Among persons with intellectual developmental disabilities, sensory overload is a common phenomenon. Persons on the autism spectrum typically experience it, though other conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder and ADHD also trigger it.

When a person with sensory processing difficulties is exposed to overwhelming stimuli, like a crowded place or a room filled with too many objects, their brains have a hard time parsing all the information they receive. This triggers a meltdown that can manifest in the following ways:

• Restlessness or withdrawal
• A loss of focus due to preoccupation with the stimuli
• Panic
• Extreme irritability
• Heightened levels of sensitivity

A-1 Affinity Care knows full well the struggles some clients face in dealing with sensory overload. Drawing on our experience as a provider of the HCS program in Houston, Texas, we encourage them and their loved ones to follow these steps to avoid or relieve a sensory overload episode:

• First, know the triggers. Different people have different levels of tolerance for stimuli, whether it be texture, smell, sound, and the like. Understanding your tolerance to these gives you a good grasp on what to expect when you go to a location full of these stimuli.
• Next, develop a self-care routine. Being in and coming out of a sensory meltdown can be very taxing. A simple centering ritual or adaptive tools can help. A good example is putting on noise-canceling headphones when noise becomes too much.
• Then, pace yourself. If you are planning an activity that will require you to be in a stimuli-intensive place, like the grocery store, go prepared. Remember that tiredness, hunger, and thirst can also make you more prone to meltdowns.
• inally, be patient with yourself. Quality care is always available to provide aid.

As an HCS program provider in Texas, we offer solutions that give clients and their loved ones peace of mind. Learn all about the HCS program by contacting us today.