Sensory stimulation for people with ASD

Sensory stimuli are those we receive through our sense organs, which help us perceive and interact with our environment. Traditionally, when we talk about the senses, we consider sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. However, we must also include the vestibular sense, the sense of balance and gravity located in the inner ear, and the proprioceptive sense, which provides information about the position and posture of our own body and whose receptors are distributed throughout the muscles, tendons, and joints.

In individuals with autism spectrum disorder , these sensory experiences may be attenuated , meaning they may be hyposensitive to some stimuli, or heightened, meaning they may be hypersensitive. It is even possible for sensitivity to fluctuate within the same sense; for example, there may be hypersensitivity to some sounds and hyposensitivity to others.

In this context of heightened sensitivity, individuals with ASD may experience "sensory overload" and feel overwhelmed or burdened in a sensory situation that would be harmless to people without this disorder. However, it is this same sensitivity that can help regulate a stressful situation, providing pleasant sensory stimuli.

People with ASD may experience "sensory overload" and feel burdened or overwhelmed in a sensory situation that would be harmless to people without this disorder.

This is where fidget toys come in. Fidget is an English word that means to remove or handle, and toy means toy, and together they define a type of gadget used to generate pleasant stimuli in people with ASD (adults and children) and that can help them reduce anxiety and regulate their emotions.

Although none of these objects have scientific evidence about their usefulness and in no case do they replace psychological, educational and/or pharmacological treatment, the guidelines do not advise against their use.

Fidget Toys , sensory objects for people with ASD

Snapperz

When you squeeze this toy, the suction cups in the center produce a satisfying sound. It stimulates the auditory, tactile, and proprioceptive senses. Recommended for ages 3 and up.

Simple dimple or Pop it!

These are two different sensory objects, but they serve the same purpose. Squeezing the bubbles provides satisfying tactile stimulation and, depending on the side, even a "pop" sound. They come in many colors and shapes. The thickness of the material can affect how pleasant they are to the touch and the sound they make.

Spinners

Do you remember them? They were all the rage a few years ago. With their bright colors and spinning action, they're objects that provide visual and vestibular stimulation. Some even come with Pop it! features on the propellers, effectively combining two fidget toys into one.

Boink o Mesh and marble

They are tubes with a flexible material mesh that contain a marble inside that moves from one place to another, depending on where you squeeze, causing tactile stimulation.

Tangle

It's a ring with several segments that rotate independently. They offer a sensation of continuous movement and can be of different textures, sizes, and materials. They provide both visual and tactile stimulation.

Monkey noodle

They're rubber ropes in different textures and bright colors, resistant to pulling and biting. But watch out for whiplash if you stretch them too far!

6 or 12-sided anti-stress cube

Each face of these cubes is designed to provide different sensory stimulation. Their small size makes them discreet and portable. They are available in a variety of textures, shapes, and colors. The faces often include switches, joysticks, wheels, metal balls, or buttons that can produce sounds. They stimulate the tactile, visual, vestibular, and auditory senses.

Infinite Cube

A multi-colored cube that expands and can easily change shape in various ways, providing visual stimulation. The material is usually hard.

Spiky ring

Made of a material that adapts to any finger, it is useful for being manipulated silently and thus stimulating touch.

Edamame toy

A pod that, when squeezed, reveals a smiling soybean. A funny, portable, silent object that is both tactilely and visually satisfying.

Squishies or stress balls

There is a wide variety of these gadgets, from cute animal-shaped objects to stress balls with all sorts of fillings. Some have a stickier texture, others are softer, some are filled with rice, jelly beads, air, cotton, sand, and others are made entirely of rubber. You should find the outer texture and filling that best stimulates proprioception for the user.

Loopeez

A small, one-handed toy where you rotate the rings. The rotation is satisfying and quite discreet, as it makes no sound. It stimulates the vestibular and tactile senses.

Fidget ring

They are usually adjustable jewelry with rotating ornaments or sliding beads, so their stimulation is visual, tactile, and vestibular. They make no sound and are very discreet. They are not a children's toy.

There are no two people with ASD who have the same patterns of sensory perception experiences, so each person must find those sensory stimuli that are pleasurable and helpful, and detect those that are aversive or overwhelming, in order to prevent them, avoid them, or generate strategies to regulate them.