Clumsier in noisy places. Cutting the label out of every top. Can’t think straight in the supermarket.
Your brain uses sensory information to plan movement. When there’s too much input, coordination gets even harder, which is why so many dyspraxic people notice more spills and trips in loud, bright, busy places.
Senses and movement
Sensory sensitivity is usually associated with autism, but many dyspraxic people experience it too. That makes sense once you know how closely the senses and movement are connected.
Too much input, and coordination gets even harder.
Many dyspraxic people report sensory sensitivities, especially alongside autism or ADHD.
Sensory stuff
It can involve any of the senses, and people vary a lot in which ones affect them. These are the areas that come up most often.
- Noise: Hard to filter background sound.
- Clothing: Labels, seams, scratchy fabric.
- Light: Bright or flickering lights.
- Touch: Light touch can feel too much.
- Food textures: Some are a hard no.
- Movement: Lifts, swings, and car sickness.
Too much
One of the clearest signs is that your coordination gets worse when there’s a lot going on around you. If that sounds familiar, the two are probably linked.
- Clumsier in noisy places: The more input, the more spills.
- Cutting out every label: Immediately. With scissors.
- Can’t think in the supermarket: Lights, music, trolleys, people.
- Jumping when touched: Especially from behind.
Lower the input
The simplest approach is to reduce the amount of input where you can. You don’t have to avoid busy places altogether, only take the edge off them.
| Instead of | Try |
|---|---|
| Busy shops at peak time. | Quiet hours or online orders. |
| Scratchy smart clothes. | Soft fabrics and tagless tops. |
| Open-plan noise all day. | Headphones or a quieter corner. |
Things that help
A small kit of everyday items can make difficult environments far more manageable. Most people already own at least some of these.
- Headphones: Cut the noise
- Sunglasses: Even indoors
- Soft, tagless clothes: All-day comfort
- A fidget: Something to hold
- A quiet break: Before overload
Good to know: An occupational therapist can assess sensory processing as well as coordination.
Know your triggers
Over time, the most useful thing you can do is learn your own patterns. Once you know what tips you over, you can plan around it.
- Spot the pattern: When do you get clumsier?
- Plan around it: Hard tasks in calm places.
- Take breaks early: Don’t wait for overload.
- Tell people: “It’s too loud for me to concentrate.”
Wrapping up
You’re not being fussy. Your brain is handling more than most.
Being bothered by noise, labels or bright lights isn’t fussiness. It’s your nervous system dealing with more than most people’s has to. Making your surroundings more comfortable is a sensible response, not a special favour.
Next in the series: Dyspraxia in Women and Girls: Why It Gets Missed
This post is for general information and isn’t medical advice or a diagnosis. If it resonates, speak to your GP or an occupational therapist.