Autism Touch Aversion: Causes and Management Tips

Imagine you’re in your favorite crowded supermarket, and someone suddenly taps your shoulder. If you experience autism touch aversion, that unexpected contact might make your muscles tense up. It’s as if your body were reacting to a forceful impact rather than a simple touch.

For many autistic individuals, this isn’t just mild discomfort; it’s an ongoing challenge rooted in sensory processing differences. Autism touch aversion refers to a strong sensitivity to physical contact, making everyday interactions like handshakes or hugs distressing.

As a caregiver or autistic individual, understanding the causes of touch aversion, recognizing the signs, and learning strategies to manage sensory sensitivities can help make physical touch more manageable.

Understanding autism and touch aversion

Autism touch aversion is when a person feels uncomfortable and distressed by physical contact. This is often due to sensory processing differences.

It’s not uncommon for typically developing individuals to also have limits with touch. However, some autistic people may experience a deeper sense of discomfort.

Compared to other general sensory sensitivities, touch aversion is entirely about a person’s physical interactions and their overall bodily comfort.

For example, a 10-year-old autistic child refuses to participate in a physical education class activity because he doesn’t want to high-five others as a lot of his classmates do.

His teacher might think he’s being difficult and avoiding things on purpose. In this case, it would be a good idea for a parent to explain the issue to the school. The teacher could then communicate with the rest of the class and suggest alternative forms of praise.

A lot of the time, people on the spectrum avoid physical contact due to autistic touch aversion caused by neurological processing difficulties.

Signs of autism touch aversion

When an autistic person reacts to touch, their reactions can be very noticeable to others.

Maybe someone reacted negatively in response to some ordinary action you did. That is what can happen in these kinds of situations with autistic people.

Sometimes, it can just be very subtle discomfort, while at other times, the person can be extremely distressed.

Because the autism spectrum is so wide, such discomfort levels do vary from person to person.

Here are some common signs of autism touch aversion:

• Flinching or pulling away from touch: The person stiffens or swiftly pulls away when someone tries to touch them.
• Avoiding hugs, handshakes, or other physical contact: For example, the person may prefer waving instead of physical contact to express affection.
• Becoming visibly distressed when touched: Emotional facial expressions, body language, and verbal communication may strongly indicate discomfort, even if the touch is light.
• Intensely reacting to light touches but tolerating deep pressure: The person might have sensitivities that might be difficult for the average person to understand while not minding or even enjoying weighted blankets or strong hugs.
• Wanting specific textures of clothing or objects: The person may be particularly strong-minded about wearing soft clothing to prevent skin irritation.

Another example could be if your child becomes upset when having their hair brushed, but they absolutely love hugging others. This shows that they don’t like prickly movements on their skin, but they do like being held.

Causes of aversion to touch in autism

Sensory processing differences are the main cause of autistic touch aversion. This means the brain may interpret touch stimuli differently than most neurotypical people.

This brain interpretation includes the nervous system struggling to process sensory stimuli. This may lead to an autistic person feeling uncomfortable in situations where they can’t easily avoid physical contact.

Research suggests an autistic person may have significant differences in some brain regions, such as the somatosensory cortex.

This region is responsible for processing touch. Because it functions differently, it can lead to touch aversion and hypersensitivity in autism.

In addition, stronger neural responses to tactile stimulation can lead to tactile defensiveness and the avoidance of social touch at nearly all costs. This may make touch seem very exaggerated or unpredictable.

All of this may result in sensory overload. 

For example, while a neurotypical person might touch a metal surface without a second thought, an autistic person could experience it as an intense, almost burning sensation, triggering a fight-or-flight response.

Of course, this doesn’t apply to all autistic people, but it can apply to many.

How touch aversion affects daily life

Touch aversion may affect many parts of an autistic person’s daily life. 

These challenges can range from hugging close family members to shaking a new acquaintance’s hand when first meeting them.

With family relationships, many of us know that it’s common for people to engage in different kinds of physical affection.

However, some autistic people may move away or feel noticeably tense when a family member tries to hug them. This can make relative relationships more difficult if they aren’t willing to understand.

Similarly, peers may be confused when an autistic child refuses to high-five them. Being on a crowded transit bus can also be difficult, especially when they have no choice but to stand close to people to the point of their arms touching.

Autistic individuals may even struggle to go to public spaces where they may have to stand close to other people, such as supermarkets.

In general, touch aversion in an autistic person can also mean increased social isolation simply because they try to avoid situations that may lead to physical contact.

Managing autism touch aversion

As with supporting anyone, your approach to helping an autistic individual with touch aversion must be thoughtful and tailored to their specific needs.

When you try to use good strategies, consistency, patience, and respect, you can help the autistic person manage their sensory challenges well. This way, you might make them feel safer and understood. 

Some strategies you can include are:

• Introduce touch gradually and on their own terms: Start with gentle touches and allow the person to proceed at their own pace. Always ask for permission first.
• Make use of deep pressure techniques if they like them: Weighted blankets, compression clothes, or firm hugs can be comforting for autistic individuals who enjoy deep pressure. They may also help regulate their responses.
• Respect the person’s preferences and use alternative greetings: If the person finds hugging and handshakes uncomfortable, allow them to acknowledge you verbally, wave, or nod instead.
• Create a safe environment with choice: Consider including predictable routines to prevent unexpected touching, such as going to a mall at a less crowded time. Social stories may also be a good way to explain societal expectations.

When to seek professional help

Although many autistic people may manage their autism touch aversion well, sometimes professional guidance may be necessary.

Signs that professional support may be a good idea include:

• Severe distress or fear related to touch: The person reacts to touch with anxiety, avoidance, or meltdowns even in their safest and most familiar environments.
• Difficulty managing touch despite using strategies: There doesn’t seem to be much progress with the strategies that have been tried.
• Impact on quality of life: The most essential tasks, such as dressing, bathing, and haircuts, are extremely overwhelming.

Who can help? You can contact occupational therapists who specialize in sensory integration and autism specialists. Always make sure that these services can effectively meet the autistic person’s needs.

Early intervention with touch sensitivity is important because it can prevent further difficulties with essential tasks later in life.

The more personalized the approach is, the better the autistic person can improve their well-being in touch-related situations.

Embracing sensory differences with patience and care

Autism touch aversion isn’t a behavioral issue but a neurological experience, often caused by sensory processing differences.

Physical contact can be overwhelming, unpredictable, or even painful, which can make interactions a lot more challenging. Using the right strategies to address the issue can create an ideal environment for autistic people.

Respecting the person’s boundaries, introducing touch slowly, and offering more sensory-friendly alternatives can make meaningful differences in an autistic person’s life.

These differences are often life-changing enough that these people can eventually feel more confident with interactions that include touch.

FAQs

Q: Is touch aversion a symptom of autism?

A: Autism touch aversion is a common characteristic because many people on the spectrum have sensory processing differences that make physical contact overwhelming. This is because of how the nervous system interprets touch stimuli.

Q: Do autistic people have a sensitivity to touch?

A: Many autistic individuals are hypersensitive to touch. However, what they are sensitive to can vary. Some may even be under-responsive to touch. The environment, stress levels, or sensory overload can also be significant factors in whether a person will be sensitive to touch.

Q: How do autistic kids show love?

A: Autistic children can show love in ways that don’t always involve physical affection, which include sharing interests, spending time with loved ones, giving meaningful gifts, and expressing their love through actions (for example, being excited when a loved one is present).

Q: Do autistic kids like hugs?

A: Some autistic children adore hugging, while others may find it overwhelming or uncomfortable because of their sensory sensitivities.

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