Sensory-processing sensitivity is a characteristic that shows how people differ in their responses to various environments. These environments can include a broad range of internal and external factors, whether they are learned or automatic, as well as physical settings, sensory experiences, social interactions, and internal occurrences. (Greven et al., 2019)Sensory sensitivity is common in individuals with autism. These individuals are often sensitive to taste, touch, smell, noise and visual stimuli.
These individuals can experience both hypersensitivity(here the brain amplifies the signals and cues from outer world; a small candle might feel like a burning fire or slight creak might feel like a heavy object falling) and hyposensitivity(here the brain requires more than normal stimulation to receive signal; autistic children often tend to cut, scratch and bruse themselves without noticing for a long time, might have high threshold for pain, autistic children often tend to listen loud orders). Most people have a combination of both.
Read More: Understanding Sensory Needs in Neurodiverse Children and Adults
What is the Need to Modify the Workplace?
For a normal human being, knowing where their hands are without seeing them is natural; however, it might not be as easy for autistic individuals. Autistic individuals often have issues having awareness of body position and controlling movement, commonly known as Proprioception. These challenges can also lead to minor inconveniences like spilling coffee or dropping files. However, in work fields that require manual work, ignorance here can lead to major accidents. To maintain proper awareness, autistic individuals often require activities that involve need of heavy work, for example, pushing or pulling objects.
Another issue faced by autistic individuals is regarding awareness of internal body cues and sensations, commonly called interoception. They include sensing internal signals like hunger, thirst, or the need to use the bathroom. Many autistic people struggle to read bodily signals until they are in a state of physical distress. Recent findings have shown that interoception is a fundamental component of emotional experience. Also, impaired interoception is associated with alexithymia. (Bonete, Molinero & Ruiz-Sanchez, 2023) Autistic individuals also face challenges in maintaining balance while moving.
These individuals are more susceptible to motion sickness and nausea. Individuals with sensory issues often show certain behaviours when experiencing these behaviours, like continuous hand flapping, covering eyes and ears, talking faster and louder, or not speaking or talking, refusing certain items, food and clothes, avoiding touch or frequent touching, etc. These behaviour can affect their productivity and affect the environment around them. Recent research suggests that the volume control in the autistic brain is physically different compared to normal human. (Qian Chen, Christopher A. Deister, et al, 2020). Research links this behaviour to certain genes and activities in the somatosensory cortex(Qian Chen, Christopher A. Deister, et al, 2020).
This research is important as it provides with biological reason behind the autistic behaviour, about why these individuals are sensitive to certain behaviours like flickering of light, which a normal human can ignore. A study conducted in 2016 showed that individuals with ASD who have high Low Registration or Sensory Sensitivity scores reported significantly lower physical comfort in their work environments as compared to their coworkers (Pfeiffer, Piller, Giazzoni-Fialko, & Chainani, 2016).
Read More: Workplace environment and its impact on mental health
Sensory Designs: Regulating the Input of the Signal
Sensory design modification focuses on the five primary senses, including proprioception (body awareness) and vestibular (balance) senses. A survey conducted by Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre found that occupational stress caused by sensory overstimulation and social demands is a leading cause of Autistic burnout. (Hayward, McVilly & Isaacs, 2020)
- Acoustic Control: Noise is a frequent source of stress for people who think or behave differently. Installing sound-absorbing materials on walls and furniture can help create distinct areas within a space. This can prevent noise from spreading between different rooms. (Gareth Van Zyl, 2025)
- Visual Stimulation: Neurodivergent people with autism and other sensory processing disorders are more comfortable in environments with soft, muted colours, while bold colours with intricate designs and patterns create visual disturbance (Colliery, 2024). Colours inspired by nature, known as biophilic colours, are often the most calming and comforting to the senses. These colours can promote a strong feeling of well-being, helping neurodivergent workers to feel more secure and focused in their tasks. (Colliery, 2024)
- Properioceptive Support: Autistic individuals often require heavy work to feel grounded. Autistic children are made to push and pull a tyre, walk with a dumbbell and weighted balls to feel about their body. This type of work is not possible in offices. To tackle this, neurodivergent individuals can be provided with a weighted lap pad to raise awareness about their legs and other similar equipment to help them feel grounded. (Colliery, 2024)
Read More: Neurotransmitter Switch May Trigger Autism Symptoms
Emotional Design: an Effort to Create Psychological Safety
A survey conducted by the Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre found that Office politics and Social demands often play an important role in emotional distress in autistic individuals. (Hayward, McVilly & Isaacs, 2020). This study also states that the ability to control one’s own environment can help reduce autistic burnout. The emotional design of a space focuses on how a workplace makes people feel. The most important aspect of feeling is making one feel in control, giving autistic individuals the power to choose and design the workplace according to their comfort.
