This article was inspired by some user comments on the Facebook page, which implied that not enough attention is paid to sensory issues for many people on the spectrum. Up until the recent revision of the diagnostic criteria (DSM-V), the sensory processing aspects of ASD were not considered.
As well as the triad of impairments, many people with ASD also have difficulty processing everyday sensory information, such as sound and light. This is sometimes referred to as having 'sensory integration difficulties', or 'sensory sensitivity'. Not being able to process sensory information correctly can have a significant effect on a person's day to day life.
Most people think that there are five senses, but there are actually seven:
