Many children with autism experience sensory processing challenges that make everyday life feel overwhelming, sometimes causing them to avoid certain experiences and other times leading them to seek more sensory input to feel comfortable.
I’m Jennifer Hatch, a pediatric occupational therapist at Fluens Children’s Therapy. In this article, I’ll explain how sensory processing challenges appear in children with autism, how they can affect daily routines like dressing, bathtime, and mealtime, and how occupational therapy can help children feel more comfortable and confident.
Why Do Some Kids Have Sensory Processing Challenges?
For many children with autism, sensory processing differences cause them to interpret and react to sensory input differently, which can make certain sounds, textures, or lights difficult to tolerate.
These differences usually fall into two main categories:
- Hypersensitive (Over-Responsive): Children may dislike loud noises, bright lights, or specific fabrics and seams. Clothing that feels scratchy or tags that rub the skin can cause discomfort or meltdowns.
- Hyposensitive (Under-Responsive): Here children often seek out stimulation or movement, such as jumping, climbing, crashing into things, or engaging in rough play to feel grounded and focused.
How Sensory Processing Challenges Affect Daily Routines
Sensory challenges are especially common during the following self-care routines:
Dressing
Getting dressed is often the first challenge of the day for children who are hypersensitive to textures. Seams, tags, or tight clothing can feel unbearable, leading a child to refuse certain clothes or constantly undress.
Whenever possible, choose comfortable fabrics your child likes and avoid materials that cause discomfort. Seamless leggings, socks, or underwear can help if seams are the main trigger. Just like adults struggle to concentrate in uncomfortable clothes, children find it hard to learn or play when they’re distracted by how something feels on their skin.
Bathtime
For some children, bathtime can be overwhelming. The sound of running water, the temperature of the bath, or the sensation of being wet may all trigger distress. To make bathtime calmer, try dimming the lights, adding soft-colored bulbs or night-lights, and letting your child play with favorite bath toys. Using a visual timer or simple schedule helps them know what’s coming next. You can also reward successful participation to build positive associations with bath routines.
Mealtime
Texture and taste sensitivities can turn eating into a daily struggle. A child might only eat a few familiar foods or reject entire textures like crunchy or mushy. When a child eats fewer than about twenty foods, nutrition and variety can become concerns.
You can help by modeling calm, positive eating, and by taking a bite of food first so your child can see it’s safe. Allow them to touch or explore foods without pressure to eat right away. Gradually introduce new textures through play and repetition, celebrating each small step toward trying something new.
How Occupational Therapy Helps Kids with Sensory Challenges
Occupational therapists begin by completing a sensory profile to understand each child’s specific sensitivities and preferences. From there, they design a sensory diet, which is a daily plan of sensory activities that help regulate a child’s nervous system.
Therapy sessions are play-based and individualized. Occupational therapists teach families how to apply the same strategies at home so that daily routines like dressing, bathing, and eating feel more predictable and comfortable.
Reach Out to Fluens Children’s Therapy for Help
If your child has sensory sensitivities, Fluens Children’s Therapy can help. Call (253) 212-3502 to schedule an appointment with one of our therapists or to request a free 15-minute online or in-person screening. You can also reach us through the contact page on our website.