Sensory Balancing Strategies for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder

This article presents information on the impact of hyper or hypo-sensory responses and specific strategies that can balance the systems. We examine the five sensory systems (tactile, auditory, visual, proprioceptive, and vestibular), common behaviors associated with each system, and recommend instructional strategies designed to support student learning. In recognizing and identifying the potential effects of the sensory experiences of students with ASD, physical education teachers can provide sensory balancing strategies to improve students' emotional, social, cognitive, and physical growth in the physical education classroom.