Giving them the authority of their work will also help them feel in sense of control also increase their job satisfaction. The workplace environment often becomes stressful due to the workload. An unsupportive work environment and social life can fule to sensory overload. Research has shown that integrating plants, water features, or natural wood textures has been proven to lower cortisol levels and heart rates, which is particularly effective for reducing stress.
Conclusion
Various research, mainly MIT and Brown University research, provides biological evidence about the sensory sensitivity and how it can affect the productivity of a neurodivergent individual. Along with this, various other studies validate the experience of autistic individuals as a reality rather than behaviour issues. This brings us to the understanding that the environment needs to be designed with an intention to minimise sensory friction. Researches also support the idea that in order for true inclusion of neurodivergent individuals at the workplace requires proper designing and training of the working staff to prevent overload and burnout.
FAQs
1) Would making changes for neurodivergent individuals create problems for normal staff?
As a special design is essential for neurodivergent individuals, it benefits everyone. Usually, lower noise, better lighting, and the ability to choose how they work increase productivity for everyone.
2) What is the difference between “sensory sensitivity” and “sensory overload”?
Sensory sensitivity is a baseline trait where a person’s nervous system is highly reactive to specific inputs (like sound or touch). Sensory overload is the resulting state of physical and mental exhaustion that occurs when those inputs become too much for the brain to process, often leading to a meltdown.
References +
Bonete S, Molinero C, Ruisanchez D. Emotional Dysfunction and Interoceptive Challenges in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Behav Sci (Basel). 2023 Apr 5;13(4):312. doi: 10.3390/bs13040312. PMID: 37102826; PMCID: PMC10136046.
Qian Chen, Christopher A. Deister, et al. Dysfunction of cortical GABAergic neurons leads to sensory hyper-reactivity in a Shank3 mouse model of ASD.2020 Nature Neuroscience (Vol. 23, pages 483–492)
Hayward, S. M., McVilly, K. R., & Isaacs, N. J. (2020). “Autism and the Workplace: Factors that Influence the Attraction and Retention of Autistic Employees.” Journal of Management & Organisation
Pfeiffer, B., Piller, A., Giazzoni-Fialko, T., & Chainani, A. (2016). “Impact of Person-Environment Fit on Job Satisfaction for Working Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders.” Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.
IN#:~:text=Individuals%20with%20more%20symptoms%20of,less%20satisfaction%20with%2 0their%20job.
Using Colour And Pattern For Neuro-Inclusive Work Environments https://share.google/wNX40BUsCitLdPAtT
How to Design a Neuro Inclusive Workplace | 8 Key Tips | Sketch Studios https://www.sketchstudios.co.uk/blog/how-to-design-a-neuroinclusive workplace#:~:text=Not%20all%20comfort%20solutions%20are,aid%20posture%20and%20sensory%20regulation.
Morellini L, Izzo A, Celeghin A, Palermo S, Morese R. Sensory processing sensitivity and social pain: a hypothesis and theory. Front Hum Neurosci. 2023 Jun 14;17:1135440. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.. 2023.1135440. PMID: 37388415; PMCID: PMC10303917.
Leave feedback about this