Defensive about others touching body Reacts emotionally or aggressively to touch Negative about dental work Withdraws from splashing water Avoids selected textures Narrow range of clothing choices Rigid rituals in personal hygiene Picky eater Avoids things that might make them messy Uses poor judgment regarding personal space Mouths objects frequently Enjoys taking a shower or having a bath Enjoys activities which involve touch – for example, clay, finger painting, cooking with their hands, etc. Always wanting to touch things Slow to respond to touch, does not notice others Allows messes to remain on hands or face Leaves clothing twisted on body Seems clumsy or destructive because they are always breaking things Auditory Overreacts to unexpected sounds Easily distracted in busy areas Gets distressed in noisy environments Complains about normal sounds or sounds others cannot even hear Holds hands over ears Cannot work with background noise Can hear things which others cannot Reluctant or avoidant of busy/noisy areas Enjoys making strange noises Loves music and other sound producing activities May use their hands or other things to increase volume of their own voice May speak with a loud voice tone regardless of background environment May appear not to hear things Does not respond to name being called Seems oblivious in noisy environment May get animated or seem to switch on around more intense beats, music or sounds Visual Covers eyes when in lighted room Watches everyone when they move around the room May hold things close to their face to look at them May get over stimulated by busy visual experiences – bright pictures, movies, books with lots of words, etc. Avoids bright lights, may choose a darkened area Pulls clothing or other material over their head May have poor eye contact May stare intensely at objects Appears to enjoy brightly coloured activities Attracted to bright, shiny, spinning objects Doesn’t notice when people come into the room Difficulty finding objects in box, drawer, etc. Trouble locating desired objects Doesn’t notice new things, for example, an unexpected obstacle in their path May not turn away from a bright light Can appear to be looking through things Taste Resistant to brushing their teeth May frequently gag while eating Restricted range of food preferences – picky eater Unwilling to try new things Enjoy mouthing/eating objects, potentially items Always wants something in their mouth Enjoys stronger flavoured foods Smell
Reacts to smells, potentially even subtle ones – ripening fruit, a relatively empty bin May identify people by their smells – picking up on things others cannot Comment that things smell ‘off’ Dislikes perfumes and other scented items Picky eater Enjoy sniffing things, including strongly scented things Appear to try and smell all sorts of things around them, including people May not pick up on odours, even ones others think are very strong – smoke, bins, excrement Enjoys a range of foods Vestibular Becomes disoriented after bending over Insecure about movement experiences Easily car sick Avoids or fears movement Occasionally described as lethargic Clumsy on uneven surfaces Turn whole body to look at you (rather than just their head) Rocks in desk or chair Seems to always be seeking/craving movement Loves riding in vehicles Enjoys slides, swings, etc. May appear to be unaware of being moved Clumsy, lethargic – protects self poorly when falling Slow to respond to movement demands, but once started can go a long time. Poor endurance Proprioception Insecure about movement experiences, particularly on uneven or changing surfaces Holds head upright even when bending down or leaning over Appears rigid and uncoordinated Holds onto walls or furniture Joints can appear “floppy” – tend to rely on gross rather than fine movements May appear to have weak muscles Loves push, pull, carry activities – may ask to be squeezed or pressed Enjoys heavy work and seems more intense when engaging in playground type activities Clumsy Movements may appear out of control Bump in to objects which are known, i.e. the coffee table or hits door jam with shoulder 6. Emotional Considerations Emotions have significant impact on our day to day lives – they are not simply about the way we feel, they also influence the way our bodies feel physically and the way our brain works. Emotions can impact on our energy levels, coping skills, concentration, our perceptions and attitudes – you may find that someone who is experiencing emotional distress is unable to communicate in the same way that they usually would, or they may not be able to think as clearly as they usually would. Recognising and understanding the emotional experiences of those we are supporting is an important component of any plan. Some signs of potential emotional distress are listed below: Pacing, fidgeting, having difficulty sitting still.