What is Visual hypersensitivity?IN BRIEF
Visual hypersensitivity occurs when visual information is perceived too intensely. The person may experience discomfort or even pain when the environment is overly bright, cluttered, saturated with colors, or filled with too many visual elements to process. Autistic people are more likely to have sensory hypersensitivities or hyposensitivities, but individuals without any specific diagnosis can also experience these conditions.

Definition of visual hypersensitivity?
Visual hypersensitivity is a sensory disorder where there is an excessively strong response to visual stimuli. Another term for visual hypersensitivity is visual hyperesthesia. This condition can cause strong aversion to certain visual stimuli and even lead to physical or emotional discomfort.
- Bright light
- Particular types of light, like neon lights
- Rapid movements
- Bright colors
- Particular motifs
- Messy environments
- Visually-charged environments
- Direct eye contact
Symptoms of visual hypersensitivity
The symptoms of visual hypersensitivity vary from person to person. You don’t have to have the whole list of symptoms to be hypersensitive, and there are many symptoms that aren’t on this list.
- Unusual reactions to light
- Discomfort and even pain with certain visual stimuli
- Sensory overload
- Irritability
- Difficulty maintaining focus on an object or activity
- Abnormal eye movements
- An empty gaze
- Difficulty finding one's bearings in space
- Difficulty distinguishing certain shapes or colors
- Difficulty estimating distances
- Difficulty concentrating
Consequences of visual hypersensitivity
The consequences of hypersensitivity to light, patterns, or other things we see vary greatly from person to person, depending on age, skills, environment and the tools at our disposal.
- Inability to frequent certain places
- Difficulty getting around
- Difficulty performing daily activities (eating, bathing, dressing)
- Difficulty following instructions
- Difficulty socializing or communicating
Some colors give me a headache and make me nauseous.
Jacky, 49, autistic
What to do if visual hypersensitivity is a problem?
You have to be creative and proactive, identify the problem and find ways to eliminate or mitigate its effects.
Eliminating the problem means cutting off the source of the problematic stimulus.
- Using curtains or canvas to block excessive light
- Ensuring there is adequate lighting
- Making adjustments to the visual environment
Reducing the negative effects of the problem means giving the person the tools to make the stimulus less intrusive. This can be done with tools, objects or equipment.
- Smoked glasses
- Glasses that darken and adapt to brightness
- Wearing a hat or cap
Important
It's common to receive negative comments or inappropriate questions when an adaptation is implemented. It’s essential to ask the following question: what is more important, social appearances or the well-being of the person who needs these tools?
It can also mean learning new skills that enable the brain to better cope with intrusive stimuli. These solutions are more often proposed and supervised by specialists such as occupational therapists.
- Coordination exercises (ball games, coordination games)
- Visual stimulation activities (puzzles, mazes)
- Medical care
Important
In case of distress, or if the solutions put in place don't work, it's imperative to consult someone who specializes in sensory hypersensitivities.
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