and less social contact.

They can also make it hard to concentrate on a task or conversation for a long time. For example, someone might use a fidget toy to take their mind off an annoying noise, or ask for the lights to be turned down so they can focus.

Support and adjustments

There’s a lot of well-known support that can help, such as:

• Tools: weighted blankets, fidget toys, speech-generating devices and other software can give the senses something helpful to focus on.
• Changes to the space: dimmer lights, planned sensory breaks, fewer visual distractions, or sitting somewhere that feels comfortable can all make it easier to focus.
• Sensory integration therapy: activities like swinging, deep pressure, visual activities and therapeutic listening can reduce distress, and help the body learn to respond differently.

Stimming

Stimming is short for self-stimulatory behaviour. It’s natural and instinctive, and both autistic and non-autistic people do it. It means repeating movements, sounds or sensations, for comfort, to self-regulate, or to express yourself.

It covers a lot of different things: flapping hands, rocking, repeating sounds or words, or playing with particular objects or textures.

People stim for lots of reasons: to calm anxiety, to burn off extra energy, or to help them focus. Everyone’s stims are their own, and they should be respected and understood.

For autistic people, stimming is an important part of daily life. It’s a way of coping with overwhelming environments, managing sensory input, calming anxiety, and feeling comfortable and in control.

If an autistic person is stimming to cope with distress, it’s worth thinking about what’s causing that distress. They might need help to work out what it is, and to deal with it.

Stimming and OCD

Stimming and OCD can look alike, but they usually happen for very different reasons.

For example, an autistic person might flick a light switch on and off because they enjoy the feel of the switch, and seeing the light change. Someone with OCD might do exactly the same thing because they feel they have to, or because they’re afraid something bad will happen if they don’t.

Generally, OCD obsessions and compulsions are unwanted and distressing. Stimming, and spending time on special interests, usually feel good, calming and purposeful.

Everyone stims

Stimming is often linked with neurodivergent people, but everyone does it. Non-autistic people’s stims are often just less noticeable, or more socially accepted.

Think of tapping your fingers, twirling your hair, jiggling your foot, or doodling. They do the same jobs: relieving stress, expressing yourself, and managing sensory input.

If we recognise that everyone stims, it’s easier to understand sensory processing, and to make spaces more inclusive. Stimming is natural, and it helps people of every neurotype.

That’s why fidget toys can be so useful in meetings: keeping your body busy leaves your brain free to focus.