Hi Julie,

I'm almost 21 and was diagnosed when I was 17. I understand and can relate to a lot of what you said in your post. Vision and hearing are the most affected for me as well, followed my touch. I would try and find an occupational therapist who has experience with adults, or is at least willing to work with an adult. Occupational therapists are the proffessionals who do evaluations and treatment for SPD.

There are ways to help deal with the symptoms you mentioned. Different things work for different people, and it can take time. It's been 4 years for me and I'm still learning about myself and am still adding new ways to cope to my "tool box."

For overload, and processing difficulties in general, I use a weighted vest. I always try to have it with me and it helps reset my nervous system and buy me a lot more time in which to spend in an overloading environment. The vest I have looks like a typical Jean vest and I wear it almost all the time at work. I also use a weighted blanket to reset at home and to help with insomnia. Overall I also do things to try and keep my anxiety as low as possible (not always easy since I also have an anxiety disorder) and eat regular protein rich meals. I also try and plan to ration my sensory energy, and learn the subtle cues my body gives off at the very beginning of overload so I can catch and deal with it early. I also have an escape plan in place from overloading situations, so I can leave a go to a spot to recuperate such as a car or a quiet hallway.

For visual processing and overload I wear prism lens glasses with a colored Irlens tint. Both help with visual processing and help reduce some of my typical visual distortions, the visual distortions I get in overload, depth perception, and some help preventing overload. For very difficult fluorescent or LED lighting, I use sunglasses that clip on to my regular glasses and a hat with a visor. I just recently discovered the combo of visor, sunglasses, and my normal glasses, and the difference is AMAZING. I can go places where before I would just shut down and loose my ability to function.

For hearing, most of what I do is prevention. I use noise canceling headphones in stores, at the movies, restaurants, when I'm a passenger in a car or plane, or whenever else I need them. I also use industrial earmuffs and sound filtering earplugs.

For really bad crowds, and at other times too, I usually have to rely on another person. I've learned what's called the sighted guide technique thats used when a sighted persons leads a blind person. This way I can close my eyes and not have to worry about walking smack into people or things. At airports when I fly alone, I request a person (either an airport employee or a friend or family member) to guide me to my gate so I don't get lost and end up getting stuck somewhere from overload and/or a panic attack (yes, that's happened to me more than once, and one time the police had to be called to come and find me). And to avoid the crowd when boarding a plane I usually request to preboard on basis of a disability to avoid the crowd.

To try and distract from sensory overload I often bring my iPad with me and so I can play logic puzzles I enjoy. Also to distract from skin picking and some overload, and for concentration I use various fidgets, also called stim toys, to play with in my hands.

Sorry, I just relized that this post has turned into practically a novel. Anyway, these are some of the strategies and tools I use.