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Cognitive and behavior therapy would help with sensory processing and bring down their meltdowns if its common for the individual. And speech therapy, usually for children having  language deficits.
https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/autism/conditioninfo/treatments

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There is currently no one standard treatment for autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Many people with ASD benefit from treatment, no matter how old they are when they are diagnosed. People of all ages, at all levels of ability, can often improve after well-designed interventions.

But there are many ways to help minimize the symptoms and maximize abilities. People who have ASD have the best chance of using all of their abilities and skills if they receive appropriate therapies and interventions.

The most effective therapies and interventions are often different for each person. However, most people with ASD respond best to highly structured and specialized programs. In some cases, treatment can greatly reduce symptoms and help people with autism with daily activities.

Research shows that early diagnosis and interventions, such as during preschool or before, are more likely to have major positive effects on symptoms and later skills. Read more about early interventions for autism.

Because there can be overlap in symptoms between ASD and other disorders, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), it's important that treatment focus on a person's specific needs, rather than the diagnostic label.

Select the links for more information on each type of treatment for ASD.

If you have a question about treatment, talk to a health care provider who specializes in caring for people with ASD. These resources have more information about treatments for autism:

Citations

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There is currently no one standard treatment for autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

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There is a very broad spectrum of behaviors one can exhibit.

They may space out often like they're in their own world.
Accidentally cut someone while they were talking, due to a lack of social cues.
Talks about their special interests a lot.
Very straightforward and blunt, tell you what you need to hear that most wouldn't say.
Likes to plan things out beforehand.
Very empathetic but has difficulty showing it.
May not understand someones feelings.

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1: It's a common misconception that Autism is far more common in men than women, but that's not the case. Autistic women tend to be misdiagnosed. This is because ASD women experience their disorder differently than their male counterparts.
2. Autists often care deeply but have a difficult time expressing their emotions, in this case, affection and empathy.
3. All Autists show their illness in a variety of different ways.  All of them are different but society limits them to a set of symptoms because they're heavily biased.
4. It's been observed that famous figures such as Albert Einstein, Bill Gates, and Isaac Newton are on the spectrum.
5. A misconception that neurotypicals believe, is all Autistic people need treatment. But many do not want treatment and that's okay because it's their decision, if its not bringing them/others harm. They are different, it's not bad. The way their brain works is unique and shouldn't be altered if it's not needed.
6. There is currently no medical detection or cure.

https://www.aane.org/women-asperger-profiles/

https://www.massgeneral.org/children/autism/lurie-center/30-facts-to-know-about-autism-spectrum-disorder

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'M' Burnout. When the Autist is overwhelmed and has been working beyond their capacity. Can also be from masking, the act of camouflaging their symptoms to seem normal. The feeling of burnout is an intense mental and physical exhaustion. It can result in a loss of abilities, if the person is very verbal, they may speak rarely. Thus falling under maladaptive behavior of not functioning normally.

'U' Sensory overload. The stimulus of the environment becoming too much can be a single sensation or multiple at a time. Most don't go through this overload, but Autists need to wash their dry hands because they can't think otherwise or need to turn off the fan because they can't sleep with it on at night.

'D' Lack of spatial awareness. Not aware of how close or far something or someone is to them, oftentimes they are in another's space making the person uncomfortable.

'A' Gender identity. Society is governed by social and traditional expectations, Autistic people fail to notice them or view them as unimportant. They're more likely to have gender dysphoria but it's unknown why.

https://www.verywellhealth.com/autism-and-sensory-overload-259892#:~:text=Sensory%20overload%20occurs%20when%20an,one%20situation%20to%20the%20next.
https://www.spectrumnews.org/news/autistic-burnout-explained/
https://www.alexlowery.co.uk/autism-and-lack-of-spatial-awareness/
https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/what-is-autism/autism-and-gender-identity

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Sensory overload is when one or more of the body's senses is overstimulated to a point where a person is unable to cope. It is a term commonly associated with autism but can also be applied to anxiety disorders like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

People on the autism spectrum can be sensitive to their environments and have unusually delicate sensory systems, meaning that their senses-sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste-can be easily overloaded.

Unlike neurotypical people (people without autism), people with autism are often unable to selectively filter out environmental stimuli like car alarms or the clamor of a crowd. This can lead to behaviors such as "stimming" that help people with autism better cope with stress and sensory overload.

This article explores the symptoms and causes of sensory overload, including what can be done to ensure the right level of sensory stimulation for a loved one with autism.

