Sensory Diet for Autism: A Guide to Creating a Personalized Sensory Plan

If you’re a parent of a child with autism or someone with autism yourself, you’ve probably seen or experienced it all: withdrawing from the crowd, meltdowns after a long day, or shutdowns triggered by an unexpected change. These sensory reactions aren’t uncommon. 

Sensory differences are a core part of autism. For many, sensory overload—a flood of overwhelming input—can trigger fight-or-freeze responses, leading to meltdowns or shutdowns.

This is where a sensory diet can make a difference. A sensory diet is a personalized set of sensory activities designed to manage or even prevent these challenging behaviors.

In this article, we’ll explore how a sensory diet can benefit adults or children with autism, ways to personalize one, and tips for implementing and adjusting it over time.

How Can a Sensory Diet Help Adults and Children with Autism?

Think of a sensory diet as a “sensory nutrition” where you provide a person with autism varied sensory experiences that are “just right” to help them process sensory input around them better and keep them “calm” or “energized” enough to learn and engage the world [1].

Optimal alertness sits in the middle of the sensory spectrum, with hyperresponsivity on one end and hyporesponsivity on the other [1]. Hyperresponsivity can cause sensory avoidance and overload, while hyporesponsivity can lead to sensory-seeking behaviors.

A sensory diet helps keep your child in that balanced middle, allowing them to respond appropriately to sensory input.

Personalizing a Sensory Diet for Autism

Just as every person with autism is unique, so is their sensory diet. Tailored to fit each person’s specific needs, sensory diets offer a supportive structure for both children and adults on the spectrum.

Understanding Unique Sensory Profiles

Sensory differences are a key part of autism diagnosis. People with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) can be over- or under-responsive to sensory input, affecting one or more senses. However, sensory processing needs vary widely from child to child.

A 2018 review found the three most common sensory abnormalities seen in those with autism, namely hyporesponsiveness, hyperresponsiveness, and sensory seeking [2].

In one study of 271 children with autism, researchers identified two sensory subtypes: one with consistently high scores across all sensory areas, showing broad sensory differences, and another with high scores specifically in avoiding and sensitivity [3].

Another study focused on children with ASD with and without feeding problems. It found that those with feeding issues had more severe sensory challenges, including deficits across all sensory areas and marked taste/smell sensitivity [4]. In contrast, those without feeding issues had strengths in this area [4].

Whether you’re creating a sensory diet for autism, a sensory diet for ADHD, or for children with sensory issues in general, start with the person’s unique sensory needs. Their profile will show which senses are affected and whether they need sensory diet activities that calm or energize them.

Learn more about sensory processing disorders here. Consider speaking with an occupational therapist if you have autism and have sensory issues but don’t know your unique sensory profile yet.

Activity Recommendations Based on Sensory Preferences

Here’s a list of recommended sensory activities tailored to different sensory preferences:

Auditory System

• Alerting: Listen to upbeat or rhythmic music, or try a listening game with varied pitches.
• Calming: Use noise-canceling headphones or listen to slow, soothing music.

Soundsory^® can be calming or alerting to the senses, depending on sound and movement combinations. Forbrain^®can be used for focused listening exercises to enhance auditory processing. See here for more auditory processing activities.

Vestibular System

• Alerting: Try spinning in a chair or using a tire swing for fast, circular movements.
• Calming: Use a hammock or swing with slow, linear motions.

Soundsory^® includes several activities that engage the vestibular system. Examples like sky earth stretches and downward dog are vestibular exercises integrated into Soundsory^®.

Tactile System

• Alerting: Engage with rough or textured objects like sandpaper or spiky sensory balls.
• Calming: Use soft, smooth materials like velvet or a weighted blanket.

Here’s a list of tactile activities for more ideas.

Proprioceptive System

• Alerting: Perform jumping exercises like jumping jacks or use a mini-trampoline.
• Calming: Do deep-pressure activities, such as bear hugs, squeezing a stress ball, or wall push-ups.

Soundsory^® supports body awareness with combined music and movement exercises that provide proprioceptive input. The program has a wide array of proprioceptive activities like jumping jacks and scissor jumps.

Visual System

• Alerting: Use bright, contrasting colors or quick-moving visuals, like a bubble tube or pinwheel.
• Calming: Dim the lights or use soft, slow-moving visuals, such as a lava lamp or a calm sensory bottle.

Here are other ocular motor activities you can try.

Taste System

• Alerting: Try sour (or other strong flavor) or crunchy snacks like citrus fruits or crispy crackers.
• Calming: Use chewy or mildly sweet foods like gummy snacks or applesauce.

You can pair feeding tasks with oral motor exercises to make it more fun. Also, make sure the tasks allow children to safely explore a variety of flavors and textures.

Olfactory System

• Alerting: Experiment with strong, energizing scents like peppermint or citrus.
• Calming: Use soothing scents such as lavender, chamomile, or vanilla.

Introducing familiar, pleasant scents in a controlled way may be helpful for children with olfactory sensitivities.

Case Studies: How Sensory Diets Help Children with Autism

For instance, speech and language therapist Grace Lindley uses sensory-driven vocalization exercises with Forbrain^® to help children with autism regulate energy, maintain focus, and improve mood, which enhances the effectiveness of each session.

