Our senses provide us with fundamental information about ourselves and our surroundings. This includes what and where objects are, the speed of our own movement, the safety of substances we ingest, and the temperature of objects and our environment. However, like all sensory systems, our senses have a limited range.

Recent decades have seen a year-on-year increase in clinical diagnoses of autism. Unfortunately, autism and temperature regulation problems often go hand in hand, especially in summer.

Theromception – the individual perception of temperature – is part of the human body’s somatosensory system. It is fundamental to our survival, as it is what allows us to regulate body temperature.

The temperature of the air or objects is perceived in relation to skin temperature, which in humans is typically around 32C. Rapid temperature changes are detected more intensely than slow ones. For example, gradual changes between 31C and 36C are probably less noticeable due to the dilation and constriction of blood vessels.

On average, harmless thermal stimuli range from 15C to 43C. Warmth is perceived at around 36C, and heat starts to cause pain at around 45C.

Autism and thermal regulation

Sensory issues are one of the most common areas of confusion for families and carers of children with autism. Among the general population, an estimated 5-15% of children aged 0 to 6 years have difficulties in sensory processing. However, they affect around 95% of children with autism.

Problems with temperature regulation in autism can manifest in different ways. One of the biggest factors is sensory processing, which is linked to autistic children’s performance. This can interfere with the learning process and, at later life stages, cause attention and behavioural problems in autistic children, teenagers and adults.

Children on the autism spectrum may show a greater aversion to heat due to sensory hypersensitivity, which often occurs when suffering from sensory overload. In addition to temperature sensations, an autistic child may also........

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