Following brain injury, changes in sensitivity may occur due to the damage sustained to an area of the brain (e.g. sensory organs, central and peripheral nervous systems). Sensory overload can also arise in the absence of any structural damage. It may arise as a result of cognitive impairments of processing and attention i.e. when the brain receives more sensory input than it can process at one time.
If someone has had a brain injury, the associated cognitive and/or language impairments may mean they are not always able to recognise and communicate clearly when they are experiencing sensory overload. The discomfort linked to sensory overload may often be expressed as anxiety, anger, intolerance, pain, distress, etc. Behaviours may develop that lead to avoidance of the ‘trigger’ or stimuli. Sensory overload after brain injury may also interfere with a person's ability to engage in daily activities and negatively affect their quality of life.
Noisy environments are the worst for me. It's as if all the different sounds get mixed into one and I cannot make sense of anything. It gets very overwhelming and scary at times.
How can sensory overload affect you?
The experience of sensory overload can affect:
General wellbeing and quality of life
Social, educational and work related activities
Ability and willingness to tolerate care procedures
Ability to benefit from rehabilitation
Levels of fatigue
Physical and cognitive functioning
Ability to tolerate loud noise and high levels of stimulation.
This experiences can be very uncomfortable, distressing and potentially increase the experience of fear and anxiety. In a person recovering from brain injury, this can lead to difficulty focusing, restlessness, aggressiveness, irritability, feeling overwhelmed, fatigue, headaches or nausea, dissociation and seeing an individual get upset.
Type of sensory overload
To survive in our environment, sensors in the body pick up on signals such as sights, sounds, smells, tastes and touches and send them to the brain for processing. When the brain struggles to process those signals, it can activate the body's defense mechanism know as "fight or flight" response which can in turn activate sensory overload. The types of sensory overstimulation include tactile, vestibular, gustative, auditory, olfactory, visual or proprioception (the ability of the body to sense its position in space).
Managing sensory overload
Everyone experiences sensory overload differently after brain injury. Therefore, depending on your triggers, some coping mechanisms may be more effective than others. These can include:
Resting before heading out
Planning ahead, a consistent schedule reduce the risks of unexpected sensory input
Creating a calmer and more controlled environment
Knowing your limits and gradually increasing exposure to a stimuli
Changing the type of activity to switch the demand from one sense to another
Taking brain breaks to allow the brain to recharge
Including relaxation techniques (weighted blankets, deep breathing, meditation, etc.)
Carrying a sensory overload kit with you ( earplugs or noise cancelling headphones, sunglasses, hat, snacks, stress ball, etc.)
Minimising distractions
Asking for professional help such as an Occupational Therapist to provide strategies adapted to your needs or a therapist to improve your stress coping mechanisms.
I don't go anywhere without ear plugs. I have several pairs in the car and in each of my purse. It reduces the background noise, allows me to better concentrate and most importantly, their use allow me to better manage my brain battery.
A few key points to be mindful of:
Don’t eliminate any sense completely or you risk setting yourself up for super-sensitivity. Gradually expose yourself to more light, sound, touch, smell, and taste. Be patient, in many cases you will build a tolerance and the sensory overload will decrease in time!
Communicate your needs to family, friends and colleagues so they are aware of the situation. Consider asking for adjustments to help create a more comfortable and manageable environment for yourself.
Commentaires