Hyposensitivity

Hyposensitivity, also known as Sensory under-responsitivity, refers to abnormally decreased sensitivity to sensory input.

Hyposensitivity is especially common for autistic people and is more often seen in children than adults and adolescents due to masking. Those experiencing this have a harder time stimulating their senses than normally. They may not feel pain as easily as others, may be drawn to loud noises, be attracted to bright lights and colours, among other things. ^[1]

Hyposensitivity can lead to an inactivated brain. This can give concentration problems, feeling drained or feckless, depression, procrastination and also hypersensitivities.

Types of hyposensitivity

Auditory hyposensitivity symptoms include:

• Little or no vocalizing/babbling as an infant.
• Speaks in a loud voice and/or excessively.
• Likes excessively loud music, games, TV.
• Difficulty with verbal cues such as name being called.
• Difficulty remembering what was said.
• Needs instructions repeated.
• Talks self through task, often out loud.
• Appears oblivious to certain sounds.
• Disorientation/confusion about where a sound is coming from.

Tactile hyposensitivity symptoms include:

• Craves touch. Needs to touch everything and everyone.
• Self-injurious behavior; pinching, biting, cutting, head-banging.
• Has a high pain tolerance.
• Likes to put objects in their mouth.
• Seeks out surfaces and textures that provide strong tactile feedback.
• Often is not aware of being touched/bumped unless done with extreme force or sensitivity.
• May not be aware that hands or face are dirty.

Olfactory hyposensitivity symptoms include:

• Fails to notice or ignores noxious odors.
• enjoys smelling objects, toys, people.
• May drink or eat things that are harmful/poisonous because they do not notice the noxious smell.

Taste hyposensitivity symptoms include:

• May eat inedible objects such as dirt, chalk, crayons.
• Prefers food with intense flavour - excessively spicy, sweet, sour, or salty.
• Frequently chews items not intended for consumption such as hair, clothing and fingernails.
• Likes to put objects in their mouth.
• Likes brushing teeth/vibrating toothbrushes, and/or trips to the dentist. ^[2]

Visual hyposensitivity symptoms include:

• "Seeing double."
• Fatigues easily while reading, writing, drawing, playing video games

Vestibular hyposensitivity symptoms include:

• Hyperactivity.
• Rocking back and forth or walking in circles while body rocking.
• Can spin or swing for a long time without feeling dizzy or nauseated.
• Trouble with balance.

Proprioceptive hyposensitivity symptoms include:

• Unaware of body sensations. For example, not noticing hunger.
• Limited spatial awareness. Difficulty knowing where the body is in space.
• Bumping into objects and people, tendency to fall.
• Weak grasp and frequently dropping things.
• Leaning against people, furniture or walls.

References

1. Bogdashina, Olga. Sensory Hyper- and Hyposensitivity in Autism Integrated Treatment Services. September 19, 2014. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
2. Signs of Sensory Under-Responsitivity. McFadden.