Facts
Facts
Facts for parents and caregivers:
Non-speaking, minimal speaking and unreliable speaking Autism is a SENSORIMOTOR problem. NOT a language and behavior problem.
This means that the sensory system and motor planning system do not operate neurotypically. When an autistic has difficulty planning movements / motor planning (this also includes movements of the mouth and tongue for speaking), it's called Apraxia.
Most importantly, non-speaking, minimal speaking and unreliable speaking Autistics do NOT have cognitive impairments. Autistics like John Paul understand you completely, their thinking brain and intellect are fine. The problem is they have trouble making their body do what they want it to do. It is their ability to motor plan and process their sensory systems that is impaired. How incredibly frustrating that must be!
Here is a quick run down of our eight senses - this is the sensory part of Sensorimotor.
Our eight senses:1. Sight2. Hearing3. Taste4. Touch5. Smell6. Movement7. Balance
8. Interoception
Sight is your visual sense through your eyes. Other words used to describe your sense of sight are visual, vision, see, seeing and looking.Hearing is your sense of noise and sound through your ears. Other words used to describe your sense of hearing are auditory, hear and listening.Taste is sensed through your tongue and mouth. Another word used to describe your sense of taste is gustatory.Touch is sensed through your skin. Other words to describe your sense of touch are tactile and feel.Smell is sensed through your nose. Another word used to describe smell is scent.Proprioception movement is sensed through sensory receptors in your joints and muscles and your inner ear. Proprioception tells you where your body, arms and legs are in space. More words you might see are moving, body movement or proprioceptive.Vestibular balance is sensed through your inner ear. Another word used to describe balance is vestibular. Your vestibular sense tells you where your head is in space and helps keep you upright.Interoception in an internal body sense. Another word used is interoceptive. It tells you if you are hungry, thirsty or if you need to go to the toilet - and it helps you sense your internal organs.
Examples of possible Sensory differences in your eight senses that impact normal functioning. Your senses tell your brain about what your body is experiencing. Some people have differences in how one or more of their senses work compared to most other people. 1. Vision and sight: Wearing glasses generally suggests that you have a difference in your vision. For those who require corrective lenses, glasses or contact lenses address the problem.However, for some people with differences in their sense of vision, corrective lenses may not solve the problem. For example, they might have low vision, partial vision or blindness. Additionally, some people are bothered by bright lights, flickering lights and flashing lights.These are examples of why someone might look for a sensory-friendly environment with lower and less lighting.Moreover, you also might see people who wear wrap-around sunglasses or special glasses indoors, even when it is cloudy.For instance, many people wear blue light blocking glasses to work at a screen. Furthermore, some people may tell you that they do not like being in places that are overly crowded and cluttered because their sense of vision becomes overwhelmed. 2. Hearing and sound: More and more you see people wearing noise-cancelling headphones to listen to music and even earmuffs to block out sound. There are even special-sized earmuffs for infants and toddlers. Many people, including children and adults, use earplugs for sleep.Some people are easily startled by loud sounds. On the other hand, some people are bothered by background noise, like music playing on overhead speakers. Similarly, simply the sound of a crowded and busy place can be bothersome for some individuals.People with hearing loss, even those who wear hearing aids, have difficulty when there is a lot of ambient noise.Though many people are bothered by sudden noises, even if they are not unduly loud.Sensory Friendly Solutions survey results consistently reveal that noise is the most common problem. 3. Taste: Know someone who likes bland food? Do you know a child who follows the “beige diet?” Some children with sensory processing disorders only eat beige food, including foods like bread, chicken fingers, fries and cereal.Some people, not just children, simply cannot tolerate the taste of spicy food. Or, the taste of very specific foods bothers them.Divided plates can help children and adults who are bothered by different foods touching each other. John Paul was a sensory seeker so he LOVED different flavors and textures. 