Managing Meltdowns and Sensory Overload: A Guide for Parents
When you’re the parent of a child with autism, meltdowns can be an unfortunate and challenging reality. Many children with autism experience sensory processing issues that can quickly become overwhelming and lead to meltdowns where they cry, scream, drop to the floor, or even lash out.
As a parent, it’s heartbreaking to see your child in distress and not know how to help in that moment. The key is arming yourself with an understanding of what’s behind the behaviors as well as strategies to minimize and cope with meltdowns. With preparation, you can learn to manage meltdowns and sensory overload effectively.
What Triggers Sensory Overload?
Sensory overload occurs when one or more of the body’s senses experience too much stimulation. For children with autism, the busy world can quickly become too much for their nervous systems to handle. Some common triggers include:
- Loud noises like loud music, traffic, crowds, and sirens
- Bright or flashing lights like sun glare, fluorescent lights, or lightning
- Strong smells from foods, perfumes, and chemicals
- Textures of certain foods or fabrics
- Too much visual stimuli, like busy patterns
Even pleasant stimuli like a favorite song can prompt sensory overload if it becomes too intense. The stimulation overwhelms the brain, making it difficult to filter and process.
Setting Up a Sensory-Friendly Environment
While you can’t control everything in your child’s environment, there are ways to make your home and daily activities more sensory-friendly:
- Play calming music and use noise-cancelling headphones or earplugs
- Use dimming switches and natural light, and turn off overhead lights
- Choose soothing paint colors over bright primary colors
- Remove scratchy labels and tags from clothing
- Limit strong scents from candles and cleaning products
- Offer fidget toys for sensory input
Having a designated quiet space with low stimulation can also be helpful when your child is feeling overwhelmed. Outfit it simply with soft fabrics, calming lighting, and noise-canceling headphones.
0 Comments