Understanding PDA and sensory needs

This page is about sensory processing differences some PDAers may have and what can help make living with those differences easier.

For people who experience their senses differently, the world around them can be stressful. Sounds can seem extra loud and frightening or really distracting. Tastes can be so strong that they are revolting, so only very plain food is good to eat. Touch may hurt or be hardly felt at all.

Understanding sensory differences can help when thinking about ways to support people who have them.

• Hyper-sensitivity: sounds, textures, lights, smells, or tastes can become unbearable, leading to anxiety or distress.
• Hypo-sensitivity: not getting all the sensory information needed by the brain. This can result in trying to make up for it by being loud, very physical, clumsy or taking risks.
• Sensory overload: a buildup of sensory input can lead to PDAers feeling overwhelmed and freezing or zoning out. For some it can cause a meltdown where they experience a temporary loss of control and lash out verbally or physically. They may feel an urgent need to escape.
• Internal bodily differences: difficulty recognising things like hunger, thirst, or pain, making it harder to manage thoughts, emotions and behaviour. This is known as interoception.

If you want to help a PDAer manage the impact of their sensory differences, or you are a PDAer yourself, there are a number of practical things you can try.

It can be useful to start by thinking about what feels comfortable and safe and what feels unsettling or upsetting. Understanding this on an individual level makes it more likely that the things you try will help.

• Offering choice and flexibility: allowing PDAers to control their sensory environment as much as possible can help. Try providing options for lighting, seating, temperature and noise levels.
• Respecting independence: try to avoid forcing unwanted sensory experiences on PDAers if they have expressed discomfort. Working together to find alternative ways to engage with the world is a healthy way forward. Rather than going to a noisy disco for a friend’s party you could suggest inviting them around for a quieter tea at your home. Or recognising that your PDA child finds it difficult to eat at the table and giving them food on the floor or sofa can better meet their sensory needs.
• Creating safe spaces: providing quiet, low-stimulation areas where PDAers can move to if they feel overwhelmed can help reduce anxiety.
• Helpful sensory tools: noise-cancelling headphones, fidget items, weighted blankets, and sunglasses can help manage sensory input.
• Understanding sensory triggers: talking with PDAers to learn about their specific sensory triggers means everyone can work together to find ways to reduce discomfort.
• Allowing movement: some PDAers help themselves regulate through movement. Encouraging rocking, pacing, or other forms of expression can help them to manage sensory challenges.
• Using the right words: presenting ideas for sensory support as choices rather than instructions can reduce anxiety.

There are many ways to help manage sensory differences. Over time, by trying things out you could find a few approaches which work for you or the PDAer in your life.

Having a bag ready at the door with items that could help (for example sunglasses, ear plugs, a fan or something that smells familiar) can really help too.

If you’re looking for ideas that actually help, our training could be for you. It’s built by people with lived experience, and is full of practical tips.