The Challenges Associated with Hypersensitivity and Hyposensitivity for People with Invisible Disabilities and Low Support Needs
CONTENT WARNING: I would like to mention that I am not a medical doctor, psychologist, or therapist. All content posted on disability advocate/teacher influencer page is for educational purposes with no intent to provide any professional services. Social media should never be used as a substitute for mental nor medical health care advice. If you suspect that your child is experiencing developmental concerns, it is okay to get help. I highly recommend seeking help from a medical doctor, psychologist, therapist, and/or other professional who is qualified to do so.
Not all but many people in the disability community with both low and high support needs exhibit characteristics that do not make their disabilities obvious. This is especially prevalent/common among people in the autism spectrum community. Autism/ASD just like all other disabilities is lifelong. This means that all disabilities are permanent, and it is impossible for them to go away. Signs or characteristics of autism/ASD can include but are not limited to:
- Difficulty with relating to other people
- Difficulty with verbal articulation or pronunciation
- Difficulty with using accurate word choice during interactions
- Difficulty with initiating social interactions
- Difficulty with accurately interpreting body language and other nonverbal communication
- Difficulty with transitions
- Difficulty with self-regulation
- Sensory challenges
The difficulties with social interactions and sensory challenges are big parts of autism/ASD that people really need to pay more attention to. The fact that autism/ASD can show up as an invisible disability for people with low support needs is also very important and needs to be paid closer attention to. People in this diverse group frequently and intensely struggle with their communication skills since autism/ASD mainly affects social-emotional development. Some speak verbally while others are nonverbal meaning nonspeaking; however, even people in the autism spectrum community who are able to speak verbally struggle with communicating effectively with or without many years of therapy. The individual attempts to communicate something, such as a need or want, to the best of their ability and it takes them a lot more practice and work than other people to understand how to use proper communication.
Related Links:
- Show up for all people in the disability community
- Your disability journey is still valid even if...
- The ableist statement that I cannot stand the most
- Signs That a Hurting Person is "Crying for Help" Without Crying or Speaking Up
- College Tips for Students in the Disability Community as Told by a College Alumni and Advisory Board Member Who Stutters
- How to Use Disability Inclusive Language Guide
- All Identities Matter Equally
- What Disability Pride Means to Self-Advocates
- What it Takes to be a True Disability Advocate Further Explained
- What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)?
In addition to their communication difficulties, people in the autism spectrum community experience sensory challenges. According to Dr. Megan Anna Neff who is the author of Self-Care for Autistic People, "Around 90 percent of Autistic people grapple with sensory-processing differences and experience either sensory hypersensitivity or hyposensitivity" (pg. 24, Neff 2024). People with sensory hypersensitivity usually struggle with sensory overload, which is when they are extra sensitive or physically uncomfortable when they encounter certain sounds, touches, smells, tastes, or sight. They will sense one of these senses stronger and intensely than other people may. For example, they may hear certain sounds, such as an air conditioner or music, louder than other people hear these sounds. Another example is they may be sensitive to feeling certain touches, such as but not limited to hugs or certain clothes –– especially tags –– on their bodies. A third example is that while no one enjoys being sick, the stuffiness from a stuffy nose may be extra physically uncomfortable for people in the autism spectrum community in comparison to how it feels when other people are sick with one. A fourth example is being smelling the scent of perfume stronger than other people may. A fifth example is sensing the taste of certain foods stronger than other people, such as but not limited to the cold temperature of ice cream or hot temperature of coffee. A sixth example is seeing lights –– especially fluorescent –– or certain colors brighter than other people see them. While sensory overload is not life-threatening, it can be very painful, exhausting, and even frightening for people who struggle with it.
On the other hand, hyposensitivity shows up as "dulled perceptions" meaning a decreased awareness or insensitivity to senses (pg. 24, Neff 2024). Hyposensitivity can also be scary and potentially risky in its own ways. For example, they may not be self-aware if their actions are too loud for other sensitive people around them, such as the sound of typing, cutting, or chewing. Another example is not hearing a fire alarm or smelling smoke in a fire until seeing flames. A third example is they may not feel the temperature as accurately as other people potentially leading to dehydration or hypothermia. A fourth example is not recognizing the internal bodily sensation of when they need to pee or poop. A fifth example is not recognizing spoiled foods until getting sick after eating them. A sixth example is looking into the sun or bright lights for too long without sensing the damage that it may be causing to their eyes in the moment. Besides sensory hypersensitivity and hyposensitivity, some people in the autism spectrum community are also sensory seekers meaning that they pursue sensory input. This may show up as but not limited to touching everything in sight, fixation on screen time, or chewing gum or crunchy, spicy, or soft textures, foods, or nonfood items.
