OT Expert<p>Calling all healthcare professionals...</p><p>Are you aware that many people, especially those who are Autistic or otherwise neurodivergent, have sensory processing differences?</p><p>They (we) will often experience the sensory world differently, meaning they might have much more intense or much less intense experiences and reactions to sensory input from the environment than others.</p><p>This can be amazing in lots of ways (joy from vibrant colours, lovely intense smells from flowers that others don't experience...)</p><p>But it can also be very challenging in other ways (for example feeling nauseous from others' perfume, pain from bright florescent lights, pain and high anxiety from loud beeping machines or low electricity hums).</p><p>If you work in or run a clinic, ward or department with in or outpatients, chances are many will experience some level of discomfort from the sensory environment there.</p><p>Many (but not all) of these aspects can be adapted to be pleasant for everyone.<br>Light bulbs could be changed to be less bright, or dimmed, quiet rooms offered where possible, ear plugs/headphones offered.</p><p>You could ask each person if there are any aspects of the clinic/ward environment that is bothering them, and see what can be done about it.</p><p>Sometimes just listening and acknowledging there's even a problem is validating and reassuring.<br>_<br><span class="h-card"><a href="https://a.gup.pe/u/occtherapy" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@<span>occtherapy</span></a></span> <a href="https://c.im/tags/OccupationalTherapy" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>OccupationalTherapy</span></a><br><a href="https://c.im/tags/Autistic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Autistic</span></a> <a href="https://c.im/tags/ADHD" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ADHD</span></a> <a href="https://c.im/tags/HealthCare" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>HealthCare</span></a> <a href="https://c.im/tags/Hospital" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Hospital</span></a> <a href="https://c.im/tags/Sensory" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Sensory</span></a> <a href="https://c.im/tags/AHPs" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>AHPs</span></a> <a href="https://c.im/tags/PhysioTherapy" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>PhysioTherapy</span></a> <a href="https://c.im/tags/Doctors" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Doctors</span></a> <a href="https://c.im/tags/Dentists" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Dentists</span></a> <a href="https://c.im/tags/Neurodivergent" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Neurodivergent</span></a> <a href="https://c.im/tags/Neurodiversity" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Neurodiversity</span></a> <a href="https://c.im/tags/Disability" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Disability</span></a> <a href="https://c.im/tags/HumanRights" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>HumanRights</span></a> <a href="https://c.im/tags/DisabilityJustice" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>DisabilityJustice</span></a></p>