Symptoms of Sensory Overload

Sensory overload is a type of sensory processing disorder (SPD). SPDs are conditions in which a person does not respond normally to environmental stimuli, either because they are over-responsive (sensory hypersensitivity) or under-responsive (sensory hyposensitivity).

Sensory overload is most common in children with autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It can also affect adults with autism, including those with high-functioning autism.

In some cases, the hypersensitivity may be so extreme that a person will react to sensations that others may not even recognize (such as a smell or the fluttering sound of a fan).

Sensory overload can trigger extreme symptoms in people with autism, including:

Anxiety and fear

Restlessness

Irritability or anger

Overexcitement

Muscle tension

Increased heart rate

Rapid breathing

Extreme sweating

Covering the ears or eyes to block out the stimulus

Not wanting to be touched or approached

Self-harming behaviors

Sensory Overload and Stimming

In extreme cases, stimming can cause self-harming behavior like head banging, ear-clapping, self-scratching, or self-hitting.

Other Possible Responses

People who witness an autism meltdown will often regard it as a "tantrum" or assume that it came out of nowhere. This is because the responses are not always the same and can differ from one situation to the next.

For example, a child with autism may respond differently to flickering lights at school than to flickering lights at home. Or, they may be hypersensitive to high-pitched noises but completely oblivious to booming, low-pitched sounds.

Moreover, while stimming is a common response, there are other possible reactions a person with autism may have, including:

Sensory-seeking behaviors: Such as sniffing objects or staring intently at moving objects

Sensory-avoidance behaviors: Escaping everyday sounds, sights, or textures

Distraction behaviors: Engaging intensely with a favorite sensation

Causes of Sensory Overload

The cause of SPDs is poorly understood and can differ based on whether a person has autism, ADHD, PTSD, or other developmental or psychiatric disorders.

What is known is that children with autism typically lack social attention, meaning the awareness of social cues and the expected modes of social interactions. On the flip side, they will often be hyperattentive to objects or environmental stimuli that others either filter out or fail to notice.

The imbalance in attention and the inability to shift focus between the larger environment and smaller details may account for why 95.8% of children with autism experience SPDs, according to a 2020 study in the Frontiers of Integrative Neuroscience.

The types of stimuli that trigger sensory overload can also vary from one person to the next. They may include:

Sounds: Including persistent sounds like lawnmowers, washing machines, ticking clocks, or dripping water

Sights: Such as a flickering fluorescent lamp or curtains that flutter

Smells: Particularly heavy or distinct smells such as cleaning supplies, perfumes, new carpets, or foods

Textures: Such as eating slippery foods or touching a slimy gel

Other Types of Sensory Overload

Sensory overload is not limited to the five main senses. A person with autism may also overreact to three additional senses that impact a person's balance, motor skills, and body awareness.

The additional senses are referred to as:

Vestibular: This refers to structures in the inner ear that detect movement and changes in the position of the head. The vestibular system can tell you, for example, when your head is upright or tilted even when your eyes are shut.

Proprioception: This refers to understanding where your body is in relation to other objects. The proprioceptive system is made up of receptors in muscles that monitor muscle length, tension, and pressure.

Interoception: This is the recognition of what is going on inside your body, such as knowing when you are hungry, full, hot, cold, or thirsty. The interoceptive system involves a network of cranial nerves that interprets changes in the digestive tract, blood vessels, and other organ systems.

These senses can be overloaded in the same way that sound, sight, touch, smell, and taste can. In people with autism, this can lead to balance and coordination problems in addition to the more common symptoms of sensory overload.

How to Manage Sensory Overload

Ensuring the right amount of sensory input-not too much and not too little-is important to the physical and emotional well-being of a child or adult with autism.

Home Therapies

As the parent, guardian, or caregiver, it is important to recognize signs and symptoms of sensory overload so that you can act swiftly or appropriately when it occurs.

This includes:

Being watchful of the signs of distress before your loved one has a meltdown.

Encouraging your loved one to communicate what is causing frustration, anger, or agitation so that you can remove the offending trigger.

Asking what would help them feel calm, such as a change of environment or even a nap. Consider getting a weighted vest or blanket that may provide a sense of calm and security. Even a favorite stuffed toy or pillow can help.

Making time for regular exercise to help burn off pent-up energy or stress. For children, an outdoor swing not only offers stimulation but can also be used as an outlet for stimming behaviors.

Teaching older children meditation or other self-calming techniques, such as deep breathing exercises, yoga, or guided imagery.

Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy can help people with SPDs acquire or regain the skills essential to daily life.

One technique commonly used in children is called sensory integration therapy (SIT). It involves exposing a child to different stimuli in a safe, play-based environment to gradually reduce their hypersensitivity.

