"Why Does Everything Feel So Loud?" Understanding Sensory Differences in Autism
One of the things I often hear during autism assessments is that everyday life can feel overwhelming in ways that are difficult to explain.
People describe walking into a supermarket and immediately feeling uncomfortable.
They avoid busy restaurants, shopping centres or crowded waiting rooms.
Some tell me they cannot concentrate if there is background noise.
Others find certain fabrics unbearable or become distressed by bright lights.
To somebody who has never experienced these difficulties, they can seem difficult to understand.
For the autistic person, however, they are often a normal part of everyday life.
We All Experience the World Differently
Every brain processes information from the world around us.
We notice sounds, lights, smells, textures and movement almost constantly.
Most of the time, our brain filters out information that isn't important.
Many autistic people describe that filter working differently.
Instead of background noise remaining in the background, it competes for attention.
Instead of fluorescent lights fading into the distance, they become impossible to ignore.
The world can feel much busier than it appears to other people.
It's Not About Being Oversensitive
One of the misconceptions I sometimes hear is that autistic people are simply "too sensitive."
I don't think that is a particularly helpful way of understanding it.
A better way to think about sensory differences is that the brain processes information differently.
The experience is real.
The discomfort is real.
It is not something people choose or something they can simply ignore.
Recognising this often changes the way families and friends respond.
Instead of asking someone to "put up with it," they begin asking how they can make the environment more comfortable.
Everyone Is Different
Not every autistic person experiences sensory differences in the same way.
Some are particularly sensitive to sound.
Others struggle more with touch, smell or visual environments.
Some actively seek sensory experiences, enjoying movement, deep pressure or particular textures.
Others avoid them whenever possible.
There is no single sensory profile that applies to everyone.
Understanding your own sensory preferences is often much more useful than comparing yourself with somebody else.
Small Changes Can Make a Big Difference
One of the encouraging things about sensory differences is that relatively small adjustments can sometimes have a significant impact.
Noise-cancelling headphones.
Sunglasses on bright days.
Choosing quieter times to go shopping.
Wearing comfortable clothing.
Taking short breaks from busy environments.
These strategies do not change autism.
What they often do is reduce the amount of energy spent coping with unnecessary discomfort.
Understanding Reduces Self-Criticism
Before receiving a diagnosis, many people tell me they believed they were simply "being difficult."
They wondered why everyone else seemed able to cope with environments that they found exhausting.
Learning about sensory processing often changes that perspective.
Rather than seeing themselves as weak or oversensitive, they begin to recognise that their brain processes sensory information differently.
For many people, that understanding is a huge relief.
Supporting Children
Parents often ask me whether they should encourage their child to "get used to" uncomfortable sensory experiences.
The answer is rarely straightforward.
Sometimes gentle, gradual exposure can be helpful.
Sometimes making reasonable adjustments is the kinder and more appropriate approach.
The important thing is understanding why the child is struggling rather than assuming they are simply refusing to cooperate.
When we understand the reason behind a behaviour, we are much better placed to respond supportively.
A Final Thought
One of the biggest lessons autism has taught me is that we should never assume that everybody experiences the world in the same way.
Two people can stand in exactly the same room and have completely different experiences.
One barely notices the lighting, the background conversations or the smell of cleaning products.
The other may be trying to process all of them at once.
Understanding sensory differences isn't about labelling people.
It's about recognising that the world can feel very different depending on how your brain processes it.
When we appreciate that, we become better at supporting autistic people and, perhaps more importantly, they become better at understanding themselves.
Dr James Glass
MBChB MRCPsych
Medical Director, WMI Psychiatry
