The Autism diagnosis is quite common, but the knowledge about its specifics is still not spread wide enough. Let us show you some of the lesser-known aspects of being autistic.
Visual hypersensitivity
You might have heard of autistic people being hypersensitive, but have you ever considered that in the context of vision? This is not a matter of having healthier eyes but rather of how the brain processes visual information.
Research shows that autistic people tend to show more intense activity in certain areas of the brain while performing visual tasks. This explains why some are able to notice the details while others are not.
Tunnel vision
This trait is connected to the way in which autistic people concentrate their attention. It turns out this affects much more than their interests and the ability to focus on very specific topics. Autistic people statistically concentrate their eyes on what is in front of them more than most. This makes them notice more details at the centre of their vision, but also miss more information from the peripheries.
Colour intensity
85% of autistic people see colours with greater intensity than neurotypicals. This makes it easier to understand why they often feel overstimulated. It’s like living your life surrounded by neon lights.
Acute hearing
It is also common for autistic people to have enhanced hearing. This, again, does not come from their ears but rather from neurological differences. Statistically, they are great in tasks that require very detailed processing of sound. Sadly, this also leads to low performance in tasks that require filtering skills, i.e. understanding someone talking in a crowded and noisy bus.
Enhanced olfactory detection
The hypersensitivity of autistic people includes a strong sense of smell. This is consistent with previous studies showing that they experience all kinds of stimuli more strongly than neurotypical people.
There are numerous individual differences between individuals with autism, but the enhanced senses seem to be a very common trait among them. This explains a lot of problems faced by autistic people, but it can also be an important strength. The crucial thing is for those with ASD to have access to adapted environments so that they can avoid overstimulation while also fully benefiting from their sharpened senses.
If you are looking for materials adapted to autistic children, you can check out ELSupport Project – the initiative to aid them in learning online. If this sounds interesting, you can visit the project website. You can also follow us on social media, to stay informed about other amazing projects.
References:
Enhanced visual functioning in autism: An ALE meta-analysis (Samson, Mottron, Soulières, & Zeffiro, 2011)
Heightened sensory perceptions | Embrace Autism. (n.d.). Retrieved 25 July 2024, from https://embrace-autism.com/heightened-sensory-perceptions/
Autism Strengths & Challenges | Embrace Autism. (n.d.). Retrieved 25 July 2024, from https://embrace-autism.com/autism-strengths-and-challenges/
Remington, Anna, & Fairnie, Jake. (2017). A sound advantage: Increased auditory capacity in autism. Cognition, 166, 459–465. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2017.04.002
Ashwin, Chris, Chapman, Emma, Howells, Jessica, Rhydderch, Danielle, Walker, Ian, & Baron-Cohen, Simon. (2014). Enhanced olfactory sensitivity in autism spectrum conditions. Molecular Autism, 5(1), 53. https://doi.org/10.1186/2040-2392-5-53