Welcome to the Sensory Tools Series, where we are exploring the world of items that fall under the “sensory tool” umbrella and how we can find the ones that are right for us. 

In Part 1 we broke down the concept of sensory tools into a few different practical categories. 

In Part 2 we outlined the process of deciding which sensory tools to use. 

In Part 3 we will be discussing how to evaluate a sensory tool to determine whether or not it is meeting your practical needs, and whether it is necessary to seek out either supplementary or alternative tools as part of your process.

The reality of sensory tools is that none of them are meant to meet every potential need, and not all of them will be a perfect fit for us. 

It is also a reality that sensory tools can still be helpful even if they are not perfect, that some might turn out to be more trouble than they are worth, and that some may have the complete opposite of the intended effect for you. 

Answering these questions can help to lay out the pros and cons of any given tool, determine whether it is the appropriate solution, whether next steps are needed and what those next steps might look like. So let’s dive in!

If a tool didn’t work as intended, that might be a reason to try another similar tool that hopefully does have the intended effect. If a tool works as intended but still doesn’t meet your needs, that is a reason to seek out different types of tools.

Example answers:

• No, the white noise headphones didn’t totally cover up the outside noise.

• Yes, the soft lighting is definitely less harsh than standard bulbs.

• Yes, the nose plugs did cover up most of the smell.

• Kind of, the chart correctly identifies what outfits are best for different outdoor temperatures when I remember to use it.

One big crucial and unfortunately rather subjective question we must always ask ourselves is whether we actually feel any better using a given sensory tool. Even if it works on paper, if it doesn’t feel better then it might not be the right choice. Alternatively even if something isn’t perfect, it might still be worth using if it makes us significantly more comfortable!

Example answers:

• Yes, it wasn’t perfect but I prefer it to no headphones.

• Kind of, it’s preferable to overhead lighting but I can’t honestly say I’m totally comfortable

• Not really, I still feel like I’m on the verge of shutting down when I use the train.

• When I have used it I’ve felt great about it. It bothers me that I don’t always use it for some reason.

Ultimately, there is a reason why we are seeking out sensory tools in the first place, and it is crucial to answer the fundamental question of whether or not that core need is being met by this tool. Even if a tool has other positives, if it is not resolving the issue we identified in the first place then there is a good chance we will need to seek out additional solutions!

Example answers:

• Yes, but it could be better.

• Technically, but it’s not enough.

• Not really, I’m more concerned about not shutting down than the smell specifically.

• Yes in the sense that the tool addresses the challenge, no in the sense that I don’t feel like I’m not fully addressing the big picture problem.

As good as any given sensory tool might be, if we can’t use it at the time we need it then it’s ultimately not the right tool for us! In any evaluation it is crucial to consider whether the tool in question is one you will be able to consistently use when you need it as well as be able to access it when you need it.

Example answers:

• I have heard not all teachers in this school allow headphones in class which could be a problem in the future.

• I know they’re going to get more bothersome long term even if it’s a preferable solution now.

• I suppose I could if I felt it were helping.

• I honestly don’t think I can. I’ve been trying and I just can’t seem to remember to use it regularly.

Going hand in hand with sustainability is incorporating the tool into your day to day routines with conscious planning. Some tools might be a natural fit while others might require more effort.

Example answers:

• I just have to remember to bring my headphones with me.

• They’re lights, so I don’t need to make any special effort in my routine to use them.

• I would put in the plugs before I left my apartment, take them out when I got to work, and store them in a special case.

• Each morning I would look at the chart and check the temperature after my bathroom routine and before I get dressed.

Ultimately we need to decide whether a given tool is worth our time and effort. The only best judge is you, and one answer now does not preclude choosing another answer in the future!

Example answers:

• Yes, I think it’s worth it.

• Yes, I might as well since I bought them.

• No, I don’t think the smell was the issue in the end.

• No, I think I need something that fits better with my executive functioning skillset.

Whether or not we choose the tools we are evaluating, we also need to consider whether there are additional tools we might need to address the totality of the challenge we are working through. Acknowledging the need to seek out a better, additional, or alternative tool does not necessarily mean the tool we did evaluate is unhelpful or not worth using.

Example answers:

• I would like to get better headphones if possible.

• I might need to look into different types of lighting but I’m on the right track.

• Yes, I don’t feel like this one helped me at all.

• I think maybe I need to find a tool that I’m better at using consistently.

We hope this questionnaire has offered a helpful guidepost for identifying what parts of a sensory tool experience are positive and helpful and which might be better served by an alternative item or strategy. If you’d like to share your experience trying and using sensory tools with us, or if you’d like to offer suggestions for future blog topics then we would love to hear from you! Just drop us a line at hello@autismgrownup.com and we will be back next week for Part 4, where we will be talking about building your own sensory toolkit!