Sensory-Friendly Home Modifications for Autism and Sensory Processing Disorder - Reduce the Number of Smells in Your Home

Reduce the Number of Smells in Your Home

Like the sense of touch and the sense of hearing, an autistic individual’s sense of smell can be stronger than that of a neurotypical individual. Sometimes, scents and odors can trigger meltdowns or distress, even when they seem mild to other members of the family. There are measures you can take to reduce the input from smells in your home, particularly when you are remodeling to make it more autism-friendly. Here are some considerations to keep in mind.

Choose Low-Odor Finishes and Building Supplies

• Understand the role of volatile organic compounds on your home and its occupants. VOCs are gases that solids and liquids emit in your home, and many finishes, including paints and varnishes, contain VOCs. These are items that individuals with autism can be highly sensitive to, and the lingering odors are noticed long after neurotypical family members no longer smell them.
• Choose low VOC paints and varnishes. These items will have less odor than their traditional counterparts. Using them will help keep the individual with autism calmer during the home renovations.
• Choose low-odor building materials when performing home modifications. Paints and varnishes are not the only items that can have VOCs or other types of odors. Flooring, boards, drywall, and adhesives all contain odors as well. When possible, choose low-odor options. When not possible provide ample time for the space to air out with fresh air to remove the odors.
• Opt for natural fibers instead of synthetic. Natural materials tend to have fewer offensive odors than synthetic materials, so choose them when possible. Even if it does have an odor, it will be from non-toxic materials, which will be easier for the individual with autism to process.

Add Proper Ventilation

• Invest in proper ventilation for the home. Ventilation will reduce not only the home’s odors from the renovation project but also the general odors in a home including cooking smells. Choose ventilation mechanisms that are properly insulated to protect from noise pollution.
• Use HEPA filtration methods. Invest in certified HEPA filters for your home’s HVAC system to further remove and neutralize VOCs and other odors.
• Avoid air fresheners and chemical scents. Air fresheners and candles can add more confusion to your autistic family member’s sensory input, so avoid adding them to the home environment while you seek to battle odors.

For more information about reducing odors in the home and the way the sense of smell affects individuals with autism, visit these resources:

• Spectrum: Test Detects Unusual Sense of Smell in Children with Autism
• US National Library of Medicine: Environmental Chemical Exposures and Autism Spectrum Disorders – A Review of the Epidemiological Evidence
• Aspergers 101: Sensory Processing Difficulties – Smell with ASD
• National Institutes of Health: Volatile Organic Compounds
• Car Autism Roadmap: Sensory Difference in ASD – Smell

The above information is from Christy Clawson from wondermoms.org sent to me on Sat 12/06/2021