4. Touch and tactile sensitivity: Do you know someone who cuts the tags off all their clothes? Maybe you’ve even heard of sensory-friendly clothing. This is a popular product for children with autism.Maybe you don’t like wool sweaters because they are scratchy. Sometimes seams in socks can be bothersome for individuals. Seamless socks exist for all ages.For other people, they do not like being hugged or touched a lot. 5. Sensitivity to smell and scents: Ever meet someone who cannot stand to have scented candles in their house. Maybe you know someone who is bothered by perfumes. For some people, scents and smells can cause asthma attacks.For other people, their sense of smell is so acute that they are bothered by things you don’t even register.Smells are not limited to diffusers or sprays and even the smell of certain foods can be a challenge and make people feel ill. Fragrance-free odor absorbers can help. Same as with taaste, John Paul loved all types of smells, pleasant or not. He spelled that his sense of smell was his strondest sense. 6. Proprioception: you are moving. Proprioception is another big word; it means your sense of muscle and joints. This sense tells you where and how your body is moving. It tells you what your arms, legs, trunk and neck are doing.If you close your eyes, you likely can still touch your nose with a finger. This is because your sense of proprioception tells your shoulder, arm, hand and finger exactly how much to move to reach your nose. You don’t see it move, you don’t hear it move and you only feel it when your finger makes contact.Some people like moving a lot, whereas some people do not like moving at all. Indoor, mini-trampolines are popular for people of all ages who like to move. 7. Vestibular: Your vestibular sense means balance. Vestibular sounds like a big word, but it just means your sense of balance.You use this sense all the time, even just sitting up. You also use it when you move, especially while moving your head. So, you use your sense of balance when you sit, walk, stand, dance or climb.Your balance can be challenged if you are in a moving vehicle such as a car, bus, train, boat or plane. Some people are more susceptible to motion sickness and you might see them wearing armbands to try to prevent nausea. That means there is a difference in their vestibular sense.People who are afraid of heights have a sense of balance that is more acute too. 8. Interoception: Interoception may be a new word to you. It is a sense that has been newly described in recent years. This is your internal body sense. It gives you information about your nervous system and organs. For example, it tells you about your breathing and helps coordinate your breath. Additionally, it tells you if you are hungry, thirsty or if you need to use the toilet.For some people, they have difficulty recognizing these signals from their body. What is APRAXIA? Apraxia is the inability to carry out intended motor movements. This includes speech for 40% of all autistics. Apraxia is largely the reason why autistics like John Paul are so misunderstood. Apraxia has others names, including: Dyspraxia, Motor Coordination Disorder, Motor Planning Disorder, Disorder of Attention and Motor Perception (DAMP) and Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). The opposite of Apraxia is PRAXIS which is the ABILITY for an individual to carry out intended motor movements. There are four steps to Praxis: 1. have the idea2. plan it 3. execute it4. refine it Neurotypical people do these four steps automatically hundreds of times a day, without thought. Simple things like picking up a cup of coffee and drinking it, catching a ball, brushing teeth, etc. Everything we do basically requires these four steps. An autistic like John Paul cannot carry out these four steps without incredible effort. Even with great effort, he still may not be able to do it. It is not a lack of wanting to, it is an inability to make your body work like you want it to. The importance of positivity Autistics are highly sensitive to others’ energy, which is challenging. Even in the many moments when working with JP was extremely tough and I would feel frustrated, I still tried to keep my energy and thoughts positive around John Paul as much as I could. He reacted to the energy I put out in the world. If irritated or anxious, he could become easily disregulated. Everyone who works with an autistic really needs to understand this. When you are negative and angry it makes it worse for the autistic. They already have so much to deal with regarding motor planning difficulties and sensory issues they may be experiencing. Negative energy and thoughts just add pressure and make everything worse. It can add to dysregulation so easily.
