#visual processing disorder

[PT: Friendly reminder that sensory processing disorder and autism are two separate conditions. /End PT]

95% of autistic people have SPD, but autism can occur without SPD. Those 5% of autistic people still matter, and shouldn't be told they're "not actually autistic" because they don't have sensory issues.

Additionally, SPD can occur without autism. SPD can be genetic, neurodevelopmental, from incidents occuring during fetal development/birth, from brain damage, and/or in response to trauma (particularly isolation or neglect, ie, tactile processing disorder can result from touch starvation.)

And SPD is an umbrella term for a lot of conditions as well - a person with SPD may only have one of these, or they may have multiple.

Types of SPD include:

-Sensory modulation disorder, in which a person has over-responsivity, under-responsivity, sensory seeking, or a mix of them. This could be tactile, visual, auditory, olfactory, gustatory, vestibular, proprioceptive, interoceptive, or a combination of multiple or all. -Sensory discrimination disorder (SDD), in which a person struggles to understand the details of their senses. This can have a variety of symptoms, such as mixing up senses (ie; mixing up nausea and hunger) being unable to identify something "obvious" when slightly altered (ie; unable to recognize a basketball when half of it is covered) processing senses out-of-order or without proper clarity (ie; processing the sounds of talking, but not being able to identify the words being spoken), etc. Subtypes include tactile DD, visual DD, auditory DD, olfactory DD, gustatory DD, vestibular DD, proprioceptive DD, and interoceptive DD. -Sensory-based motor disorder, in which a person struggles with movement due to sensory issues. Subtypes include postural disorder and dyspraxia.

Neurodivergence refers to variations in neurological functioning that diverge from what is considered typical or "neurotypical." While there is no single, universally agreed-upon list, neurodivergent disorders generally include conditions that affect cognition, behavior, perception, or social functioning.

1. Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) (controversial as a separate diagnosis)

Asperger’s Syndrome (outdated term, now part of ASD)

2. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

ADHD (Predominantly Inattentive Type)

ADHD (Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Type)

ADHD (Combined Type)

3. Learning Disabilities & Processing Disorders

Dyslexia (difficulty with reading and language processing)

Dyscalculia (difficulty with math and numerical processing)

Dysgraphia (difficulty with writing and fine motor skills)

Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)

Visual Processing Disorder (VPD)

Nonverbal Learning Disability (NVLD)

4. Intellectual Disabilities

Global Developmental Delay

Down Syndrome

Fragile X Syndrome

Williams Syndrome

Prader-Willi Syndrome

5. Communication Disorders

Social (Pragmatic) Communication Disorder

Speech Sound Disorder

Childhood Apraxia of Speech

Selective Mutism

6. Tic Disorders

Tourette Syndrome

Chronic Motor or Vocal Tic Disorder

Provisional Tic Disorder

7. Mental Health Conditions Often Considered Neurodivergent

Schizophrenia Spectrum & Other Psychotic Disorders

Schizophrenia

Schizoaffective Disorder

Schizotypal Personality Disorder

Delusional Disorder

Mood Disorders with Neurological Features

Bipolar Disorder

Major Depressive Disorder (long-term cases cause atrophy in brain regions like the hippocampus)

Dysthymia (Persistent Depressive Disorder)

Anxiety & Related Conditions

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) (sometimes considered)

Panic Disorder (sometimes considered)

Trauma-Related Disorders (sometimes included)

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (when it significantly alters cognition and sensory processing)

Complex PTSD (CPTSD)

Dissociative Disorders

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)

Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder

Personality Disorders (Not all PDs)

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD)

Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD)

Schizotypal Personality Disorder (StPD)

8. Sensory Processing Differences

Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) (not formally recognized in DSM-5 but widely acknowledged in neurodivergent communities)

9. Epilepsy & Neurological Conditions (sometimes considered)

Epilepsy

Migraines with Aura

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)

10. Other Conditions Sometimes Considered Neurodivergent

Hyperlexia (advanced reading ability with comprehension difficulties)

Synesthesia (cross-wiring of sensory experiences)

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) (due to high comorbidity with neurodivergence)

Autoimmune Encephalitis (when it affects cognitive function)

As an AAC user, do you have any tips for making AAC more compatible with visual processing problems?

Would you be comfortable talking about the set-up that works for you?

I have visual processing problems myself and I find the default way a lot of symbol based AAC is set up to be overwhelming/not very accessible to me as a result.

