In the last 10 years, an increasing number of adults and parents of children with autism spectrum disorders have provided insight into the sensory challenges they face. These candid reports have helped us validate the sensory differences experienced by individuals with ASD. As researchers build a data base to support sensory integration and continue to explore the neurological theories to prove the reality of sensory integration, we can be confident that this anecdotal information provides strong, valid and ever-increasing support.

"From as far back as I can remember I always hated to be hugged. I wanted to experience the good feeling of being hugged, but it was just too overwhelming. It was like a great all-engulfing tidal wave of stimulation, and I reacted like a wild animal. Being touched triggered flight; it flipped my circuit breaker. I was overloaded and would have to escape, often by jerking away suddenly. When I was little, loud noises were also a problem, often feeling like a dentist’s drill hitting a nerve. They actually caused pain. I was scared to death of balloons popping, because the sound was like an explosion in my ear. Minor noises that most people can tune out drove me to distraction." (p.62)

Thinking in pictures and other reports from my life with autism, Temple Grandin, 1995

"I was unresponsive to bright lights, colors and unusual sounds, didn’t anticipate being picked up by raising my arms, and rocked a lot in my crib. It was as if others couldn’t reach me. Picking me up was not easy as I was stiff and awkward to hold. Although I often appeared deaf, I did respond to low sounds. As an adult, I still like low-pitched sounds. As a toddler, I would not kiss my father. The smell of coffee on his breath and the scratchiness of his moustache were too much for me to bear. Haircuts were always a major event. They hurt! It was impossible for me to communicate that the pulling on my scalp was causing the discomfort. Having someone else wash my hair was also a problem. Now that I am older and my nervous system has matured, a haircut is no longer an issue." (p. 19)

Beyond the wall: Personal experiences with autism and asperger syndrome, Stephen Shore, 2001

"I loved to chew crunchy things, even if they were poisonous. When I finished my little tin foil table settings, I used to chew them until they crackled their way into a tight, neat ball. I shaved the sand from Emory boards with my front teeth. As much as I loved to chew scratchy and gritty textures, I often found it impossible even to touch some objects. I hated stiff things, satiny things, scratchy things, things that fit me too tightly. I also found many noises and bright lights nearly impossible to bear. High frequencies and brassy, tin sounds clawed my nerves. Together, the sharp sounds and the bright lights were more than enough to overload my senses. My head would feel tight, my stomach would churn and my pulse would run my heart ragged until I found a safety zone." (p. 25)

Pretending to be normal: Living with apserger’s syndrome, Liane Holliday Willey, 1999