May 17th
Have you ever felt overwhelmed by too many sights, sounds, smells or other sensations around you? For people with autism, dealing with sensory overload can be a daily challenge. Luckily, new wearable technologies are being developed to help!
What is Sensory Integration?
Sensory integration is how our brains process and make sense of information from our senses – sight, sound, smell, taste, touch, and movement. Most people’s brains can automatically filter and prioritize these sensory inputs.
But for those with autism, the brain has difficulty integrating sensory information properly. Ordinary experiences like a loud noise, bright light, or being touched can feel overwhelming and cause anxiety, confusion, or meltdowns.
Wearable Tech
Scientists and engineers are creating special wearable devices that can detect sensory overload in people with ASD. These wearables use sensors to monitor heart rate, sweat levels, fidgeting, and other signs of heightened stress or sensory input.
When the wearable detects the person is becoming overloaded, it can send an alert through a smartphone app. The app can then provide calming instructions, relaxing games, or other coping strategies tailored for that individual.
Some wearables can even adapt the person’s environment by automatically dimming lights, reducing noise levels, or creating a quieter space until they feel better.
The Benefits of Sensory Integration Help
By helping people with autism better understand and manage their sensory experiences, these wearable technologies can provide major benefits:
- Reduced meltdowns, anxiety, and confusion
- Improved focus, learning, and participation
- Greater independence and self-regulation skills
- Enhanced quality of life
Wearable sensory integration tools are empowering people with ASD to navigate through daily sensory challenges. As the technology continues advancing, it will open up even more opportunities for those on the autism spectrum.
Some Specific examples:
Here are five specific examples of wearable technology devices, along with a brief description of the company, device, and how to obtain it:
Fitbit Sense
– Fitbit is a leading wearables company known for its fitness trackers. The Fitbit Sense is their advanced health smartwatch that tracks metrics like heart rate, sleep, stress levels, and has an ECG app and skin temperature sensor. It can be purchased directly from Fitbit’s website or major retailers.
Oura Ring
– Oura is a company that makes the Oura Ring, a sleek fitness ring that tracks sleep, activity, and readiness scores. The ring can be purchased from Oura’s website or select retailers like Amazon.
Athos Core
– Athos is a smart clothing company that makes the Core shirt and shorts with built-in EMG sensors to track muscle effort and movement. Their apparel can be bought from the Athos website.
Everysight Raptor
– Everysight makes the Raptor AR smartglasses designed for sports like cycling and running. The glasses provide real-time data and performance metrics through an augmented reality display. They can be purchased from Everysight’s website.
K Wearables Ring
– K Wearables offers a smart ring that enables contactless payments via NFC technology. The ring can be used at any contactless payment terminal and can be ordered from the K Wearables website.