Occupational Therapist Kara Tavollaci has also seen progress with sensory integration through Soundsory^®. In working with a young boy named Camille, she observed improvements in posture, endurance and engagement within just two weeks of using the program. Camille’s confidence grew as he participated more in motor activities, reduced his anxiety, and began using language more spontaneously.

Steps for Implementing and Adjusting a Sensory Diet for Autism at Home

How to Get Started?

Starting a sensory diet at home begins with observing your child’s sensory behaviors and identifying their unique sensory needs if you haven’t yet. Watch for cues like reactions to sounds, textures, movements, or visual stimuli—these can indicate sensory preferences and sensitivities.

 

Consulting with a professional, such as an occupational therapist, can provide further insights and help tailor activities to suit your child’s unique needs. 

 

Tip: If you plan to introduce a sensory diet, you may start with gentle sensory tools that provide structured input, like Soundsory^®. This program offers calming, structured input that’s easy to track and can be smoothly added to your child’s routine, helping establish a consistent sensory schedule and laying the groundwork for more complex activities.

How to Track Progress and Adjust Activities?

Tracking your child’s progress with each sensory activity is critical to understanding what works best. Keep a simple record of their mood, behavior, and energy levels before and after each activity, noting frequency, intensity and duration.

Trial and error is essential here, as it may take a few adjustments to find the right fit. Sensory needs also change based on the child’s state or task demands, so consistent tracking and adjustments are crucial to keep the sensory diet effective and aligned with their evolving needs.

How to Integrate a Sensory Diet for Autism with Other Therapies?

Integrating a sensory diet with therapies like occupational, behavioral, and speech therapy creates a comprehensive intervention plan. By aligning sensory activities with therapeutic goals, you help your child engage more fully across therapies and build skills consistently in each area.

Programs like Soundsory^® and Forbrain^® can be valuable additions to a sensory diet or as supplements to conventional therapies. Soundsory^® supports motor and auditory integration, complementing occupational therapy by enhancing body awareness and coordination.

Forbrain^®, on the other hand, can boost speech therapy outcomes by improving attention to sounds and speech cues. These tools work together to reinforce therapeutic goals, creating a more comprehensive and cohesive intervention plan.

Tools and Resources to Support a Sensory Diet for Autism at Home

Here’s a curated list of sensory tools and resources you can use to help you design and implement your sensory diet: 

• Soundsory^®: Combines auditory and motor exercises to support sensory modulation and body awareness, making it easy to incorporate into daily routines.
• Forbrain^®: Uses a patented dynamic filter to enhance the auditory feedback loop by processing the wearer’s voice, improving attention to sounds and speech cues.
• The Listening Program (TLP): A home-based program that enhances listening, communication, and self-regulation through classical music therapy using specialized headphones.
• Brain Balance: Offers individualized coaching sessions, either in-person or online, focusing on cognitive, sensory, and motor skills for children with sensory processing challenges.
• Fast ForWord: A brain training software that integrates auditory, reading, and comprehension exercises designed to boost language and learning skills.
• The Sensory Health Center: Sensory Health provides valuable resources and insights on sensory processing issues, including articles, programs, and tools for parents and caregivers.

Final Thoughts: Personalizing a Sensory Diet for Autism

For people with autism, sensory challenges can be a big part of daily life, affecting how they interact with the world around them. A sensory diet can make a real difference by helping them manage sensory input, feel less overwhelmed, and stay focused and engaged.

The most important part is finding activities that match your unique needs, creating a sensory diet that helps you thrive daily and supports your growth and well-being in the long run.

FAQs About Sensory Diet for Autism

What is an example of a sensory diet for autism?

A sensory diet for autism might include activities like 10 minutes of weighted blanket use, 15 minutes of swinging for vestibular input, and 20 minutes of auditory exercises with calming music, repeated twice daily or a shorter version of this during class breaks. These activities are tailored to help individuals regulate their sensory needs throughout the day.

How can Soundsory^® exercises complement a sensory diet for autism?

Soundsory^® exercises offer multisensory input, targeting the auditory, vestibular, proprioceptive, and tactile systems, making it an ideal complement to a sensory diet. It is designed for regular use and can easily be incorporated into your child’s daily schedule.

References

1. Case-Smith J. & O’Brien J. C. (2010). Occupational therapy for children (6th ed.). Mosby/Elsevier.
2. Posar, A., & Visconti, P. (2017). Sensory abnormalities in children with autism spectrum disorder. Jornal De Pediatria, 94(4), 342–350. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jped.2017.08.008
3. Simpson, K., Adams, D., Alston-Knox, C., Heussler, H. S., & Keen, D. (2019). Exploring the sensory profiles of children on the autism spectrum using the Short Sensory Profile-2 (SSP-2). Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 49(5), 2069–2079. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-019-03889-2
4. Panerai, S., Ferri, R., Catania, V., Zingale, M., Ruccella, D., Gelardi, D., Fasciana, D., & Elia, M. (2020). Sensory Profiles of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder with and without Feeding Problems: A Comparative Study in Sicilian Subjects. Brain sciences, 10(6), 336. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci10060336