Sensory Overload and Family Support for an Autistic Adult

Case Study: An Adult with Developmental Challenges

Name: Samuel Thompson

Age: 26

Gender: Male

Diagnosis: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Level 2 (requiring substantial support)

Background

Samuel was diagnosed with ASD at the age of 4. His family has been supportive for all his life even into adulthood. He has two parents, two siblings, and an extended family that still supports and helps him. Samuel went to a special education school until the age of 18 and then in his mid-20s began to attend a vocational training center for adults with developmental disabilities.

Presenting Concerns

Samuel's family noticed an increase in his anxiety levels, mainly when there were changes to an already established routine. They began to notice his resistance to attending his vocational training center, which was still relatively new to him, although he had been going to it without issue for more than a year. However, Samuel’s limited verbal communication skills caused some problems in terms of communication about how he felt or what he was going through. To express his discomfort, he used repetitive behaviors like hand-flapping and rocking.

Strengths

Samuel has a good memory for details and can recall dates, times, events, and facts with excellent precision. He has a great interest in and love for music and has learned to play the keyboard with the help of a special educator. Samuel also has a very good relationship with his younger sister, Emily, and their bond is strong. She often serves in the role of interpreter, as she understands his non-verbal cues better than anyone.

Challenges

Samuel struggles with social interactions as he fails to understand social cues. He has sensory sensitivities, especially to loud noises and bright lights, which can give him anxiety. Samuel still requires assistance with daily living activities, such as personal hygiene and meal preparation.

Interventions

Behavioral Therapy

A behavior therapist was consulted to address Samuel's increased anxiety and resistance to attending the vocational training center, using the theory of Applied Behavioral Analysis. The therapist worked on developing a structured routine for Samuel, which consisted of using more visual schedules and stories to help him understand any changes he was going through with his v-school.

Occupational Therapy

An occupational therapist used sensory integration theory to help Samuel with his sensory sensitivities. The therapist helped Samuel to use noise-canceling headphones and light-canceling glasses, which helped to calm Samuel at the v-school.

Family Counseling

Samuel's family attended counseling sessions to better understand his needs and to equip themselves with strategies to support him. They were already quite familiar with these, but these sessions helped to rejuvenate and refocus their energy so that they could bring a renewed sense of spirit and mission to their supportive work with Samuel. The sessions also focused on strengthening the family unit and addressing any obstacles they were feeling.

Music Therapy

Samuel received music therapy to help with soothing his feelings and rebalancing his focus. The sessions provided Samuel with an outlet for expression and did help in reducing his anxiety levels. These sessions consisted of listening to music and playing the piano with the help of a piano instructor.