Impact on daily life as a student
Every day, we are inundated with busy surroundings, bright visuals, and loud noises. These routine encounters can become overwhelming, resulting in sensory overload, this can be a specific issue for neurodivergent people. These sensory challenges can have a profound impact when people are faced with more sensory input than they are able to process at that time.
Sometimes the sensory rich environment can be manageable, others times, e.g. in times of increased stress, what can usually be bearable can feel overwhelming. There is a link between sensory regulation and emotional regulation. Sensory challenges can feel increased in times of transition e.g. from school to university, between semesters and times of greater stress like exam time.
A key challenge for those with sensory processing challenges is overload, where too much sensory input is hard to process. In university, this can be exacerbated by noisy classrooms, bright lights, and crowded spaces, leading to stress, anxiety, and difficulty concentrating.
Sensory modulation – the ability to regulate sensory input – can also be a challenge. For example, students may struggle to filter out background noise or adjust to changes in lighting or temperature, causing distress. Some students may also be under-responsive to stimuli, may tire easily or appear slow to react or clumsy.
These challenges can impact emotional regulation, with some students experiencing meltdowns or emotional outbursts under stress. Being a university student can be exhausting. For those with sensory processing challenges fatigue and burnout can be more likely due to the pressures of social situations and sensory overload. A supportive environment and coping strategies are crucial for managing these reactions.
Sensory processing challenges can also impact a student’s social interactions and relationships with peers. For example, a student may avoid situations, locations, social gatherings or events that are overwhelming or overstimulating. For some students this can mean certain classrooms can be very uncomfortable for them due to things like lighting or acoustics. Some students may have difficulty understanding social cues or non-verbal communication. For some they may stop mid-way in a conversation and seem distressed or distracted. Conversations can be difficult with the person forgetting the topic or certain words, seeming annoyed or walking away during a conversation. This needs to be considered in the social environment on campus and also in terms of reasonable accommodations for activities such as placements, group work and presentations in class.