I hope you’re having a nice day! :)

hi! this is an issue i am still trying to accommodate but i do have some things, as it is a huge difficulty-

1. i try to limit the amount of symbols on a page, and not overcomplicate things- a bunch of similar-meaning words is overwhelming, and i can't find what i need in a crowd

2. not frequently changing things around to make them 'easier'- i find this typically does nothing of the sort. if a button isn't where i expect it to be, even if it's simply a couple spots down or to the left or right, i may be completely unable to find it when i need it. i usually add a new category for even similar things, because new buttons on an existing page get lost, and i can't have too much to look at:

think of it as, i prefer to know where things are and keep it consistent, rather than have them make sense to others. (this is good advice for aac, and existence, in general- i have a tab for my nintendos that has my devices and animal crossing games on it, but then an additional folder that has all my other games that i do also play on nintendo devices (those are the only ones i use). a question may be why to seperate those when they are all nintendo games, but it makes sense to me: with both nintendo and animal crossing falling into special interests i have had as longstanding, but the other games being more tangents of those)

if there is an added folder for new additions, in the top or corner where i know folders are kept, then i know where to find all the existing buttons, but also where to find the new buttons i am still trying to learn

(another thing- it takes me a while to learn things compared to others my age, even fellow autistics but with different speech/cognitive/support needs than i have. this may be true for you as well. just because i am 21 doesn't mean i can learn like a "typical" adult. that's just my brain: it's okay! and it's okay if you struggle with that too!)

3. i also use different kinds of symbols for pages i need a lot- my "quickfires" tab has a picture of buttercup my carey calf, even though she isn't related to the topic, because i see the image of a comfort item and it draws my attention even when processing isn't good. this makes it easier to access the place with my personal needs, to tell someone i need the bathroom, water, or to lie down as soon as i may realize

(also, incorporating special interests into aac as an autistic person is one of the best pieces of advice i have that has worked very well for me, regardless of visual processing impairments!)

ending note:

in general, be patient with yourself as you are learning this tool! i am nonverbal, so i need some form of aac to communicate no matter what. but i also use home signs, writing or doodling, typing on a keyboard or phone where i have a good motor memory of the layout and don't need to look, and for a lot of the day, i just don't use any words! typed or through text-to-speech, written, or otherwise! i need a lot of rest.

and though i had a fear of people thinking it was rude that i didn't grab my device to thank them for holding a door or say excuse me for a misstep, i will try to wave or smile or use some gesture if i do have the energy. and if i don't, if i need to keep my head down and can't express or make motions or appear available at all, that's okay. that's most of most days for me, and it takes energy if i'm not already outward in my motions with types of stim being easily reflective to many of how i feel.

(i usually rely on echopraxia from cartoons for bodily/movement communication-this may not be something people do other than me. i will admit i am generally uncoordinated, and the way i present in terms of being more star-vs-the-forces-of-evil-esque versus old-tim-burton-victorian-era-claymation-guy definitely impacts how i am responded to on that day. i also miss a lot of people's reactions in general for many reasons, some may be obvious.)

People with Dyslexia:

Blind people:

Visually impaired people:

It gets worse in times of stress and in the dark, i also see light images? (Not sure how to describe this) like if im looking at something and look away i still see it, kind of like if you stare at a light and look away you still see it. (This is called Palinospia and can come with Virtual snow syndrome) Virtual snow syndrome is more common in males and is also more common in people with Anxiety, ADHD, Autism spectrum disorder, Depression, Dyslexia, Fibromyalgia, a history of hallucinogenic drug use, Migraine with aura, Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, Tinnitus, or a traumatic brain injury (TBI) It also can cause light sensitivity, kaleidoscope vision, and photopsia. The nerve cells in the brains of people with visual snow syndrome may be too responsive to visual stimuli. These very sensitive nerve cells mistakenly send signals to the brain. The brain interprets them as real images. I have asd and visual snow syndrome, if you have visual snow syndrome im curious do you have any of the things its common in, and which symptoms do you have?

I just want to listen to a podcast or a book, but unless I have somthing visual to interact with as well, like a video of the people talking, or a printed copy of the book, my brain won't keep up with the dialog. And why not??? Other brains can do it! Why not mine?!

I'm pretty smart, and I'm good at a lot of things, but why does my brain have to make it harder to learn those things. I get so discouraged when it takes me an hour to read something my friends can read and respond to in 20 minutes.

I know I'm smart. I know I'm unique. I know I have a lot to offer. I just... I wish it was easier for me to do the things others do so simply.