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Contrary to popular belief due to negative stereotypes, however, sensory stimuli is not the only thing that people in the autism spectrum community are hypersensitive to. People in the autism spectrum community are also very hypersensitive to how negatively people treat them. If you do any of the following things, think before you do any of them in the future because people in the autism spectrum community get very offended and upset easily:
- Directly snap at them or witness other people being snapped at
- Cursing at them
- Use unconstructive criticism towards them
- Negative judgement and stereotypes
- Rush them (not the same as gently teaching them time management skills)
- Scream at them even if you have a right to be mad at them or they do something that bothers you
- Get too close into their uniquely sized personal space bubble without their consent
- Get impatient with them
- Make assumptions about them
- Laugh at, make fun of, tease, or ridicule them whether it is meant to be bullying or even sometimes playful depending on the context
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- What it Takes to be a True Disability Advocate Further Explained
- Your disability journey is still valid even if...
- The ableist statement that I cannot stand the most
- Signs That a Hurting Person is "Crying for Help" Without Crying or Speaking Up
- Quality of Influential Content and Friends Over Quantity of Followers and Friends
- Discrimination Against Students in the Disability Community
- Bullying is One of the Leading Causes of Suicide
- Warning Signs of Suicidal Thoughts
- How to Talk to Someone with Suicidal Thoughts
- How Traumatic Loneliness Can Be is Not Talked About Enough
- Adult Bullying is Not Talked About Enough and Can Be Just as Traumatic or Sometimes Worse Than Childhood Bullying
- Trauma's Impact on Mental and Physical Health Can Be Really Scary
- Down Syndrome Awareness Week 2024: The Importance of Treating Everyone with Respect
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- Happy World Down Syndrome Day 2024: Free Will to be Kind
- The Importance of Showing Respect for Other People While Advocating for Your Own Respect
For example, let's say that the person on the autism spectrum as an invisible disability with low support needs and hyposensitivity and hypersensitivity sitting across from you is chewing gum. In this scenario, they are chewing the gum too loud; however, this individual on the autism spectrum may not know that they are chewing the gum too loud and it is typical for them to not be aware of something like this as part of their hyposensitivity. If you want to correct them, that is absolutely okay. There is absolutely nothing wrong with gently telling them to lower the sound of their chewing. Just say it respectfully and think about your word choice in your response instead of saying such something such as, "I do not mean to be a b-word, but could you not chew so loudly? I am really sensitive to loud noise and the noise that you are making is really bothering me. I am trying to say this in the nicest way that I can and if you could stop, I would really like that." Ok, so... You said that you are trying to say that in the nicest way that you can. Well, obviously, your way was far from nice since you were cursing. Yeah, you did not call the person that curse word, but how would you like it if anyone spoke to you that way? While you might say, "I would not care," some people would care, especially people in the autism spectrum community. Cursing is never appropriate to say to anyone when correcting them (unless it is being used as dark humor to make light of things when socially acceptable to do so). Cursing at anyone is very disrespectful and rude, especially in educational and professional settings. The fact that you are asking them to not chew so loudly already implies that you are probably sensitive to loud noise (you may or may not be neurodivergent yourself as well!) and that that noise is bothering you to begin with. People in the autism spectrum community tend to be sensitive to loud noises or other senses too; so, they probably know how it feels and can relate with empathy. In fact, everyone has at least one type of sensory sensitivity; so, everyone knows how senses feel while some other people's sensory sensitivities are just stronger than others. How about correcting this person more gently with a smile, assertive tone of voice, and something like this, "Hey, I do not mean to interrupt you if I am, but can you lower the sound of your chewing please? I am really sensitive to noise and would appreciate it if you could keep it down." This exact statement with these words in that exact order is absolutely respectful to say. Just say that only. In the first statement, that person (who is actually based on a real person who I witnessed behave that way towards a peer on the autism spectrum many years ago) had too much to say with a 99% chance of upsetting the person on the autism spectrum. They may have not meant to, but they did. They said that they were not trying to be mean, but they actually were. They said that they were sensitive to loud noises, which totally understandable and valid and it is okay to tell people of all differences to lower their volume; however, there is a socially appropriate way to do so when talking to anyone about this matter and to elaborate, people on the autism spectrum are not only to sensitive to loud noises and other sensory stimuli, but to the way that people treat them as well. In addition, this person told the person on the autism spectrum that if they could stop, they would really like that. Ok, people on the autism spectrum can show respect for this boundary, but they would also really like it if you spoke to them with respect, which is another boundary. I bet they would really like that too. Be mindful about how your actions impact other people and be selfless instead of selfish.
