This article explains:
- What sensory processing is
- Hypersensitivity and hyposensitivity
- The main senses and what they do
- Why sensory needs matter and what can happen if they are not met
(This article does not explain how to support sensory needs. That will be covered is strategies to support sensory processing
What are the senses?
The senses are the systems our bodies use to take in information from the world around us and from inside our bodies. Our brains use this information to help us understand what is happening, decide how we feel, and work out how to respond. Autistic people often process this sensory information differently, which can affect comfort, emotions, and daily life.
The senses include:
- Vision (visual) – seeing light, colour, shape and movement
- Hearing (auditory) – sound, volume, pitch and rhythm
- Smell (olfactory) – odours and airborne chemicals
- Taste (gustatory) – flavours and food textures
- Touch (tactile) – light touch, texture, temperature and pain
- Proprioception – body position, movement and deep pressure
- Vestibular – balance, movement and sense of direction
Interoception – internal body signals, such as hunger, pain and emotions.
Here is a video where our clinicians and a lived experience partner explain sensory processing:
Click here to view a transcript of this video
Hypersensitivity
This means a sense receives too much information. Things may feel painful, intense or overwhelming. This can quickly lead to distress or dysregulation.
Hyposensitivity
This means a sense receives too little information. A person may seek more sensory input because it helps them feel calm, alert or comfortable.
A person can be hypersensitive in one sense and hyposensitive in another.
Vision (visual sense)
What it detects
- Light
- Colour
- Shape and movement
- Visual detail and contrast
Where the receptors are
- In the eyes (retina)
Why vision matters
Vision supports learning, finding your way around, and recognising people and objects. For some autistic people, visual information can feel intense or hard to process.
Examples include:
- Being extra sensitive to bright lights or sunlight, which can feel painful or tiring
- Flickering screens causing discomfort, headaches or difficulty concentrating
- Busy visual environments, such as shops or classrooms, feeling overwhelming and leading to visual overload
- Difficulty reading text on busy pages or screens, or needing more time
- Difficulty recognising faces, especially in crowded or unfamiliar settings. This is called prosopagnosia.
When visual input becomes too much, it can lead to tiredness, headaches, stress, shutdown, or difficulty continuing with tasks.
Visual input can also be positive, calming or enjoyable. Some people actively seek visual sensory input because it feels regulating or satisfying, for example:
- Looking at patterns, shapes or repetitive designs
- Watching gentle movement, such as a lava lamp, water, spinning objects or light reflections
These experiences can help the nervous system feel calmer and more settled.
Hearing (auditory sense)
What it detects
- Sounds
- Volume (loudness)
- Pitch and tone
- Rhythm and timing
Where the receptors are
- In the inner ear (cochlea)
Why hearing matters
Hearing supports communication, social interaction, and awareness of what is happening around us. For some autistic people, sounds can feel very intense or hard to filter.
Examples include:
- Background noise such as traffic, fans, humming lights, or people talking in the distance feeling distracting or overwhelming. ‘Misophonia’ is the clinical name for a strong hypersensitivity to particular sounds – example triggers include the sound of other people eating.
- Sudden loud sounds (for example alarms, shouting, or doors slamming, hand driers) causing distress, pain, or a strong startle response
- Repeating sounds, like clocks ticking or beeping, making it hard to relax or concentrate
- Speech, especially in noisy places, being hard to follow because all sounds blend together
When there is too much sound, this can increase stress and tiredness, and may lead to overload, shutdown, or difficulty continuing with tasks.
Sound can also be enjoyable, calming or regulating. Some people seek auditory input because it helps them feel settled or happy, for example:
- Listening to music they enjoy, sometimes at a preferred volume
- Repeating certain sounds, words, or tunes
- Enjoying predictable or rhythmic sounds
Auditory sensitivity is not about liking or disliking noise. It is about how the brain processes sound and how much it can manage at that time.
Smell (olfactory sense)
What it detects
- Odours and airborne chemicals
- Strength and type of smells
Where the receptors are
- Inside the nose
Why smell matters
Smell is strongly linked to memory and emotion, and it helps keep people safe by warning of danger. For some autistic people, smells can feel very strong and hard to ignore.
Examples include:
- Food smells, such as spices or other strong food smells, feeling overwhelming or distracting
- Perfume, deodorant, or cleaning products causing discomfort, headaches, or nausea
- Body smells being very noticeable and hard to tolerate
- Strong or sudden smells, such as smoke or gas, causing distress or alarm
When smells are too intense, this can raise stress levels, make it hard to concentrate, or lead to overload or shutdown.
