Expert: Paul Johnson - 3/15/2010

Question
Hi, Im doing an assessment on SensorY Overload and was wondering if you are able to answer a few questions:
What is Sensory Overload?
What are some of the problems it might cause?
What are some side affects?
How does Sensory Overload occur?
How is it affecting people today?
thanks.

Answer
Hey Haley,

Thank you for your unique and thought provoking question. Sensory overload as I think of it pertaining to us on the spectrum is a struggle we have with being entirely overly sensitive to the information inour environment. We have little to no filter in our being to be able to deal with all of the light, sounds etc. in the world so it is very very likely that we will become overloaded with the sensation around us before long.

I am not sure how to answer the question about the problems they may cause because sensory overload is a problem. We do not easily filter all of the "stuff" out of our system. I can tell you it is the direct cause of our "meltdowns"; all of the in fact. So they cause meltdowns which looks like to people not on the spectrum to be anger management tantrums. They are not tantrums or justification that we need anger management, they are our reaction to the profound need to rid out of our nervous system the sensory imput we are reciving because it is overwhelming and disturbing us.

I think if you understand this you would see that your question about side effects and how it occurs do not apply.