How to create a sensory diet for your neurodivergent child

Topics mentioned: autism and mental health

About: Integrative Counsellor and Sensory Intelligence Practitioner Jolene Ironside, who also works as a Specialist Helpline Adviser on the Parents Helpline, explains how to create a ‘sensory diet’ for a neurodivergent young person.

We take the world in through our senses. Not just sight, smell, touch, taste, and sound, but three internal senses: vestibular (motion and balance), proprioception (body and spatial awareness), and interoception (internal sensations like hunger or thirst). This is how we understand the world. 

Yet autistic people are more likely to have different sensory processing systems to those who are neurotypical. Each autistic person’s sensory profile is unique, and these needs do not remain the same over time. If an autistic person is sensitive to noise, for example, their ability to cope with it might decrease when under stress. 

When someone has trouble blocking out sensory inputs, they can become overwhelmed and experience a meltdown or shutdown. At times like this, distress can often be mistaken for a behavioural issue, and so a young person might be viewed as “naughty” or “challenging”.

If your child is autistic, you may have seen them deal with overwhelm in two different ways. The first is hypersensitivity – an over responsiveness to stimulation. This is where someone takes in too much information, leading to distress, discomfort, and pain. They might then avoid certain sensory stimuli or need regular breaks in quiet or calm spaces.

Hyposensitivity is the opposite – an under responsiveness to sensory input. This means an autistic person is receiving less sensory information: decreased sensitivity to touch, smells, or sounds. 

When an autistic person experiences either hyper- or hyposensitivity, it affects their thinking, concentration, behaviour, and physiological responses.  There is a strong connection between the sensory system and emotional regulation.

A ‘sensory diet’ is a way of dealing with this. Sometimes known as a ‘sensory circuit,’ a sensory diet is a plan of activities and accommodations that can help meet somebody's sensory needs. By introducing a sensory diet to someone’s day, we can help prevent meltdown or shutdown.

You might also want to create a ‘sensory corner’ at home. This is a place your child can go after they've been in a high sensory environment such as school or a busy supermarket.  This could include installing low-level lighting like salt lamps or lava lamps; creating a small cosy space with blankets, pillows, and soft toys; or providing books, fidget toys, clay, or things to draw with. 

In both cases, work out with your child what they would find most helpful. What works for one young person will not work for another, so it's important to get them involved.  

As well as providing short-term relief, making a sensory diet part of your child’s daily routine can work over time to help structure their nervous system. This will help them better tolerate situations and take control of their emotional regulation.

If you want to find out more, check out our resource on autism and mental health, where you can find more information about neurodiversity.