Examples of possible Sensory differences in your eight senses that impact normal functioning. Your senses tell your brain about what your body is experiencing. Some people have differences in how one or more of their senses work compared to most other people. 1. Vision and sight: Wearing glasses generally suggests that you have a difference in your vision. For those who require corrective lenses, glasses or contact lenses address the problem.However, for some people with differences in their sense of vision, corrective lenses may not solve the problem. For example, they might have low vision, partial vision or blindness. Additionally, some people are bothered by bright lights, flickering lights and flashing lights.These are examples of why someone might look for a sensory-friendly environment with lower and less lighting.Moreover, you also might see people who wear wrap-around sunglasses or special glasses indoors, even when it is cloudy.For instance, many people wear blue light blocking glasses to work at a screen. Furthermore, some people may tell you that they do not like being in places that are overly crowded and cluttered because their sense of vision becomes overwhelmed. 2. Hearing and sound: More and more you see people wearing noise-cancelling headphones to listen to music and even earmuffs to block out sound. There are even special-sized earmuffs for infants and toddlers. Many people, including children and adults, use earplugs for sleep.Some people are easily startled by loud sounds. On the other hand, some people are bothered by background noise, like music playing on overhead speakers. Similarly, simply the sound of a crowded and busy place can be bothersome for some individuals.People with hearing loss, even those who wear hearing aids, have difficulty when there is a lot of ambient noise.Though many people are bothered by sudden noises, even if they are not unduly loud.Sensory Friendly Solutions survey results consistently reveal that noise is the most common problem. 3. Taste: Know someone who likes bland food? Do you know a child who follows the “beige diet?” Some children with sensory processing disorders only eat beige food, including foods like bread, chicken fingers, fries and cereal.Some people, not just children, simply cannot tolerate the taste of spicy food. Or, the taste of very specific foods bothers them.Divided plates can help children and adults who are bothered by different foods touching each other. John Paul was a sensory seeker so he LOVED different flavors and textures. 4. Touch and tactile sensitivity: Do you know someone who cuts the tags off all their clothes? Maybe you’ve even heard of sensory-friendly clothing. This is a popular product for children with autism.Maybe you don’t like wool sweaters because they are scratchy. Sometimes seams in socks can be bothersome for individuals. Seamless socks exist for all ages.For other people, they do not like being hugged or touched a lot. 5. Sensitivity to smell and scents: Ever meet someone who cannot stand to have scented candles in their house. Maybe you know someone who is bothered by perfumes. For some people, scents and smells can cause asthma attacks.For other people, their sense of smell is so acute that they are bothered by things you don’t even register.Smells are not limited to diffusers or sprays and even the smell of certain foods can be a challenge and make people feel ill. Fragrance-free odor absorbers can help. Same as with taaste, John Paul loved all types of smells, pleasant or not. He spelled that his sense of smell was his strondest sense. 6. Proprioception: you are moving. Proprioception is another big word; it means your sense of muscle and joints. This sense tells you where and how your body is moving. It tells you what your arms, legs, trunk and neck are doing.If you close your eyes, you likely can still touch your nose with a finger. This is because your sense of proprioception tells your shoulder, arm, hand and finger exactly how much to move to reach your nose. You don’t see it move, you don’t hear it move and you only feel it when your finger makes contact.Some people like moving a lot, whereas some people do not like moving at all. Indoor, mini-trampolines are popular for people of all ages who like to move. 7. Vestibular: Your vestibular sense means balance. Vestibular sounds like a big word, but it just means your sense of balance.You use this sense all the time, even just sitting up. You also use it when you move, especially while moving your head. So, you use your sense of balance when you sit, walk, stand, dance or climb.Your balance can be challenged if you are in a moving vehicle such as a car, bus, train, boat or plane. Some people are more susceptible to motion sickness and you might see them wearing armbands to try to prevent nausea. That means there is a difference in their vestibular sense.People who are afraid of heights have a sense of balance that is more acute too. 8. Interoception: Interoception may be a new word to you. It is a sense that has been newly described in recent years. This is your internal body sense. It gives you information about your nervous system and organs. For example, it tells you about your breathing and helps coordinate your breath. Additionally, it tells you if you are hungry, thirsty or if you need to use the toilet.For some people, they have difficulty recognizing these signals from their body. What is APRAXIA? Apraxia is the inability to carry out intended motor movements. This includes speech for 40% of all autistics. Apraxia is largely the reason why autistics like John Paul are so misunderstood. Apraxia has others names, including: Dyspraxia, Motor Coordination Disorder, Motor Planning Disorder, Disorder of Attention and Motor Perception (DAMP) and Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). The opposite of Apraxia is PRAXIS which is the ABILITY for an individual to carry out intended motor movements. There are four steps to Praxis: 1. have the idea2. plan it 3. execute it4. refine it Neurotypical people do these four steps automatically hundreds of times a day, without thought. Simple things like picking up a cup of coffee and drinking it, catching a ball, brushing teeth, etc. Everything we do basically requires these four steps. An autistic like John Paul cannot carry out these four steps without incredible effort. Even with great effort, he still may not be able to do it. It is not a lack of wanting to, it is an inability to make your body work like you want it to. The importance of positivity Autistics are highly sensitive to others’ energy, which is challenging. Even in the many moments when working with JP was extremely tough and I would feel frustrated, I still tried to keep my energy and thoughts positive around John Paul as much as I could. He reacted to the energy I put out in the world. If irritated or anxious, he could become easily disregulated. Everyone who works with an autistic really needs to understand this. When you are negative and angry it makes it worse for the autistic. They already have so much to deal with regarding motor planning difficulties and sensory issues they may be experiencing. Negative energy and thoughts just add pressure and make everything worse. It can add to dysregulation so easily.