Why does the child with autism do that? 

 Grow up anywhere in the world and, while the language and climate differs, much remains the same.  From birth, the majority of us can see our parents and hear their voices.    Our senses help us learn about the world.  Initially we learn to associate pleasure and comfort with the touch, feel and smell of our mother, from the warmth of her body to the taste of milk.  As we grow we play with our food enjoying its feel as much as its taste and texture. We have fun playing peek-a-boo and other games with our parents,   ‘exploring’ our toys and the objects around us with all our senses.    When we are hurt we get comfort from our mother’s touch and find her voice soothing.   In short we use our senses to learn about relationships, the wider world and our place in it.

   Imagine though, growing up in a different way, where nothing is quite as it seems.    You are not blind but you cannot see properly (although those around you assume you can).   Your mother is just a large blob moving towards you; her outstretched arms may even look quite threatening . . . although you can recognise her when she gets close.   However careful she is it hurts when she brushes your hair.   Things sparkle in the air.  They distract and fascinate you.  People frighten you for their faces are disjointed and change when they move.  Some of them smell overwhelmingly - of toothpaste, perfume, dogs, smoke.   Some noises sound really loud and are immensely frightening, like dragons breathing fire . . . Background noises impinge on you all the time and stop you from hearing properly when people are talking.  Your mother’s voice is drowned out by the street noise . . .  

   This then is the world inhabited by the child on the autistic spectrum; who experiences the most bizarre sensations.   A world in which the only constants are confusion, terror and fear.   Be quite clear.  This is not a world that the majority of us inhabit.   

   Looking at each aspect of these problems in turn,  we find ourselves stepping into a very different, and topsy-turvey  world where nothing is quite as it seems.  Unfortunately though, while such problems  cause great anxiety,  they frequently remain undiagnosed.  Thus both the child and his parents can be unaware that his sensory experiences are different from those of his peers.  This compounds the problems and, combined with his inability to cope as others do can lead to frustration and poor self esteem.  

   As you will see the jumbled information that the child receives from his senses causes disorientation and confusion, leaving him in a nightmare world.   Worse still, unlike adults who have a wealth of inner experiences to help them survive, the young child simply does not have the resources to cope with such problems.