SENSORY
Sensory Enrichment Therapy:
A New Approach
By Claudie POMARES
Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often have sensory issues. They may be
sensory-seeking, or they may be sensory-avoiding or even a little of both. For children
living with autism, some textures can be very irritating. Sounds, crowds, lights, or smells
can upset them.
M
any sensory approaches already aim
to help in this area, and that is great.
It is a good idea to develop a senso-
ry plan for your child to help him/her
be more comfortable. One approach
is to keep the child isolated from the
sensory stimulation that is upsetting.
Another approach is to give the child what seems to
soothe and satisfy him/her. Some sensory approach-
es also try to expose a child to different sensory stim-
ulations repeatedly so he/she can get used to them,
38 | Autism Parenting Magazine | Issue 72
hoping to reduce the child’s negative response over
time.
New approach for improved brain
function
Sensory Enrichment Therapy (SET), not to be con-
fused with Sensory Integration Therapy, is a new
sensory approach that comes from an entirely differ-
ent perspective. Although SET is effective at helping
children with autism regulate their sensory-seek-
ing and sensory-avoiding behaviors, that is not the