What is a sensory overload for an autistic person? How does it affect them and their ability to function?

Question

I understand that they get them but what happens exactly to them?

In: Biology

Answer 1

Too much input from outside sources. In my personal experience, I have a difficult time talking to people while looking at them and listening to what they say, and either I’d miss something they said, or I clam up and have a hard time talking.

In times like those, I look at something else that is bland to reduce the input, and prevent myself from socially shutting down. Of course, this has its own problems, where people think I’m not listening to them and not giving them the time of day – up until I repeat everything they said to me, with about 90-95% accuracy.