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Many of you also probably notice how I keep saying "person in the autism spectrum community." I can anticipate what many of you are thinking: But Emily, it is not always obvious if a person is in the autism spectrum community or not. I know that and not all but many other people with invisible disabilities know that. What you need to do is think. Think about that person and what they are doing in that moment. Think about that person chewing the gum too loud who did not know that they were being too loud and got upset by your unconstructive statement. Think about that child screaming uncontrollably on the floor of a supermarket or mall. Think about that girl talking back to her mother or father in public. No, I am not saying that their disabilities are an excuse or free ticket to get away with these actions. I am saying that people in the disability community have major struggles. You may not be able to tell whether that person has major struggles as part of a disability but just stop. Before you blame or judge the parents... Before you blame or judge the child... You may be seeing autism/ASD and/or even co-existing mental health conditions, such as but not limited to Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia at its worst for a person who has it as an invisible disability. That person may have heard, seen, felt, smelled, or tasted something new that is a hardship for them to easily take in and responded in the way that the condition involuntarily causes them to do. So, stop. Stop judging. Stop blaming. Try to have empathy and compassion and move forward. To reiterate, people in the autism spectrum community also struggle with accurately interrupting body language and other types of nonverbal communication.
Related Links:
- The ableist statement that I can't stand the most
- Hidden disabilities are real disabilities
- What is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?
- Lack of Empathy is a Huge Issue in the Education Field
- Show up for all people in the disability community
- How to Use Disability Inclusive Language Guide
- All Identities Matter Equally
Lastly, of course there is the struggle with social interactions as part of neurodiversity. To elaborate, people in the neurodiverse community with both low and high support needs may struggle with making and keeping friends and social anxiety as part of their social-emotional skills. People in the autism spectrum community may want to join conversations. They may want to talk to you and other people, but do not know how or afraid to do so. Think of it this way: It is like they are in a room with all glass walls that you can see through, but there is mentally no way out of this room for them. No key and lock. No doors. No windows. They can see people through these glass walls, but they are mentally trapped in this glass room with no way out; so, they are limited on their ability to access interacting with the people on the outside of that glass. That is what struggling to socially interact for shy people in the neurodiverse community can be like. It is like being locked inside of a room with no way out. This struggle is very upsetting and lonely for shy people in the neurodiverse community. In fact, it often leads to social isolation. I have noticed plenty of advocacy work about social isolation since I was in high school, especially by Sandy Hook Promise, which I really appreciate; however, social isolation is still happening and very heartbreaking. When you see that peer or coworker who may be shy and/or neurodiverse as an invisible disability sitting alone, go sit with them or invite them to come sit with you. If you go sit with them, encourage your friends to come with you to sit with that person too. Being a friend to this person will really make a difference in their life. Do it for them.
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Put yourself in the shoes of people in the disability community meaning imagining yourself in their situation. While the lives of people in the disability community can be fulfilling, their lives are also not easy. Please remember these things when it comes to all people in the disability community including people with both low and high support needs and invisible and visible disabilities. People with invisible disabilities and low support needs struggle too. All people in the disability community struggle in their own ways and every disability journey shows up differently. Thank you so much to everyone who took the time to read this. I really appreciate it.
If you are a person in the autism spectrum community, have a loved one who is in the autism spectrum community, and/or want to learn more about neurodiversity, I highly recommend reading the following books below:
- Don't F*cking Panic: The Sh*t They Don't Tell You in Therapy About Anxiety Disorder, Panic Attacks, & Depression written by Kelsey Darragh (for dark humor enthusiasts)
- Navigating College: A Handbook on Self Advocacy written for Autistic Students, by Autistic adults brought to you by Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) and foreword by ASAN President Ari Ne'eman
- Speak Up!: A Graphic Novel written by Rebecca Burgess
- Swing From the Chandelier: Finding Joy in the Journey Through Autism written by Sandy Hartranft
- Self-Care for Autistic People: 100+ Ways to Recharge, De-Stress, and Unmask! written by Dr. Megan Anna Neff
- The Autistic Burnout Workbook: Your Guide to Your Personal Recovery Plan written by Dr. Megan Anna Neff
- The Parent's Guide to College for Students on the Autism Spectrum written by Jane Thierfeld Brown, Ed.D., Lorraine E. Wolf, Ph.D., Lisa King, M.Ed., and G. Ruth Kukiela Bork, M.Ed. (for parents to read and even understanding your parents' perspectives if you are a current college student in the autism spectrum community)
- The Way I See It: A Personal Look at Autism & Asperger's written by Temple Grandin, Ph.D.
- Thinking in Pictures and Other Reports from My Life with Autism written by Temple Grandin, Ph.D.
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Citations
1. Neff, M. A. (2024). SELF-CARE FOR Autistic People: 100+ Ways to Recharge, De-Stress, and Unmask! Chapter Two: Physical Self-Care. (pg. 23-52.) Simon & Schuster, LLC.
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