Having a child with autism means thinking outside the box. Depending on the severity of the condition, children with autism suffer greatly from situations others handle more easily. Autistic children often respond differently to social stimuli. They may avoid eye contact, not respond to hugs or know how to ask for help, and seem unsure how to relate to others in a way that they’ll be understood.
Autism is defined by a spectrum of conditions. One thing all autistic children have in common is their need to be treated with compassion and understanding, like any child. Feeling constantly overstimulated can be overwhelming for anybody, but is especially necessary for a child’s positive development. Overstimulated autistic children may respond with yelling or become despondent and unresponsive.
Fortunately, there are ways to help autistic children get relief from being overstimulated by day-to-day life. One method that studies have shown to be helpful is REST. REST involves laying suspended in a dark saltwater tank. The tanks were originally called “sensory deprivation” tanks – so it’s easy to see why they may help autistic children who suffer from being overstimulated.