Apps for sensory processing issues in a noisy, crowded world
Illustration by Annie McCall
by Rosemary Richings
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No two experiences with sensory processing issues are exactly alike. If you’re hypersensitive, you’re easily overstimulated by the world around you. If you’re hyposensitive, your surroundings often don’t stimulate you quite enough — you always need more sensory input.
For both hypersensitive and hyposensitive people, inaccessible environments make navigating everything from employment and education to events and emotional regulation challenging. It’s often difficult to ask those in a position of power to modify the way that they do things, but even once a change has been requested, it can be met with some degree of resistance. At the end of the day, those of us with sensory processing issues often have to find balance by taking matters into our own hands. Although the world around us doesn’t make a habit of accommodating sensory processing needs, there are valuable tools available for both under and overstimulation.
Ambient music
Annie McCall
Ambient music has minimal melody and rhythm, which helps to create a relaxing atmosphere. Unanticipated tempo changes are generally nonexistent, and rhythms stick to a consistent pattern. Since the beat is predictable, those experiencing sensory overload might find soothing tunes like these to be centering and calming.
One of my Twitter followers told me she watches YouTube makeup reviews when feeling overstimulated. For her, the videos serve an ambient-music-like purpose by offering a steady sound structure.
Video game soundtracks are another example of grounding music that often does well for those with sensory processing issues. Composer Marc Straight spoke to over 500 people with a sensory processing disorder to inform what became the soundtrack to Velumortis. Speaking to gamers with sensory processing issues helped him create an alternative kind of soundtrack — one that helped players to tune in rather than turn off.
He also spoke with Kevin Casper, an AbleGamers Charity blogger, who says that the Velumortis soundtrack simply has fewer instruments. Casper wrote the following about Straight’s approach in a post on music for sensory processing disorders:
“Marc explains that he’s avoiding anything C6 or above. That’s the C note, two octaves up from the common middle C on the piano. It's usually associated with the soprano singing range. Anything above the C6 note is a common auditory trigger.”
Avoiding these higher pitches and using minimal instrumentation reduces how much stimuli gamers have to process. With simple and soft sounds, people are less likely to become too overwhelmed to enjoy playing the game. Wendy Bertagnole, the program manager at Advanced Brain Technologies, refers to this process:
Supporting sensory preferences is about creating a more calming environment. It’s also about minimizing overstimulating sensations and accessing the sensations the brain is seeking.
If you’re looking for an ambient music recommendation that fits this description, here are a couple of my favorites:
Blume’s atmospheric ambient music
Pocket Pond 2
Annie McCall
Pocket Pond 2 is a virtual pond where users care for fish, frogs, and other aquatic life. The pond’s visual and auditory sensory stimulation effects are often soothing to users with sensory processing issues. The rippling of the water is gently consistent, the fish are colorful, and the nature sounds have that handy ambient effect. Also, Pocket Pond 2 maintains a comfortable sense of order and routine by aligning with your local weather conditions and time of day.
myNoise
Annie McCall
The most significant benefit of the myNoise app is its emphasis on personalization. This makes it a valuable tool for both hypersensitive and hyposensitive users. You can mix and match soundscapes that suit your preferences and select the volume of your choice.
Options available include:
Rain
Thunder
Ocean waves
Animal noises
White noise
Drones
Synthetic sounds
Miracle Modus
Miracle Modus emulates the #ActuallyAutistic movement principle of nothing for us without us by having #ActuallyAutistic input. The Miracle Modus app is for sensory overload, created by a developer who has autism. For the developer, this app provides a reliable way to cope. According to the Otsimo blog:
“The idea is simple. Users can wind down or return to focus by watching hypnotizing lights and rainbows. They can also listen to (optional) accompanying sounds.”
The app itself is pretty straightforward. Users can change the lighting levels by switching modes and those modes are available through an interactive interface.
Tools like these enable people with sensory processing issues to work within their world when that world doesn’t naturally work for them. Apps, games, and other digital media options can help to reduce anxiety, enhance functioning, and tweak life’s sensory settings as needed.