Occupational therapists may employ other tools to reduce the risk of sensory overload:

Sensory adaptation: This involves tools that block out environmental stimuli, such as earplugs, noise-canceling headphones, or a white noise machine.

Environmental modifications This may involve soundproofing a room, changing artwork, or changing textures to decrease stimulation.

Sensory diets: This is a tailored strategy to ensure the right level of stimulation. This may involve weighted blankets, fidgets or stress balls, scheduled daily activities, and the creation of a quiet space.

Prescriptions

Medications are less commonly used to treat sensory overload in children with autism. Even so, they may be appropriate if the overstimulation is causing extreme or self-harming behaviors.

The antipsychotic drugs Risperdal (risperidone) and Abilify (aripiprazole) are two drugs that are sometimes prescribed to children or adults with autism. Both can reduce irritability and aggressiveness which can fuel excessive stimming behaviors.

If there are signs of ADHD, which often occurs in children with autism, medications such as Tenex (guanfacine), Straterra (atomoxetine), and Ritalin (methylphenidate) can also be prescribed.

Are There Tests to Diagnose Sensory Overload?

Diagnosing sensory overload can be difficult as there are no official criteria for the condition in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DMS-5).

Even so, there are tests called the Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests (SIPT) that are used to diagnose SPDs, Used in children between the ages of four and nine, the SIPT consists of 17 tests that evaluate a child's response to sensory stimulation, balance, coordination, posture, and eye movements.

When to See a Healthcare Provider

Sensory overload can cause considerable stress to people with autism as well as those living with them. With that said, meltdowns and stimming behaviors are generally more distressing than dangerous and, as such, don't require immediate medical care.

With that said, if the behaviors are causing undue distress or disruption at home or in school and/or posing any risk of self-harm (or harm to others), medication treatment may be needed.

Speak with your loved one's mental healthcare provider to understand the benefits and risks of treatment so that you can make an informed choice as a parent or guardian.

It is not uncommon for children with autism to be abnormally sensitive to certain sights, sounds, tastes, or textures. The condition, known as sensory overload, is not exclusive to children with autism but tends to be more common and severe.

Coping skills include recognizing the signs of a meltdown before it occurs. Occupational therapists can help you find ways to avoid sensory overload, such as modifying the environment, using earplugs or headphones, or developing a "sensory diet" to ensure the right level of stimulation.

In severe cases, antipsychotic or ADHD drugs may be used to minimize the triggers that contribute to meltdowns in people with autism.

A Word From Verywell

Understanding the sensory challenges of autism allows you to create a comfortable environment for your loved one and to respond appropriately if a meltdown occurs. In the end, the more that you educate yourself about autism, the more empathetic and compassionate you will be as a caregiver.

Doing so can also help you cope. By taking a practical approach rather than an emotional one, you'll be better equipped to avoid feelings of embarrassment or anger if and when a meltdown occurs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What causes sensory overload in autism?

Sensory overload occurs when an intense or persistent sensation overwhelms a person's ability to cope. With autism, the stimulus is often environmental, such as an offputting sound, smell, sight, taste, or texture. The stimuli can vary from one person to the next and even one situation to the next.

Can medications treat sensory overload in autism?

There are no medications that treat sensory overload, but there are some that may help control the triggers that fuel sensory overload in people with autism. These include atypical antipsychotics like Risperdal (risperidone) and ADHD medications like Ritalin (methylphenidate).

Can sensory overload be dangerous?

People with autism will often respond to sensory overload with repetitive behaviors known as stimming. While most stimming behaviors (like hand-flapping or rocking) are harmless, others (like head-banging, scratching, or biting) may cause self-injury or harm others. Medications may be needed to control these extreme stimming behaviors.

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How Sensory Overload Affects Children With Autism

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Sensory overload is when one or more of the body's senses is overstimulated to a point where a person is unable to cope. It is a term commonly associated with autism but can also be applied to anxiety disorders like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

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Delayed language or movement as a child
Seizures
Noticing small details, patterns, smells, and sounds while others dont.
Either too much eye contact or not enough
Harder to make friends
Clumsy/bad coordination
Taking things literally
Blunt
High morals, prefers being honest
Hard to express emotions
Anxiety
Odd mood or emotional reactions
Lacks fear or has too much
Unaware of their environment

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/autism/signs/adults/#:~:text=Main%20signs%20of%20autism&text=finding%20it%20hard%20to%20understand,in%20others%20without%20meaning%20to

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There is no main cause, but its generally accepted that it is how the brain developed in childhood and/or the womb. (https://www.autism-society.org/what-is/causes/)