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Autism Spectrum Disorder

Baseline Therapy strives to support neurodivergent children across domains including language, social skills, sensory integration, behavior, and even feeding/mealtime strategies. We begin by administering a Sensory Checklist with caregiver interview to determine areas of sensory seeking, sensory avoidance, motivators and triggers. We collaborate with school staff and other therapies to create cohesive plans of care in areas of need determined by both clinical and family input. 

Sensory Domains

Children with Autism typically demonstrate restricted and repetitive preferences related to one or more sensory domain.

Below are a few signs of hyper (over-reactive) or hypo (under-reactive) for each area.

Image by Luis Quintero

Tactile (Touch)

  • Avoids touch

  • Negative reaction to tickle

  • Cloth resistance (fabrics, tags)

  • May hate getting skin wet/resist showers or bathing

  • May react in big way to bathroom tasks out of discomfort being dirty

  • Low pain tolerance

Image by Perchek Industrie

Optic (Visual)

  • Seeks dull colors

  • Squinting or discomfort in sunlight or glare

  • May close eyes frequently

  • Enjoys/seeks darkness

  • Dislikes crowds with lots of movement

Ear

Auditory (Hearing)

  • Dislikes loud noises/lots of noise sources

  • May seem to have difficulty concentrating, but is listening to other conversations

  • May cover ears frequently

Image by Elly Johnson

Olfactory (Smell)

  • Smells are more intense/overpowering

  • May demonstrate toileting issues due to bathroom smells

  • Dislikes perfumes, shampoos, or fragrance 

  • May dislike restaurants due to cooking scents

Image by Anton Malanin

Gustatory (Taste)

  • Restrictive diet based on specific tastes or textures

  • May be restrictive to brands of preferred foods

Balance

Vestibular (Balance)

  • Difficulties with coordination/sports

  • Car sickness

  • Difficulty with head not upright or when feet aren't on the ground​

Image by Josh Frenette

Proprioception (Movement)

  • Difficulty with fine motor skills

  • Moves whole body to look at things

  • Stiff

Doctor's Appointment

Interoception (Internal)

  • Low pain tolerance

  • Distracted/discomforted by internal sensations such as heartbeat/breathing

  • Low tolerance to sensations of bladder/bowels, hunger, thirst and may easily agitate when experiencing

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