The Teen Guide to Sensory Issues

by Rachel S. Schneider

It’s Hard To Be A Teen! It’s even more challenging when we have sensory differences. People with sensory processing disorder (SPD), a newly identified neurological condition, as well as those with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are frequently misunderstood when they over- or under-react to sounds, sights, smells, tastes, touch, movement, balance, and feelings within their bodies. When we’re wired differently in teenagehood and not always able to understand what we’re sensing, the world―and the future― can feel big and scary. Rachel S. Schneider, MA, MHC, is an SPD advocate and the award-winning author of Sensory Like You and Making A Guide to Sensory Issues . In this guide, written especially for teens and those who love them, she breaks the challenges of sensory teenagehood into hilarious, thoughtful, and manageable chunks. Through personal stories about her own experiences as an undiagnosed sensory teen as well as tips and tricks to survive and thrive during these years, Rachel reminds us that we’re not alone.

Genres: Nonfiction, Autistic Spectrum Disorder

100 pages, Paperback

Published July 6, 2021

Reviews

[Literary Strawberry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating: 3.5

I don't have sensory issues myself, so take my review with a grain of salt, but I thought this seemed like a good first overview of the topic. Some of the personal anecdotes stretched a little longer than I would have expected from the title, possibly slipping into more memoir-like territory than self-help; I didn't mind much, since I enjoyed the author's narrative voice and personality, but I do wonder if an actual teen with sensory issues who just wants answers might start to go "Okay, enough about your high school boyfriends, get back to the information I need." Overall though it was a pretty quick, easy read, and I hope the actual intended audience will find it helpful.

[Kara · Rating 3 out of 5]

..This led me to wearing big, silly, blue-tinted aviator sunglasses in the classroom. I looked like a 1970's TV cop, but by wearing them, I didn't care if the professor insisted every fluorescent light stay on. They helped soften my visual field. People walking by our classroom would actually stop and stare at me, because again, who wears blue-tinted aviator sunglasses indoors-slash ever? Me, the fashion queen, that's who.