Triveni Goswami Vernal
(Registered Special Educator CRR No: A64010)

Stims refer to self-stimulatory behaviour that an individual on the Autism Spectrum engages in, to regulate their sensory experiences. The gustatory sensory system refers to the sense of taste. Hence, gustatory stims are associated with taste and the movement of the tongue against various textures.

Gustatory Stims can take two forms—
1) HYPOSENSITIVITY TO GUSTATORY SENSORY INPUTS: Hyposensitivity or Under-responsiveness to Gustatory sensory inputs, leads to an individual engaging in seeking that particular input. That is, the individual needs a Lot more of the gustatory sensory input to regulate their sensory experiences. For example, an individual, may like licking particular surfaces (edible/non-edible surfaces), or eating food with certain types of textures, placing things in the mouth/ “mouthing objects” (because they like the feel and texture of the objects), loves to use vibrating toothbrushes, chews non-edible items like clothing, prefers eating food with very strong flavours (including things like toothpaste) etc.

2) HYPERSENSTITIVITY TO GUSTATORY SENSORY INPUTS: Hypersensitivity or Over-responsiveness to Gustatory sensory inputs, leads to an individual engaging in avoidance of that particular input. That is, the individual over-responds to the gustatory sensory input and engages in defensive behaviour to regulate their sensory experiences. For example, avoiding certain textures of food, difficulties with brushing their teeth, is often considered a “picky eater”, avoids experimenting with new tastes and textures of food, avoids spices in food, has difficulty tolerating extremes of temperature, in food etc.

An individual can be hypersensitive to one kind of gustatory sensory input and hyposensitive to another. Variations can exist even within the same gustatory input.

In my next blog, I will share activities that can be done for each kind of Gustatory Stim.

REFERENCES:
https://sensory-processing.middletownautism.com/sensory-strategies/strategies-according-to-sense/gustatory/under-responsive/
https://www.munchables.ca/blogs/news/what-is-gustatory-sensory-processing-disorder
https://www.nspt4kids.com/health-topics-and-concerns/sensory-processing-disorder/understanding-sensory-processing-disorder-the-gustatory-system
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319714
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Author Triveni Goswami Vernal

Triveni Goswami Vernal is an Autism advocate, registered Special Educator (CRR A64010) and an Independent Researcher. Her areas of interest include Autism, Disability Rights, Gender, Art and Northeast studies. She is a mum to an 12 year old on the Autism Spectrum.

Artwork “Yummy Cupcake”
Acrylic Painting on Ivory Paper
Artist Kabir Vernal