Last updated on November 26, 2023
Podcast Episode 0022; Season 02, Episode 08; October 30, 2018
Do autistics have more health problems and injuries? I believe so, based on my experiences. It is difficult for me to notice warning signs that might alert neurotypical individuals. With sensory overload, new inputs are ignored or unnoticed because we process so much input. When we don’t “hear” what our bodies are trying to express, we end up with medical emergencies.
Missing the Obvious
I’ve been accused of missing the obvious warning signs before health emergencies. Obvious? Maybe to everyone else, but not to me. I am paradoxically too sensitive to some inputs and too accustomed to others. Because my back always hurts, for example, I seldom notice if there’s something new wrong. My right arm and hand always ache, yet they also aren’t sensitive enough leading to accidental burns, cuts, and scrapes.
Overall, I’m lousy at feeling when my body has some new or unexpected problem. Studies find autistics have shorter lifespans and more more injuries. It seems reasonable to speculate that we need research on how sensory overload leads to missing new sensations of pain and discomfort.
Transcript
In progress…
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