Psychology/Neurodiversity/Sensory conditions
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Neurodiversity
Sensory conditions and environment
Record the environment, then the response — never the reverse. The order changes what you notice, not merely the order in which you write it down.
What to record
| Dimension | What to record |
|---|---|
| Sound | Type as well as level: constant hum, intermittent bangs, overlapping voices, echo, fans, air handling, distant traffic. |
| Light | Brightness, flicker, glare, screens, direction, whether it is daylight or fluorescent. |
| Air and temperature | Temperature, draught, humidity, air movement, stuffiness. |
| Smell | Food, cleaning products, perfume, damp, print, industrial. |
| Crowding and movement | Number of people per area, movement in peripheral vision, queueing, proximity of strangers. |
| Predictability of input | Whether the sensory conditions are steady or change without warning — often more important than the level itself. |
Two things this reveals almost immediately
- Which single condition appears most often alongside difficulty. Over ten observations, one or two conditions usually recur. That recurrence is your most actionable finding.
- Which conditions appear alongside the person’s best work. This is the half people forget, and it is what stops a plan from removing the conditions somebody actually needs.
Regulation and recovery
Record what actually restores capacity, who initiated it, how long it took to take effect, and whether it is repeatable. The most valuable entry on that form is a strategy the person initiated themselves — and it is also the entry most often interrupted or discouraged by the adults around them.
Recovery time is scheduled, not earned
If recovery time is contingent on behaviour, it is withdrawn precisely when it is most needed. Build it into the day.
Environmental changes that are usually cheap
| Condition observed | Change to try first |
|---|---|
| Difficulty during high-noise periods | An agreed exit signal, a named quiet location, and permission that does not need re-negotiating each time. |
| Difficulty in the last period of the day | Move demanding tasks earlier; protect recovery time before, not after. |
| Difficulty in large or unstructured spaces | A smaller room, a defined personal space, or a seat with a wall behind it. |
| Difficulty after travel or transitions between buildings | A buffer period on arrival with no demand attached. |
| Fluctuating capacity across the week | Record sleep, food and load alongside the behaviour before concluding anything about the person. |
PMA Support Profile One-Pager
The language that keeps a support record honest, the four questions that must precede any plan, and a one-page profile to complete with the person rather than about them. (5 pages, PDF)
Free download
PMA Quick Observation Card
The whole observation discipline on two pages — define before you watch, record the environment before the behaviour, keep description and interpretation apart — plus a printable tally sheet. (5 pages, PDF)
Free download
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