Prosper Health's Autism Resource Center

Sensory overload is a common challenge for autistic adults. Bright lights and unexpected sounds may seem harmless to some, but to the autistic brain, they can trigger the same physiological responses that bodies enter when facing something dangerous.  This is why so many individuals on the autism spectrum find sensory-heavy environments so overwhelming. 

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A large proportion of autistic adults report experiencing sensory challenges, sometimes known as sensory processing disorder. This can include a heightened sensitivity (hypersensitivity) or reduced sensitivity (hyposensitivity) to sensory experiences. Sensory seeking refers to actively seeking out certain sensory experiences, such as craving deep pressure or being drawn to specific textures or sounds in order to regulate sensory input. On the other hand, for those with heightened sensitivity, everyday environments can quickly become overwhelming, and it can be all too easy to end up in a state of sensory overload.

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Overload happens when the nervous system is bombarded with too much information all at once. The body interprets this as a threat, activating a protective mechanism designed to restore balance and prevent further distress. Sensory overload can manifest in many ways—sudden fatigue, difficulty concentrating, anxiety or irritability. Sometimes, it can be mistaken for emotional distress or even a panic attack.

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Luckily, there are some helpful strategies for managing and preventing sensory overload. First and foremost, it’s important to remember that the goal is to accommodate sensory needs, not to ‘fix’ them.

Most autistic adults are familiar with the feeling of sensory overload. Sometimes, an environment is too brightly lit or too noisy. There may be too many overwhelming smells, or clothing may feel extra tight or scratchy. Sensory overload and overstimulation can cause a variety of symptoms, ranging from anxiety to irritability to dizziness. For many autistic individuals, sensory overload can lead to meltdowns, which are particularly exhausting facets of living with autism spectrum disorder. 

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Though it’s difficult, if not impossible, to completely avoid overly stimulating environments, a sensory self-care kit can help ease discomfort. A sensory kit is a set of items that can be used to reduce sensory input. Having a pre-made kit of these trusty items in one convenient place means that when you’re feeling distressed, you don’t have to think about what to do or scramble to find your comfort items. You can simply reach into your sensory toolkit and start finding relief ASAP.

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Read on to learn how to identify your individual sensory preferences and create a sensory self-care kit uniquely suited to your needs. 

Has your brain ever felt fuzzy or exhausted––like it’s moving through molasses to complete basic tasks or remember something? If so, you’ve likely experienced brain fog. People use the term “brain fog” to describe mental fatigue, forgetfulness, impaired executive function and increased effort to do daily tasks.

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Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and brain fog tend to go hand in hand since there’s some overlap between symptoms of brain fog and autistic traits, which can trap autistic adults in an exhausting cycle. 

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Brain fog has several causes and manifests differently for different people. While some may experience executive dysfunction or memory difficulties, others may find themselves struggling more with fatigue or social anxiety. Just like other facets of autism, brain fog doesn’t have a one-size-fits-all solution. That’s why it’s important for autistic adults to feel empowered to create individualized solutions for the challenges that brain fog presents.

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Read on to learn some potentially effective strategies for autistic adults to reduce brain fog. 

Boundaries are essential for maintaining emotional well-being and mental health. They protect personal space and help foster healthier relationships. Effective boundaries define what’s acceptable and what’s unacceptable in your relationships.

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For adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), setting and enforcing boundaries is an empowering form of self-advocacy that can reduce stress, prevent autistic burnout and create a sense of control over one’s life.

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Read on to learn about effective healthy boundaries and how to set boundaries as an autistic adult.

Parenting is both deeply rewarding and challenging, no matter who you are. For autistic adults, parenting offers meaningful experiences and unique challenges. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) shapes parenting styles in profound ways, but it doesn’t make someone any less capable of raising happy and healthy children. 

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Many autistic parents bring valuable qualities to parenting, including deep empathy, a strong commitment to routines and an analytical approach to problem-solving. However, they may also face distinct challenges, such as navigating social expectations, managing sensory issues and balancing executive functioning demands.

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By embracing neurodiversity in parenting, autistic parents can create loving and stable environments that honor both their own needs and those of their children.

Have you ever heard the phrase, “If you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras”? This metaphor, dating back to Dr. Theodore Woodword in the 1940s, reminds doctors what to prioritize when evaluating a patient’s symptoms. It tells doctors to focus on the most likely diagnosis (the “horse”) for the presenting symptoms before considering what’s less likely (the “zebra”), even if the unlikely zebra seems to fit. 

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Being autistic can feel like being a zebra in a world of horses—which is no wonder since autistic people make up only about 2% of the U.S. population. Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by social and communication differences and a preference for sameness and repetition. It’s a specific constellation of traits, the presentation of which varies greatly from person to person. 

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Misconceptions around the autism spectrum and common biases mean that many autistic individuals go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. By some estimates, approximately 1 in 4 autistic individuals (and 1 in 3 autistic women) have received a misdiagnosis of a psychiatric condition before being diagnosed with autism. Autism is not a mental health diagnosis, but it can have some things in common with mental health diagnoses, and some clinicians who don’t specialize in autism might not be able to tell the difference.

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The misdiagnosis of autism matters to healthcare providers, educators, and, most of all, autistic individuals and their families. Keep reading to learn about the consequences of misdiagnosis and why autism might be misdiagnosed.