Raising a Sensory Smart Child by Lindsey Biel & Nancy Peske

Author:Lindsey Biel & Nancy Peske [Biel, Lindsey & Peske, Nancy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2009-08-25T00:00:00+00:00

Self-Stimulatory Behaviors

Faced with intense, uncomfortable sensory experiences, or just overloaded by the cumulative effects of sensory and information processing throughout the course of the day, the child, teen, or adult with autism is likely to resort to a limited repertoire of coping mechanisms. All of us have coping mechanisms we use to handle tension and stress. Perhaps you rationalize spending a lot of money on a new outfit when you’re broke because you think it will help you find a high-paying job. Or you sublimate your anger at your spouse, partner, or someone else by cleaning your house. Such coping mechanisms help us navigate feelings such as anger, guilt, and frustration. In general, we accept that everyone reverts to coping mechanisms at times, and we don’t usually stigmatize these techniques for managing stress. However, for the child on the autism spectrum with significant sensory issues, coping mechanisms usually take three key forms, which tend to be considered unacceptable. They are:

Tuning out—that is, withdrawing one’s attention or even physically withdrawing from a situation. We expect people to respond to us, particularly children. The child with autism may appear to be ignoring you or seem lost in their own world. They may actually want to hear what you have to say, but when sensory issues are intense, they may feel they have to block out external input by shutting down and becoming self-absorbed.

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