Autism is a developmental disability that affects the way a person communicates and interacts with others around them.

It is a life long condition and its onset is generally recognised in very early childhood.

As the parent or carer of a child with autism you can make a difference by providing an autism friendly environment for the child, taking into account sensitivities and intolerances they might have. Children with autism can have extreme sensitivity to the five senses: hearing, touch, sight, smell and taste. This hypersensitivity can be the cause of some of the behaviour difficulties your child may be showing, for example, an inability to tolerate background noise may cause the child to become distressed and anxious.

Hyposensitivity is the opposite to hypersensitivity, meaning that the child may have an inability to experience or ‘feel’ certain stimuli. This is particularly worrying if the child does not react normally to pain as they may carry on with an action without realising they are injuring themselves.

Hilary Hawkes, author of Autism – A Parent’s Guide (Need2Know) has some ideas of ways to help your child to cope with hyper and hypo sensory issues.

Hyper sensory issues:

• Balance - Avoid patterned flooring. 
• Body awareness - Create activities that develop fine motor control, i.e. playing with small
• Lego, pouring water from jugs into containers. 
• Smell - Use unscented products where possible. Avoid strong perfumes, deodorants, etc. 
• Sight - Use sunglasses or Irlen coloured lenses. Use stick-on window shields in the car.Thick curtains and dim lighting are useful. 
• Sound - Use earplugs or an MP3 player in crowds. Close doors and windows if possible. Use ‘ear defenders’. 
• Touch - Use light touch rather than hugs. Buy clothes made from fabrics your child can tolerate. Introduce new materials gradually. 
• Taste - Keep to plain and unspicy foods. Introduce new flavours and textures gradually. 

Hypo sensory issues:

• Balance - Use rocking horses and outside play equipment. Dance to music. 
• Body awareness - Place furniture and obstacles around sides of rooms. Teach your child to stand at arms length from people. 
• Smell - Put one of your child’s favourite smells onto a soft toy or piece of fabric. This might distract them from obsessions with smelling unpleasant things. 
• Sight - Use lots of visual stimulation such as strong colour, different lighting, brightness, etc. 
• Sound - Have background music, a radio, etc. Play with musical instruments. 
• Touch - Use weighted vests, weighted blankets or weighted lap pads. 
• Taste - Give your child something to eat or suck when around inedible objects/items that they lick or try to eat. Try Chewy Tubes for children who like to bite or chew things.

Extract taken from Autism - A Parent's Guide. For more information about Autism and family life, take a look at the book - available now in eBook, printed book and large print formats. Buy the printed version and get the eBook free!