It Was Just a Supermarket Trip
Kavita had planned it carefully. She went on a Tuesday morning, when the store would be quieter. She brought her son Dhruv's favourite snack.
The fluorescent lights were humming. A loudspeaker announced a promotion. Someone nearby was wearing strong perfume. The refrigeration units were vibrating.
Dhruv could detect all of it simultaneously.
At the dairy section he was on the floor, hands over his ears. Kavita carried him out, leaving her trolley in the aisle.
"He does this every time," she told me. "I've stopped taking him places. I don't know what I'm doing wrong."
She wasn't doing anything wrong. And Dhruv wasn't having a tantrum. He was having a neurological event.
Section 01
What Is Sensory Processing — And Why Does It Go Wrong in Autism?
In autism, the filtering system of the nervous system works differently.
Research, including neuroimaging studies, consistently shows that the autistic brain processes sensory information with less automatic filtering and more intensity than the neurotypical brain.
Inputs that most people's nervous systems flag as background are experienced as foreground — as immediate and demanding of attention as the most important stimulus in the environment.
Meltdown vs. Tantrum — The Difference Every Parent Needs to Know
A tantrum is goal-directed. A child wants something, and when they get it or are redirected, the tantrum stops.
A sensory meltdown is not goal-directed.
It is a neurological response to an overloaded nervous system. The child is not trying to get anything.
During a meltdown, the brain's fight-or-flight response has been activated. The prefrontal cortex goes offline. The child literally cannot reason, respond to instructions, or be reasoned with.
What to do during a meltdown:
Remove from the triggering environment if possible
Reduce input — quiet, dim, less visual stimulation
Lower your voice or stop talking
Do not try to explain or reason
Wait — after the meltdown, when the nervous system has recovered, then you can talk and connect
The Seven Sensory Channels
Visual — distress from fluorescent lights and busy visual environments
Auditory — hand dryers, crowds, and background noise experienced at full volume
Olfactory — gagging at strong smells, or constantly sniffing people and objects
Tactile — inability to wear certain clothes, rejection of food textures, or seeking deep pressure
Gustatory — extremely limited food range, or seeking very strong tastes
Proprioceptive — crashing into things, walking on tiptoes, seeking jumping and heavy input
Vestibular — fear of swings and lifts, or spinning constantly without dizziness
The Indian Sensory Environment — A Specific Challenge
Indian markets and bazaars are multi-sensory environments of extraordinary intensity.
Festivals such as Diwali, Holi, Dussehra, and Ganesh Chaturthi involve fireworks, drums, crowds, bright lights, and strong smells.
For many autistic children, festivals are among the hardest times of the year.
Joint family homes create constant, unpredictable sensory environments with no reliable quiet space.
Section 02
What Sensory Integration Therapy Involves
A sensory profile assessment maps which channels are hyper-sensitive or hypo-sensitive.
A sensory diet — a personalised schedule of sensory activities — helps regulate the nervous system throughout the day.
Clinic-based sessions use specialist equipment.
The 2019 Cochrane review found significant improvements in sensory processing and daily functioning for autistic children receiving sensory integration therapy.
Practical Strategies for Right Now
Before going out:
Prepare your child visually — show them where you are going and how long you will be
Go at off-peak times
Bring regulating items — headphones, a favourite tactile object
Build in an exit plan — if it is overwhelming, you will leave
At home:
Identify your child's specific sensory profile — what calms them, what overwhelms them
Create a designated quiet space — a calm corner with low stimulation
Build a sensory diet with your occupational therapist
If your child is having regular sensory meltdowns and you are not yet working with an occupational therapist, this is worth prioritising.
Reach out through thechildpsychologist.in or call 7999215093.
Section 03
If You Are in Indore or Nearby
If you are based in Indore, Bhopal, Ujjain, Dewas, or nearby areas, Dr. Vini Jhariya is available for in-person consultations.
For families outside Indore — across India and internationally — online consultations are available through thechildpsychologist.in.
Address: 100-A Baikunth Dham Colony, Old Palasia, Saket, Indore, Madhya Pradesh
Phone: 7999215093
Website: thechildpsychologist.in
A note for parents
This article is educational guidance and does not replace an individual psychological consultation or assessment.
Questions and answers