How can I reduce sensory overload?

Transcript

 How can I reduce sensory overload in my classroom? So let's start by understanding how sensory overload works. People tend to assume that it's just about everything being more intense, and that is true for some people, but for others, it's more like what I call a brain without a spam filter. It's taking everything in at equal importance, whether that's the teacher giving instructions or the kid coughing next to you.

And this can be powerful as we might catch important things that other people tuned out. And we're actually more likely to have sensory gifts like in music. But just like an email without a spam filter, the important information can just get buried. And the triggers don't have to be really loud or strong. Sometimes there's just too many little things.

And so to support one option is to help them avoid the trigger entirely, like leaving class a little early so that the hallway isn't crowded and noisy. Sometimes kids need to walk at the front or the back of the line so that they aren't getting jostled. And you can also provide resources like ear protection. I use concert earplugs. But you may want to make them available to the whole class because I see a lot of kids not wanting to get singled out.

Going to a quiet space is, of course, a common accommodation, and this may be surprising, but sometimes increasing sensory input may be helpful, like a fidget or chewable necklace where the pleasant and predictable sensation helps to drown out the others.

Occupational therapists are the specialists in this kind of accommodation. Also, autistic or other neurodivergent school staff may be really helpful for identifying situations that are most likely to cause problems if they're also sensitive to things that most people can easily ignore. If you want more information strategies like these, check out our professional development at socialcipher.com.

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