NEURODIVERSE CHILDREN

With professional advice, information and a support system rooted in acceptance, parents can navigate the challenges of enabling neurodiverse children to realise their full potential

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Raising ‘neurodiverse’ children — whose brains function differently from what is considered typical, often including conditions such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, or other developmental differences — is especially demanding in today’s fast-paced, noisy, and overcrowded towns and cities.

But with awareness, professional advice, information, and a support system rooted in acceptance, parents can navigate the challenges of nurturing neurodiverse children to realise their full potential.

Reena Chopra, a Bhubaneshwar-based child psychologist and founder of Saar Holistic Wellness, spoke with Cynthia John about common triggers of sensory overload (when a child feels overwhelmed because too many sights, sounds, or other sensations happening at once) and ways to support neurodiverse children cope with them.

Here are some common triggers of sensory overload.

Noise sensitivity

• Trigger: Honking traffic, school assemblies, malls.

• Support strategy: Noise-cancelling headphones or ear defenders reduce auditory overload. Search online for child-friendly versions using keywords like “noise reduction headphones for children in India.”