Corinna Laurie, Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist at the National Autistic Society and Director of Evolve Children's Therapy Services Ltd, gives some simple strategies to target sensory processing differences.

1. For the child who is overwhelmed by excessive noise, try offering them ear defenders, calming ear buds or allow then to use an MP3 player whilst concentrating.

2. For the child who becomes agitated by touch, allow them to stand at the front or back of the queue to avoid being bumped. Allow them to transition to the next lesson three minutes before others, to avoid corridor collisions. 

3. For the child who finds it difficult to sit still, include regular movement breaks, try alternative seating, for example wobble cushions/stools to allow fidgety movement. Always have a variety of fiddle toys available to aid focus.

4. For the child who seeks hugs, try Lycra undergarments, rash vests and rugby base layers that are cheaply available from many sports outlets. Weighted lap pads and blow up canoe chairs are also useful.

5. For the child who finds black print on a white background difficult to read, change the paper to a buff colour and consider the font. This is less stressful on the eyes. Consider your presentation layout for PowerPoints too.

6. If a child is overwhelmed by smell, use a sweatband with a drop of oil, shampoo, or perfume/aftershave that they like. Allow the student to take this with them to mask the smell they find uncomfortable.

7. Food play should be encouraged for those children with a limited diet. There should be no pressure on the child and this should not be done at mealtimes. The aim is purely to reduce the fear of food.

8. The use of a quiet, calming room/space within the classrooms and at home are essential for calming. Use a pop-up tent, blanket over a table or under a cabin bed. Add bean-bags and other sensory equipment/toys.

9. For children who want to chew, offer alternatives like commercially available chew toys, crunchy bread sticks or carrot sticks. Drinks in a sport bottle also help those seeking oral input.

10. For children who dislike having their teeth brushed, try a vibrating toothbrush, Collis Curve toothbrush (this cleans all surfaces in one movement) and use unflavoured toothpaste such as Oranurse.

Further information

Laurie, C. (2022) Why is occupational therapy important for autistic children?

Laurie, C. (2022) Sensory and Motor Strategies (3rd edition)