Sensory Overload Simulation

I am an autistic adult who is sick of so-called "experts" trying to explain what they think an autistic person is going through. They think they can "fix" autistic children by forcing them to act normal.

Watch this video and see how normal you think ANYBODY can act when they're going through what I simulate for you all.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• autism
• overload
• stimulus
• meltdown
• autistic
• simulation
• sims
• transformers
• unicron
• starscream
• lasers

[TheMom23monkeys]

Such a great video. I have a question if you don't mind - my son is five and mostly non-verbal. He has started having meltdowns where for unknown reasons he screams as loudly as he can and when I try to tell him calmly to stop screaming, he just laughs at my frustration and screams louder. It seems to be a game to him to see if he can get me mad! Why would he laugh at my request and then scream right in my face when I am trying to help. What do you suggest I do to help him get through it?

[WeirdGirlCyndi]

@TheMom23monkeys He may be exploring cause and effect. As a child I'd go around slapping other children to see their different responses. Some hit back. Some cried. Some yelled. Usually if a child is close to a meltdown he'll be stimming a lot and irritable. (At least that's how I get. Everyone is different)

[jeloopa]

that was very enlightening. If I've understood correctly, your brain attributes equal importance to every sensory signal where a non-autistic brain would tend to filter out some of familiar or easy to process signals. that about right?

Out of interest, does the background buzz from computers or fluorescent lighting affect you in a similar way, or is it just voices?

[WeirdGirlCyndi]

@jeloopa It depends on how noisy the lights are. I can be aware of a background noise and not have it bother me if it's a low hum. It's when things get to higher pitches that they bother me. I can ignore a humming fan all day, but if someone constantly squeaks their shoes I start to get cranky.

[jsrcamp]

Hi I know you told us not to turn this down but I had to so my 4 year old daughter wouldnt freak out on me and I would have to try and calm her down, she also has SPD and anything loud makes her freak. it is pretty bad when we are in the car and listening to music and she all of a sudden starts to freak and hold her hands over her ears because the music is "too loud" even though we can barly hear it. That is one reason we wont bring her to the Movies because we never know what will set her off!

[WeirdGirlCyndi]

@jsrcamp I wear earplugs to the movies if I know it will be a loud movie, like War of the Worlds was. Wow, I'm glad I had ear protection for the jet engine parts.

Some music has dissonances I just can't stand. I hate being around brass instruments like trumpets and stuff. Fine on the radio, painful in person.

It might take until she's older before she can tell you why music upsets her.

[sezbeatz]

This video is interesting i have high functioning autism and didn't get diagnosed till the age of 16 so you have summed up how i feel exactly. All the time my brain processes 2 much sensory overload and so i prob didn't notice much difference since as most shows and movies i view like this in life all the time but it was explained so well.for more people to become aware.

[captainkwerk]

No, thank *you*!

You summed up what I'm fairly sure one person I've met in my entire life has even somewhat understood. I wish this was more common knowledge.

[Lavinco]

Great video and thanks for sharing. My 5 year old daughter with Rett syndrome does NOT slap her face constantly upon waking, but after about an hour, she continues to slap her face and mouth with both hands for the remainder of the day. How can I help her all day?

[wallabeetles]

Thank you for making this video. Very insightful.

[micheals1992]

I find when i'm going to sleep the clicks from my Tv as its cooling down very intense. Also the stress which builds in the wood of my bed when it finally gives is also quite an intense shock. Yet these sounds are about as loud as snapping a toothpick. I dont really have sensory overloads of this nature though. I have been sick befor due to overstimulation though. I was in a crouded room and everybodys voices was clashing. I call it the chant of the masses, it's horrible.

[drummerwithstixs]

I feel for you and just because people do not understand does not give them the right to judge. Your Video was very well arranged, the images and quotes used where perfect. The message was delivered. I hope more people will see this video i have added it to my favourites and il pass on the message. Thankyou, your very special as is everyone and everything on this planet we live on.

Tom x

[drummerwithstixs]

Continuing on from the last comment - This is what i did, resulting in the loss of the angel who saved me. It was a wake up call. So moving on, almost spiritual things (it seems) have led me to where i am now. Watching this video. I would like to say hown much of an impact it gave me. Before this i had heard about autism but almost disrigarded it, not intentionally nor aggressively - ignorantly (if thats a word). (Youtube dont give you enough space to write an essay =P =D.)