Smell can also be pleasant, calming or comforting. Some people seek certain smells because they feel soothing or grounding, for example:
- Familiar or favourite food smells, such as bread or coffee
- Natural smells such as grass, rain, or fresh air
- Predictable or gentle scents that feel safe, such as a soft toy or favourite shampoo
Everyday smells that many people barely notice can feel extremely strong for some autistic people, while specific smells can also bring calm, comfort, or enjoyment.
Taste (gustatory sense)
What it detects
- Flavour
- Sweet, salty, sour, bitter and savoury tastes
- Temperature and texture of food
Where the receptors are
- On the tongue and inside the mouth
Why taste matters
Taste affects how eating and drinking feel, and it plays an important role in health and wellbeing. For some autistic people, taste and food textures can feel very strong or uncomfortable.
Examples include:
- Strong flavours tasting overwhelming or unpleasant, even if others enjoy them
- Mixed textures in food (for example crunchy and soft together) feeling difficult to manage or distressing
- Very hot or very cold food and drink feeling painful or hard to tolerate
When taste differences are intense, this can limit food choices and make eating stressful. Over time, this can affect nutrition, energy levels and health.
Taste can also be enjoyable, comforting or regulating. Some people find strong or intense flavours positively stimulating and satisfying, such as spicy food, olives, sour tastes, or salty snacks. Others prefer certain flavours or textures because they feel familiar, safe or soothing. Repeating the same foods can help reduce stress and make eating more manageable.
Taste differences are sensory differences. They are not about being difficult, stubborn or picky.
Tactile sense (light touch)
What it detects
- Light touch
- Texture
- Temperature
- Pain
- Vibration
Where the receptors are
- In the skin, on the surface of the body
Why touch matters
Touch helps protect the body from harm and supports everyday skills such as writing, dressing and using tools. It also plays a big role in whether a person feels safe or unsafe.
Examples include:
- Clothing labels, seams or tight fabrics causing irritation or pain
- Light or unexpected touch, such as someone tapping an arm or brushing past, feeling uncomfortable or distressing
- Different textures, like sand, slime or paper, feeling unpleasant or hard to tolerate
- Light sensations, such as a breeze on the skin, feeling distracting or overwhelming
When touch feels too intense, it can increase stress and make it hard to concentrate or stay calm. This may lead to avoidance of certain clothes, activities, or social contact.
Touch can also be pleasing, calming or regulating. Some people enjoy certain textures or types of pressure because they feel safe or comforting. This helps explain why someone may dislike light touch but enjoy firm contact or pressure, such as strong hugs or tight clothing.
Many autistic people are especially sensitive to gentle or unexpected touch. This is about how the nervous system processes touch, not about being unfriendly or rejecting affection.
Proprioceptive sense (deep pressure and body position)
What it detects
- Muscle stretch and movement
- Joint position
- Body force and pressure
Where the receptors are
- In muscles, joints and tendons
Why proprioception matters
Proprioception tells you where your body is without needing to look. It supports balance, coordination and posture, and it plays a strong role in helping the body feel calm and organised.
Examples include:
- Firm hugs or squeezing, which can feel grounding
- Carrying heavy items, such as bags or shopping
- Pushing or pulling, for example against a wall or objects
- Using a weighted blanket to provide deep pressure
Proprioceptive input (such as deep pressure, compression, vibration, or work through the joints) has a calming effect on the nervous system and an organising effect on the brain. This sensory system is very powerful and is often used to help settle the body when other senses feel overwhelming.
Unlike some other senses, proprioceptive input is very unlikely to feel “too much” for the nervous system. For this reason, it is often helpful when someone is overstimulated by noise, light, touch, or other sensory input. This also helps explain why a person may dislike light or unexpected touch, but actively seeks firm pressure.
Weighted blankets can be helpful for some people, but they should be used with care. A person should always be able to move freely and remove the blanket by themselves.
Proprioceptive needs vary from person to person, but this sense is often central to feeling calm, steady and regulated.
Vestibular sense (balance and movement)
What it detects
- Head position
- Movement
- Balance and speed
- Direction
Where the receptors are
- In the inner ear
Why the vestibular sense matters
The vestibular sense helps the body understand movement, balance and position. It plays an important role in posture and coordination, and it helps control whether the body feels alert or calm.
Examples include:
- Swinging or rocking, which can feel calming or enjoyable for some people
- Spinning, which may feel exciting or regulating, or may feel too intense
- Going upstairs or changing levels, which can feel disorienting or effortful
- Travelling in a car, which may cause motion sickness, dizziness, or discomfort
Differences in the vestibular sense affect comfort with movement. Too much movement can make some people feel dizzy, sick, anxious or out of control. This may lead to avoiding certain activities or environments.
