Our sense of touch helps us to interpret information about pressure, texture, movement, vibration, temperature and pain. It also provides us with information that we need for visual perception, body awareness and motor planning. Some people can experience difficulty with processing this tactile information. It can impede a person’s understanding of what is happening to them and in the world around them.
Withdrawing from or avoiding certain tactile experiences, this person may find another person’s touch feels unpleasant or even painful. They may also avoid getting ‘messy’ and not like eating certain foods, brushing their teeth, bathing, or having a haircut. Wearing certain textures of clothing may also feel unpleasant.
Seeking out tactile sensations, this person may appear to have a high pain threshold. They may self-injure or chew on inedible items or clothing. They may seek out physical touch and different textures to experience, which can include smearing.
For those who are over sensitive to touch, seamless clothes can be more comfortable when worn closest to the skin. Also, it can help to remove labels and other items on clothing that could feel scratchy.
For the under sensitive person, look for activities which give similar sensory feedback. So, if smearing is an issue, try regular scheduled sessions of play using items such as Play-Doh or jelly.
Interoception is an internal sensory system that helps
people notice, recognise, and respond to physical and emotional states.
Examples can include feeling hunger from a rumbling stomach and responding by eating, knowing when to go to the toilet, or being aware of emotions like sadness or anger.
Autistic people may experience slowed or halted development of interoception. This can lead to delays in expressing emotions and social responses.
Poor interoception can result in emotional dysregulation, where emotions like anger or sadness become overwhelming. It also affects self-regulation and self-management abilities, and can have a negative impact on the person’s mental health and wellbeing.
Using prompts and incorporating mindful body awareness activities into a person’s daily routine can help improve interoceptive awareness.
