“Coping” With Sensory Sensitivities Doesn’t Get Easier As You Get Older

The need for better understanding of sensory issues for neurodivergent people across all life stages

Photo by John Price on Unsplash

Sensory issues tend to be the low-hanging fruit of accessibility and accommodation for neurodivergent people. Yet so much is not understood. As a late-diagnosed AuDHDer, I’m still learning about mine.

Workplace adjustment processes tend to focus on the obvious and tangible — lighting and sound-related issues tend to get the most attention. Likewise, tokenistic initiatives like “quiet hours” in supermarkets don’t do much more than dim the lights and turn off the overhead speakers.

Not only are these measures limited in their impact, they perpetuate a narrow perception of the needs of neurodivergent people and reinforce stigma.

If I were to give you a rapid-fire list of sensory issues that arise for me in a supermarket environment, I doubt that artificial lighting and piped music would be in there. More likely, it would include crowds, inconsiderate idiots who don’t look where they’re going and don’t know how to queue; confusing and illogical layouts and lack of signage and self-scanning checkouts that excessively beep and berate.