ABSTRACT
Many, if not most, individuals with autism experience sensory processing abnormalities in the workplace as intensely as anywhere else, if not more so: they may feel as though they are being bombarded with unpleasant sights (for example, fluorescent lighting), smells (certain perfumes), tactile sensations (uncomfortable formal clothing) or noises (even the low hum of a laptop fan). DSM-5, published in 2013, finally included sensory differences in its definition of autism spectrum conditions. (For many decades, Temple Grandin has been insisting – to the author of this book, among many others – that her sensory issues have been the most debilitating problem of living with autism.) The ‘sensory landscape’ in the workplace can constitute a metaphorical minefield. Significantly, a study by Mostafa in 2007 indicated that acoustics were ranked as the most influential architectural factor when it came to autism, and recommended that efforts should be made to minimise acoustic disruption. 1
