The Most Important Step in Addressing Sensory Processing Challenges in Young Adults
If you haven’t had the chance, check out last week’s post where we introduce what sensory processing disorder looks like in young adults.
As young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities age out of public school, move into college transition programs, or start living with roommates for the first time, new sensory challenges are likely to arise. These novel experiences lead to increased stress and often test an individual’s self-regulation skills.
So what can be done to assist young adults as they navigate these new challenges?
The simplest answer – help them truly understand their own sensory needs.
This is not to add another label or make someone feel like an outcast. Understanding our own sensory needs will help each of us realize that we ALL experience the world in a slightly different way. Plus, this information better prepares young adults for how their personal needs will impact relationships with others so they can set themselves up for success.
As a caregiver, teacher, or support professional working with young adults with intellecutal and developmental disabilities, how can you support someone in understanding their sensory needs?
Step 1 – Review Your Own Sensory Preferences
If you are assisting someone in learning about their own sensory processing preferences, it’s good to start with your understanding your own needs. What are the things you do every day to help stay regulated? Be prepared to offer examples to your learner.
To help you understand your own preferences, answer these questions:
When you wake up, are you ready to go for the day, or do you need a little time to get going?
Do you drink coffee for extra energy, or does it make you too jittery?
Do you listen to music while you work, or does it distract you?
Do certain clothing fabrics or tags bother you, or do you not even notice them?
Are you a picky eater, or do you eat anyting?
Do you like hugs, or do you prefer not to be touched?
When you sit in a meeting, are you able to stay focused, or do you find yourself needing to stand, move, or fidget?
While these are just a few examples, they should help you start to understand your own habits and preferences. If your answers leaned toward the blue responses, you might be a little more sensitive to sensory input, while if your answers aligned more with the green responses, you might be less sensitive to sensory input.
These questions are by no means meant to diagnose, but instead start the conversation of understanding the different experiences and choices we make we throughout our day. We all have sensory preferences, even if we don’t experience the challenges of sensory processing disorder.
Step 2 – Review Your Learner’s Sensory Preferences
While you’ve had a chance to think of your own preferences, let’s talk about assisting young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in understanding their own sensory needs.
Here at Accessible Adulthood, our team has had the opportunity to teach young adults about their sensory preferences. The most effective technique we have found is empowering these individuals to fully understand how their brains and bodies react to the world around them.
Once again, this information is not intended to make someone feel “different.” In fact, learning how people react to situations reinforces the concept that every single one of us experiences the world in a unique way. This conversation can be enlightening and exciting. In the past, some learners have exclaimed, “So that’s why I do that!?” with comfort in understanding themselves better.
Knowledge truly is power when it comes to understanding our sensory needs. Once someone understands their own responses to the world, they can better navigate interactions with others. Which, as they transition away from home, will include roommates, peers, friends, and colleagues.
If you aren’t sure where to start when having this conversation with your young adult learners, finding an occupational therapist who understands sensory processing can be incredibly helpful!
We also created our Sensory Preference Checklists to introduce the concept of sensory self-awareness, which includes understanding one’s own preferences and relating those preferences to relationships with others.
Download the first page of this resource (Sound Preferences) for FREE to see if you or your learner can benefit from understanding more about how they interact with sensory input.
