Sensory Help for University Students

How can I get help for debilitating sensory issues that are interfering with university life?

By Kathy Mulka, BScOT(c), MEd

This brief article gives a synopsis of two young adults struggling with sensory issues when attending university. And how OT can help to make university less debilitating and manageable every day.

This summer I had a couple of young adults contact me for support around University and their sensory issues. Many individuals with sensory issues struggle throughout their school years to manage the daily onslaught of sensation that bombards them at school and in their classrooms specifically. The noise of the classroom, bright fluorescent lights, classmates being in close proximity and touching, bumping or being close to them, can all have devastating effects and lead to what is known as ‘sensory overload’. Sensory Overload can occur when a person’s nervous system can no longer manage sensations that are above an individuals’ sensory threshold for a particular sensation, i.e. sound, or several different sensations. Each person’s sensory symptoms can affect them quite differently and therefore, each person needs to be treated very specifically for the challenges that they are struggling with.

In the particular cases of my two clients, they were both struggling with sensory overload experiences, that were equally as debilitating but definitely different. One of my clients had skipped in-person classes and chose to do the last couple of years of high school online exclusively. The pandemic afforded them the option of doing classes and school work virtually and almost immediately they noticed how much less stressed they were and how much greater their capacity for focus could be. Although this was quite helpful, being away from school for two years meant they actually became more sensitive to certain sensations and they were struggling to reintegrate into everyday life outside of their home. My client wanted to go out with his friends, see movies, go to restaurants and was eager to go back to university, but was beginning to think this might not be possible at all. For when they did go in public, they experienced panicky sensations and a desire to leave whatever area they were in. Crowd noises and visually stimulating environments made it difficult to focus on conversations and it was extremely challenging to remain in the room without feeling like they had to leave the room. These problems were making everyday life very challenging, as avoiding going out was no longer a comfortable option. The hope was to find strategies that could help them re-engage with friends and family without being extremely triggered by sensory experiences.

My second client had a similar story about their fear going back to the classroom and dealing with campus life. They had plans to actually live on campus while going to school. Unfortunately, the last year was spent in physiotherapy after a car accident, while at the same time they were working through a family tragedy that deeply affected their life and plans. While working with a psychologist, this client learned that not only were they experiencing some PTSD, but their therapist also thought there was a possibility that they might have some sensory processing issues that were interfering with their everyday function. It was suggested that they reach out to me to see if I could help determine the sensory issues that might be exacerbating recovery and impacting their ability to integrate into the new school environment.

Prior to meeting with clients, I ask them to fill out an intake form and then complete an online standardized self-questionnaire called the ‘Sensory Profile’. The completed intake form and results of the questionnaire provide a general overview of a person’s sensory processing abilities and how impactful the sensory issues are for them. This information helps me to begin educating my clients about how OT can provide support and strategies to manage the sensory difficulties they may be facing. For the clients discussed in this article, it took approximately 4 months for each of them to implement sensory strategies, modifications and accommodations that would make campus life and learning more accessible and manageable for a successful academic year.

If you think you may be experiencing “Sensory Overload” or challenges with everyday sensations that are limiting your function at home, at school on the job, or with your friends and family, you can contact me at ktmulka@outlook.com to start the process for an evaluation and treatment of your sensory issues.