Motion sickness and dizziness can happen with travel (like in a car) or from other sensory activities, such as swings, roundabouts, or lifts. Try simple changes like sitting still, looking ahead, getting fresh air, or taking breaks. You can also ask a pharmacist about medicine. If it does not improve, see a doctor to check it is not a physical problem.
Movement can also be positive, soothing or regulating. Some people seek vestibular input because it helps them feel calm, focused or alert. For others, movement is tiring or unsettling and needs to be limited or controlled.
Some people seek movement, while others avoid it. Both are natural responses to how the vestibular system processes information.
Interoception (internal body awareness)
What it detects
- Internal body signals
- Physical and emotional states
Where the receptors are
- Throughout the internal organs and nervous system
Why interoception matters
Interoception is the sense that helps a person notice what is happening inside their body. This includes physical needs and emotions. It links body sensations with how a person is feeling.
Examples include:
- Noticing hunger or thirst, or realising these needs very suddenly
- Knowing when you need the toilet, or finding it hard to tell in time
- Feeling pain, nausea, or changes in temperature, such as being too hot or cold
- Feeling emotions like anxiety, excitement, anger or sadness as physical sensations in the body
Interoception helps people recognise their needs and respond to them. When this sense works differently, it can be hard to notice needs early. A person may only realise they are hungry, thirsty, tired, or overwhelmed when the feeling becomes very strong. This can lead to sudden distress, shutdown, or difficulty coping.
Interoception also supports emotional awareness. Some autistic people find it hard to identify or describe their emotions. This is sometimes called alexithymia. A person may know they feel “wrong” or uncomfortable but not know if that feeling is anxiety, hunger, tiredness, pain, or something else.
Interoceptive differences are about how the body and brain share information. They are not about ignoring needs or not caring about wellbeing.
Variability, demands and capacity
Sensory processing can vary, which means it can change. It is not the same all the time. It can be different from one person to another, and it can also change for the same person from day to day. Stress, tiredness, illness, pain, or lots of change can all affect how the senses feel.
Capacity means how much a person can cope with at that moment. Everyone has a limited amount of energy and tolerance. When demands are high – such as work, school, social interaction, noise, or busy environments – a person’s capacity may be lower.
When capacity is low, sensory experiences can change in different ways. A person may become more sensitive to some senses, for example finding loud noises or bright lights extra uncomfortable. At the same time, they may become less sensitive to other senses, such as not noticing hunger, thirst, or needing the toilet. On days with fewer demands, people often have more capacity, and the same sensory input may feel easier to manage.
Why sensory needs matter
When sensory needs are not met, this can lead to:
- Anxiety and ongoing stress
- Meltdowns or shutdowns
- Burnout
- Difficulty with everyday tasks
This can affect:
- Eating, drinking and using the toilet
- Sleep
- Work or education
- Memory and concentration
- Social relationships
- Physical and mental health
Meeting sensory needs is not only about avoiding distress. Many autistic people also get pleasure, comfort and calm from sensory input that suits them. This sensory input can help the nervous system feel settled and regulated. Some people use repeated movements, sounds, or sensory actions to do this. This is often called stimming.
For more information about stimming, click this link:
www.leicspart.nhs.uk/autism-space/health-and-lifestyle/stimming/
These reactions and behaviours are not behaviour problems. They are signs of how the nervous system is coping with sensory input and demands.
For more information about how to support sensory processing needs, click the following link:
For information on how to help your child with sensory processing related problems in school, click this link:
www.leicspart.nhs.uk/autism-space/education-and-employment/sensory-processing-issues-in-school/
For a directory of resources and support services, to help you learn more about autism – including sensory processing, click the following link:
www.leicspart.nhs.uk/autism-space/general-resources/other-resources
Key points
- Sensory processing is how the brain makes sense of information from the senses
- Autistic people often process sensory information differently from non‑autistic people
- Everyone has a unique sensory profile
- Sensory experiences can change from day to day and with stress, tiredness or illness
- Being more sensitive (hypersensitive) or needing more input (hyposensitive) is common
- Sensory information can be challenging, but it can also be helpful, calming or enjoyable
- Unmet sensory needs can affect daily life, health and wellbeing
- Sensory differences are natural and valid
Understanding sensory processing is an important first step. It helps autistic people, families and carers better understand experiences and needs, and supports wellbeing across the lifespan.
