Occupational Therapy Autism: Sensory Profile & Home Sensory Diet [2025]

# Occupational Therapy Autism: Sensory Profile, Sensory Diet, and Home Strategies

## Introduction: Behind the Behavior is a Sense

Have you ever seen your child cover their ears in a restaurant or spin endlessly seeking stimulation? For parents in the ASD community, we know there's something deeper: **it's their nervous system trying to find balance**.

## 1. Sensory Processing: The Seven Senses

1. Sight, 2. Hearing, 3. Smell, 4. Taste, 5. Touch, 6. **Proprioception**, 7. **Vestibular**

### Hypersensitivity (Defensive):
- Covers ears at "normal" sounds
- Rejects certain textures
- Avoids bright light and physical contact

### Hyposensitivity (Seeking):
- Constantly seeks movement
- Presses hard or crashes into things
- Seeks loud noises or intense lights

## 2. Occupational Therapy: More Than Just Playing

OT **doesn't seek to eliminate sensitivities**, but helps integrate them functionally.

### Proprioceptive activities (CALMING):
- Pushing heavy objects, weighted backpacks, deep pressure hugs

### Vestibular strategies:
- Slow movement CALMS (rocking, gentle swinging)
- Fast movement ALERTS (fast spinning)

## 3. Sensory Strategies for Home

### Calm Corner: Dim lights, weighted blanket, noise-canceling headphones
### Seeking Activities: Trampoline, playdough, sensory brushing
### Fixed Routines: Sensory activities at wake-up, before demands, before bed

## 4. ArtieApp: Structuring the Sensory Diet

The child can express sensory needs BEFORE the crisis: *"I need my weighted cushion now"*

---

*"Behavior is the language of the nervous system. Learn to translate it."*

---

**Give your child the voice to ask for what they really need.**