27 September 2023
On World Autism Awareness Week, we’re highlighting our favourite sensory products that have tremendous benefits for children and adults with autism. Autism isn’t a one-type-fits-all condition and each person with autism is an individual. This being said, most autistic people will experience the world differently than those not living with the condition.
Some people with autism have difficulty processing the information they receive from their senses. They may be over or under-sensitive to sounds or noise, things they see, certain smells or tastes, or things they physically touch. If sensory experiences become too much for them, a person with autism may feel overwhelmed and exhibit behaviours such as withdrawal or meltdown. Some people with autism are ‘sensory-seekers’ and may enjoy focusing on a certain sensory input. For instance, they may really like lights and find stimulation of this sense calming, pleasant and anxiety-reducing. Read our list of the best autism sensory products at Healthcare Pro.
Using sensory equipment may help children and adults with autism, depending on their particular needs and preferences. Here, we look at three key sensory items which have received excellent reviews from our customers and highlight the benefits they may have for autistic children and adults. All of the autism sensory products mentioned below are great to use at home or school to create safe and stress-free activities that enable a person to both seek or avoid sensory stimulation.
This tub contains six soft and tactile Aroma Dough balls, each with a different fragrance. Aroma Dough is great for children or adults who like to touch and play with objects that have interesting textures, as this can be calming and stress relieving. The scents, which include bergamot, eucalyptus and lavender, can stimulate a person’s sense of smell, providing a soothing effect. The dough is made of natural ingredients, including beeswax, cocoa butter and grape seed oil, so it’s safe to use. It’s important to remember that it’s not suitable for consumption, though.
Watch this review video by our YouTube collaborator Katy Gough, who is autistic and seeks tactile, vestibular, and olfactory stimulation. She is a big lover of Aroma Dough, as well as Vibrating Pillows.
The Tactile Sensory Bag contains over 35 items with different textures and shapes that stimulate the sense of touch. There’s plenty to share with other children if it’s used in a school environment, and lots of variety if the tactile items are used by one person. The items each feel soft, squishy, rough or smooth, and can be calming to play with and feel. Many of the tactile items are bright and colourful too, which some children will enjoy. The bag contains several brush-like items, which a parent or carer can use (if the person they look after permits and enjoys this) to brush the skin.
This ‘sensory brushing’ technique can help calm the central nervous system, which may help if a child or adult has a meltdown, needs to prepare for a potentially stressful event or creates a restful environment before sleep.
At Healthcare Pro, we understand the intricacies of autism and how specialised the care must be for children and adults. This is why we have such an extensive offering of autism sensory products for you to choose from.
If you do need some more information and assistance, we have an excellent help and advice service available for you. For anything else, please contact us today.
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