(The next time you see a screaming child in public. Don't be so quick to judge. Give Mom a break with the looks, you have no idea what she is going through. Show compassion for a child who may not be having a tantrum, but overcome by to much visual and auditory stimulation.)
Imagine that you were walking down the grocery aisle one day, just minding your business and all of the sudden, out of nowhere...you could smell things stronger, see things brighter, hear things louder, feel things more powerful than you ever thought imaginable. Bright colors bounce off the shelves towards you in bursts. You could smell the products from the bakery, and the food cooking in the deli. You can hear clearly, the people talking, the music, the beep of the scans, etc. And the person who just passed you, bumped into you by mistake and her touch felt like hot pain. What would you do?
I would probably cover my ears, scream and throw myself down on the floor in a fetal position.
Welcome to the world of sensory overload. It is a big part of life for most children with Autism.
Children with Autism have meltdowns, not tantrums. They are not spoiled, and their behavior is not to manipulate a situation. They simply can't handle the overstimualtion. Their senses are on over load. And I truly believe that if the sensory sensitivites can be controlled, then half of the battle is won.
Imagine that you were walking down the grocery aisle one day, just minding your business and all of the sudden, out of nowhere...you could smell things stronger, see things brighter, hear things louder, feel things more powerful than you ever thought imaginable. Bright colors bounce off the shelves towards you in bursts. You could smell the products from the bakery, and the food cooking in the deli. You can hear clearly, the people talking, the music, the beep of the scans, etc. And the person who just passed you, bumped into you by mistake and her touch felt like hot pain. What would you do?
I would probably cover my ears, scream and throw myself down on the floor in a fetal position.
Welcome to the world of sensory overload. It is a big part of life for most children with Autism.
Children with Autism have meltdowns, not tantrums. They are not spoiled, and their behavior is not to manipulate a situation. They simply can't handle the overstimualtion. Their senses are on over load. And I truly believe that if the sensory sensitivites can be controlled, then half of the battle is won.
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