Neurodiversity, Sensations, And Sensory Profiles (Part 1/2)
Apr 03, 2024
This is the first article on neurodiversity, sensations, and sensory profiles. In this article we explore how sensitive you are to sensations. In the second article, which you can read here, you can explore how you regulate this.
"Many women latch onto language from popular psychology, such as "panic attack," when often they are instead experiencing sensory overwhelm."
Jenara Nerenberg
1. What Do We Really Know?
Unfortunately, there’s currently very little research into sex, sensory sensitivities, and neurodiversity. Despite that, it’s a huge topic, which is why I’ve broken it down into multiple articles. I want as many neurodivergent people as possible to better understand how they work on their own terms.
There’s the stereotype that people on the spectrum either aren’t interested in, or capable of, sex and intimacy, which I want to dispel from the outset. However, we’re also not a homogenous group. The generalisations I make here are aimed at offering wide-ranging support rather than assuming all neurodiverse people are the same.
While we all enjoy some form of connection and intimacy with others, our individual preferences are unique and don’t need to include exchanging body fluids or penetrative sex. If you’re struggling with these issues while dating, this article might help.
2. How Much Sensory Input Is Comfortable?
Sex with yourself or another person tends to be a very sensory-rich experience. With our own body, let alone our partner’s, we can receive stimulus from:
- touch
- taste
- smell
- sight
- hearing.
If that wasn’t enough already, we can also receive internal information from:
- interoception (how we feel e.g. hungry, cold)
- proprioception (body position and pressure, e.g. how hard to hug someone without hurting them)
- vestibular information (movement, balance, and where we are in space e.g. how to undress without falling over).
To put this in the context of neurodivergence, let’s use the model of sensory processing developed by Winnie Dunn, an Occupational Therapist. She looked at 2 aspects:
- How sensitive to stimuli you are (high or low neurological threshold)
- How you self-regulate these stimuli (active or passive self-regulation).
3. How Sensitive To Stimuli Are You?
For some neurodivergent people, they may not particularly notice changes in stimuli. This could include their own changes in breathing rate, body temperature, or other signs of arousal. This is called hyposensitivity. This happens when someone has a high threshold for sensory processing. It means they need a larger than average amount of external input to notice changes. This can result in needing stronger flavoured food, not noticing when they’re cold or in pain, or having to touch things multiple times. They may enjoy leaning on doorframes or other objects to help locate themselves in space.
In contrast, some neurodivergent people find all of these sensations far too much and even overwhelming, uncomfortable, or painful. This is because they have a lower than average threshold so it takes less for them to feel (over)stimulated. These are people who might avoid eye contact and feel the whole room is pulsing when lit by fluorescent lighting. They might struggle to sleep and use specialised or noise-cancelling headphones. For people who are hypersensitive, even non-sexual touch can elicit a ‘flight-or-fight’ response, which can be a form of intimacy overwhelm.
From a neurotypical perspective, high threshold people are often accused of being “self-absorbed” or “in their own world” and low threshold people can be seen as “fussy” or “overly sensitive”.
The second part of this article, which you can read here, looks at how we manage sensory input.
Neurodivergent Me Course
Are you a neurodivergent adult looking to better understand your sensory preferences and needs?
Join us for Neurodivergent Me, a transformative 4-week online course designed to help you explore and articulate your unique sensory experiences. Best of all, this course is entirely free and can be taken at your own pace! Sign up here.