I got some good quality noise cancelling headphones 12 months ago and thought they were great. Since doing more reading about ASD and ADHD, I’ve come to understand I have some sensory issues.

I bought some Loop earplugs a few weeks ago after reading about them in other ASD threads and I love wearing them when driving, shopping or in doctor’s waiting rooms. I feel much less anxious and tense.

After doing some more reading and reflection, I think that a weighted blanket might be helpful and so I ordered one.

I’ve been using softer, less jarring alarms and ringtones for years and started using the Smiling Mind phone app recently which has been helpful.

I was wondering if there are any assistive tools/devices/tips that any other ASD people have found that have had a major impact on their lives that they might like that share?

  • retrolasered@lemmy.zipEnglish
    1·
    9 months ago

    Making time for some exercise really helps me a lot with mood management. I had a month off from exercise in january and really noticed how much it affected me

  • greencactus@lemmy.worldEnglish
    1·
    9 months ago

    I’d really recommend consciously making time and space to go out and relax, ideally in nature (but can also be books, a nice candle, a comfort show - whatever you need to feel relaxed). (Autistic) burnout is not fun, and applying the things which feel good for you is really, really important :)

  • technomad@slrpnk.netEnglish
    1·
    9 months ago

    I also got some loops pretty recently, upon recommendations by this community actually (thanks guys!) and they are great. I liked them so much in fact, that after losing one of them at work I ordered a new pair. They definitely help temper my focus amongst the chaos in noisy environments.

    What makes you think that the weighted blanket will be helpful? I’ve heard that people like them, but haven’t really looked into them.

    As for the alarms, I haven’t used a regular one in a very long time. I use my watch with a vibration alarm, which isn’t great (because the intensity is not adjustable unfortunately) but is still better than any noise alarms for me. At some point I’d like to try another sunrise alarm. I used one before, and I really don’t remember why I stopped using it actually. Hmm.

    What is the smiling mind app and why do you like it?

        • clara@feddit.ukEnglish
          1·
          9 months ago

          yeah it’s pretty messy

          there was an original condition called “autism” which referred to the stereotypical, ““low functioning”” case where someone has intellectual disabilities and the rest

          then a ““high functioning”” variant was labelled, where the intellectual disability was missing, called “asperger’s syndrome”

          then more and more inbetween cases started being labelled like rett syndrome, CDD, PDD-NOS, and so they had to say “fuck it, it’s all “autism spectrum disorder” now”

          over time, “autism” has become shorthand for ASD. to avoid confusion, the OG autism sometimes gets described as “classic autism”

          honestly it’s all a big mess