Individuals with AS often have **unusual responses to stimuli**, either over- or under-responding: - **Temperature**: Over- or under-sensitive to heat and cold - **Pain**: Unusual pain response (can be hypo- or hypersensitive) - **Sound**: Intolerance to specific sounds — hair dryer whine, kitchen fan, etc. - "To him, the kitchen exhaust fan sounded like a jet engine inside his head" - Compare to how most people respond to nails on a blackboard (for NT understanding) - **Sight/Color**: Sensitivity to certain colors — one individual couldn't stand green in his food because it made him nauseated These sensitivities are difficult for NTs to intuitively understand but are very real physiological experiences for the person with AS. **Source:** Lovett, *Solutions for Adults with Asperger Syndrome*, Ch 1 (p27) See also: [[Autistic Triad]]