Interoception and Autism

• Sight
• Hearing
• Smell
• Taste
• Touch
• Vestibular
• Proprioception

But then there’s Interoception which covers the perception of our sensations inside our body. For example:

• When we’re hungry
• Feeling hot or cold
• Toileting needs
• The butterfly feeling we get in our stomach when we’re anxious or stressed
• When they’re in pain
• Recognising symptoms when they’re unwell

To name a few of the sensations inside our body.

How does Interoception work?

It’s pretty interesting. Just like our muscles and joints have receptors that tell our brain where our body parts are. Our organs and skin have receptors, too, that send messages about our body to our brain. Our brain then makes sense of these messages and tells us how we feel, if we’re hungry, if we’re in pain, and other options listed above.

We are then supposed to listen to our body and do what it tells us to make it more comfortable. But if you are Autistic, listening to your body is harder and often doesn’t come naturally to you.

What are the effects introception has on Autistic people?

Autistic people often struggle to make sense of Interoception sensations and what it all means for their body, as we said.

Young Autistic people generally struggle to understand these sensations and what they mean, which can lead to problems around self-regulation as well as toileting and eating challenges.

Like in other areas, we need to help and support ASD kids learn how to listen to their bodies.

How can parents support Autistic individuals as they explore their eighth sense?

Create a body check chart.

Helping autistic children understand their bodies and how to cope with the feelings and internal sensations they experience is the best way to help Autistic young people embrace their eighth sense.

Studies show that using a hands-on and visual approach works well with ASD and helps to connect the dots between the signals their body sends, patterns in those signals (if any) and aligning each signal to a particular emotion.

This is where creating a body check chart works wonders.

Have your young person lay down on a large piece of paper or roll of butchers paper and draw around them. Join in the fun and have them draw around you too! Kids usually get quite the kick out of doing that to an adult too.

With the outline of their body, you can start building body awareness. Talk about the sensation and point to the body part on the chart and physically point/have them move the body part you are talking about.

Games are a great way to have young people become aware of their bodies and the sensations they’re experiencing.

How can Sensory Oasis for Kids help?

As a neurodiverse family and a business that embraces a neurodiverse workforce, we’re a wealth of knowledge. So, feel free to visit us at our Altona North store or send us a message online via our online store, Facebook page or Instagram.