Breaking down barriers for disabled people
Autistic Sensory Differences
Autistic people experience the world differently through the 8 senses.
These differences can be either:
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Hyposensitive (under-sensitive)
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Hypersensitive (over-sensitive)
This can significantly affect our ability to perform daily living tasks. This is especially relevant for assessments like Personal Independence Payment (PIP), which evaluates how health conditions impact daily activities, such as cooking, getting dressed, and washing ourselves.
Sight (Visual Processing)
Hyposensitivity (under sensitive)
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May struggle to read cooking instructions, signs, or medication labels due to blurred vision or fragmented focus.
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Central vision may be unclear, affecting ability to dress appropriately or prepare meals.
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Poor depth perception can cause clumsiness, knocking things over, or difficulty with toileting and bathing safely.
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Difficulty focusing on reading, managing money online, or interpreting social cues.
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Bright lights may cause pain or disorientation, making cooking, dressing, or shopping overwhelming.
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Difficulty with eye contact or visual engagement can impact face-to-face interaction.
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May cover eyes or withdraw from areas with strong lighting (e.g., bathrooms, kitchens).
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Light sensitivity may interfere with sleep, affecting energy for daily tasks.
Hypersensitivity
(over sensitive)
Sound (Auditory Processing)
Hyposensitivity (under sensitive)
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May not hear name being called or alarms going off — a safety issue when cooking, bathing, or toileting.
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Delayed or missed verbal communication (e.g., instructions for meds or shopping).
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May play videos loudly or seek constant sound input, which can distract from tasks like reading or budgeting.
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Everyday sounds (e.g., water running, cutlery, hairdryers) may be intolerable.
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Difficulty participating in conversations due to background noise or distortion.
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May avoid situations with multiple people, limiting ability to engage socially.
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Sudden or loud sounds can trigger meltdowns or shutdowns that halt all functioning.
Hypersensitivity
(over sensitive)
Smell (Olfactory Processing)
Hyposensitivity (under sensitive)
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May not notice strong smells (e.g., gas leaks, spoiled food, body odour).
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Can impact food safety, personal hygiene, and awareness of dirty laundry or soiled clothes.
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May seek out strong smells or sniff people/items, affecting social interaction.
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Overwhelmed by perfumes, cleaning products, or food smells.
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May refuse to enter certain rooms (like kitchens or toilets) due to smell sensitivity.
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Avoids cooking or bathing due to sensory discomfort.
Hypersensitivity
(over sensitive)
Taste (Gustatory Processing)
Hyposensitivity (under sensitive)
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May crave intense or unsafe tastes (pica), eating dirt, soap, or small objects.
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Limited awareness of spoiled food or unsafe eating habits.
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Can impact health and safe food choices, especially when alone.
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Strong aversions to certain textures or flavours.
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May refuse to eat full meals or only tolerate bland foods.
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Texture issues can make swallowing difficult or even painful.
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Can interfere with taking medication if it tastes or feels wrong.
Hypersensitivity
(over sensitive)
Touch (Tactile Processing)
Hyposensitivity (under sensitive)
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May not feel pain, temperature, or discomfort — risk of burns or injuries during bathing or cooking.
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Might not notice needing the toilet or that clothes are soiled.
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Enjoys heavy pressure or textures (e.g., smearing faeces, chewing on non-food items).
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May not dress appropriately due to texture-seeking or poor awareness.
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Light touch (e.g., water from shower, clothing, or other people) can be unbearable.
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Avoids brushing teeth, washing hair, or using toilet paper due to sensory discomfort.
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May only tolerate specific clothing, limiting dressing independence.
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May fear accidental touch, leading to isolation or refusal of support.
Hypersensitivity
(over sensitive)
Balance (Vestibular Processing)
Hyposensitivity (under sensitive)
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Constant movement seeking (rocking, spinning, jumping).
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May climb on unsafe surfaces or fall easily in bathrooms or kitchens.
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Struggles to stay seated for meals, reading, or conversation.
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Motion sickness, dizziness, or fear of movement affects travel, bathing, or using stairs.
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May avoid showers, bending, or lifting — affecting hygiene and domestic tasks.
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Unsteady in environments like supermarkets or banks, limiting independence.
Hypersensitivity
(over sensitive)
Body Awareness (Proprioception)
Hyposensitivity (under sensitive)
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Stands too close to others or uses too much force without meaning to.
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Difficulty managing fine motor tasks: using zippers, tying shoes, cutting food, handling medication.
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Frequently bumps into things or spills drinks — affecting food prep and social confidence.
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May move rigidly or cautiously, making dressing, bathing, or exercise harder.
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Avoids tasks requiring coordination, like buttoning clothes or using cash machines.
Hypersensitivity
(over sensitive)
Interoception
(Internal Sensory Processing)
Hyposensitivity (under sensitive)
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May not feel hunger, thirst, illness, or the need to use the toilet.
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Can miss meals, forget to drink water, or have accidents.
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May delay reporting pain or injury — not recognising danger.
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May overfocus on internal sensations like cramps, heartbeats, or nausea — causing health anxiety.
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Minor bodily discomforts can overwhelm and halt tasks.
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Panic over internal feelings can interfere with daily decision-making or managing finances.
Hypersensitivity
(over sensitive)
For more information, the following resources may be helpful:
If you’re unsure how to phrase your answers in your disability benefits form, that’s okay — we’ll figure it out together.
Access in every format
We can support via:
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Zoom (with or without video)
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Email
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Shared documents (Google Docs)
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Phone call or text
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British Sign Language (BSL)
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Captions and transcripts
We adapt the process, not just the information. You don’t need to mask your needs or change how you communicate — we’ll meet you where you are.