Dr. Maria Weber, child psychologist and specialist for autism spectrum disorders, explains:
"The ADHD or autistic brain is overwhelmed all day with processing sensory input. In the evening, the nervous system is so overstimulated that it can no longer switch to rest mode."
In neurotypical children, the brain automatically produces melatonin in the evening and reduces activity. In ADHD/autism children, often the opposite happens:
- The brain becomes MORE ACTIVE the more tired the child gets
- Small sounds become major disruptions
- The skin becomes hypersensitive to touch
- Thoughts race instead of calming down
"These children need targeted sensory input to regulate their nervous system," says Dr. Weber. "Deep pressure touch, controlled movement, and tactile stimulation can work wonders."
This is exactly where modern therapeutic approaches come in: Instead of further calming the overstimulated system, we give it the sensory input it needs for self-regulation.