I Wei Huang/ShutterstockOur 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 regulationSensory 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 feel like sounds seem exceptionally loud, and lights unbearably bright. This phenomenon – which over 90% of children with autism experience – is sometimes described as causing pain in people with autism.The opposite phenomenon, sensory hypo-responsiveness, occurs when a person does not react strongly enough to sensory stimuli. This can sometimes cause them to actively seek out stimuli. The resulting sensory seeking behaviour is sometimes colloquially known as “stimming”. Leer más: Autistic stimming explained – and why stopping it can lead to burnout It can also cause difficulties with thermal regulation. Some autistic people may not strongly perceive differences in the temperature of their body or the environment. This can lead some children to refuse to wear appropriate clothing for the season because their body does not detect these changes.Neurophysiological evidence has shown that brain activity decreases as the brain gets hotter. This suggests that an increase in brain temperature strengthens the processes (known as inhibitory neuronal mechanisms) that slow down brain functioning. This affects temperature regulation, and is also thought to have an impact on sensory processing and the functioning of the autonomic nervous system. This can manifest as an apparent fever, even though the person shows no other signs of illness.By contrast, some autistic children may feel cold when those around them do not. Others show an improvement in their usual behaviour during episodes of fever. They may also experience changes in core body temperature brought about by changes in ambient temperature.Another common difficulty for some children on the autism spectrum is heat intolerance. They can easily feel overwhelmed, sweat excessively, or become agitated when it is hot, which affects their wellbeing and behaviour.Managing this sensitivity often involves providing cool spaces, light clothing, and hydration to keep them comfortable and safe when temperatures rise. Leer más: Why understanding autism means looking beyond spoken language – two autistic researchers of communication explain Dealing with the heat (and cold)Autism can affect the behaviour of sensory systems. This includes the sense of touch, which is what allows us to perceive temperatures. At the same time, sensory stimuli can cause distress, which in turn can lead to self-harming and aggressive behaviours in those who cannot communicate their distress effectively.So what can families and caregivers do to help their autistic child understand these difficulties and regulate their core body temperature? Five different approaches can help with temperature regulation problems:Talk: if the person is verbal and can understand what is being explained to them, you can talk about what is happening. This allows family members to better understand why they dislike certain temperatures, and find ways to help them without having to make major changes.Maintain an ideal temperature: this can be tricky, as the ideal temperature varies greatly from one person to another. By working together, you can determine whether they need, for instance, a T-shirt and shorts to feel comfortable at any given moment.Find suitable activities: this also includes cooler activities than the whole family would prefer.Look out for changes in behaviour: when children have a fever, it is usually accompanied by changes in how they act. If a child has a high temperature but continues to behave normally, they may not be ill, but are instead experiencing problems with their thermoregulation.Recognising temperature sensitivities is key. If someone is too hot or too cold, it often causes them discomfort. The same is true for people with autism. While some can communicate this discomfort with words, others cannot, and may express it in different ways. This can manifest in several ways. Their behaviour may change. They may dislike the feel of clothes or sweat on their skin, regardless of what the weather conditions might suggest is necessary. Their body may prefer the cold or the heat.Create a sensory-friendly environment that supports temperature regulation in people with autism.To promote proper temperature regulation, it is important to provide comfortable clothing options, provide access to resources for cooling down or warming up, and have spaces where the person can easily adjust their proximity to sources of heat or cold. A weekly e-mail in English featuring expertise from scholars and researchers. It provides an introduction to the diversity of research coming out of the continent and considers some of the key issues facing European countries. Get the newsletter!Daniel Piulats Vilá no recibe salario, ni ejerce labores de consultoría, ni posee acciones, ni recibe financiación de ninguna compañía u organización que pueda obtener beneficio de este artículo, y ha declarado carecer de vínculos relevantes más allá del cargo académico citado.