Unpacking, recognising and understanding triggers

Triggers can negatively impact neurodiverse individuals. These triggers can be environmental, social, or internal. These triggers can lead to heightened sensitivity, stress, or meltdowns.

Understanding personal triggers and learning self-regulation strategies can be highly beneficial for neurodiverse individuals. This knowledge also supports those around them—such as carers, educators, employers, and peers in social settings—by enabling the implementation of effective strategies to manage emotions and reduce the frequency or intensity of meltdowns. Together, they can help create safe, calm environments that support emotional well-being and self-regulation.

 

Common types of potential triggers are:

  • Sensory overload (loud noises, bright and harsh lights, strong smells, multiple signage, crammed spaces, complex spatial layout, cluttered layout, confusing wayfinding, excessive visual stimuli)

  • Social situations (unexpected changes in routine, rapid social interchanges)

  • Environmental factors (changes in temperature, unexpected physical contact, specific texture)

  • Internal factors (anxiety, stress, fatigue)

  • Specific stimuli (certain sounds, smells, visual stimuli, tastes)

The triggers can cause sensory overload which lead to anxiety, stress and difficulty in concentrating. They can also increase cognitive load and therefore make it harder for neurodiverse individuals to navigate and understand their surroundings.

Architectural sectors with examples of triggers:

Workplace:

  • LED and fluorescent light bulbs or strips (flickering/strobing visual and buzzing noise they emit).

  • Quiet areas are adjacent to noisy areas with unsuitable acoustic treatments such as acoustic insulation.

  • With more online meetings, sitting close to loud conversations and discussions. Therefore, unable to zone out for focussed tasks.

  • HVAC systems that have loud sound emission.

  • Lack of natural light.

  • Unsuitable furniture that are not adjustable to suit different body shapes and tasks

  • Workstations crowded too close together

  • Highly patterned floor and wall finishes

  • Bold colours

  • Disorganised and cluttered spaces

  • Reflective materials including internal glazing

  • Cluttered and cramped communal space.

  • Kitchen smells

  • Bathroom odours including deodorisers

  • Loud hand dryers

  • Unclear wayfinding

  • Inconsistent and multiple signage

 

Education (Childcare, Primary and Secondary Schools, TAFE, Universities)

  • Substitute teachers

  • Unexpected timetable changes

  • Change in work groups

  • LED and fluorescent light bulbs or strips (flickering/strobing visual and buzzing noise they emit)

  • Quiet areas are adjacent to noisy areas with unsuitable acoustic treatments such as acoustic insulation

  • Loud classrooms

  • Multiple activities with different focus needs in one space without zoning

  • HVAC systems that have loud sound emission

  • Lack of natural light

  • Unsuitable furniture that are not adjustable to suit tasks

  • Highly patterned floor and wall finishes.

  • Bold colours.

  • Disorganised and cluttered spaces

  • Reflective materials including internal glazing

  • Cluttered and cramped communal spaces

  • Kitchen smells

  • Bathroom odours including deodorises

  • Loud hand dryers

  • Unclear wayfinding

  • Inconsistent and multiple signage

  • Crowded corridors

Healthcare (hospitals, clinics, aged care)

  • LED and fluorescent light bulbs or strips (flickering/strobing visual and buzzing noise they emit)

  • Quiet areas are adjacent to noisy areas with unsuitable acoustic treatments such as acoustic insulation

  • Crowded spaces

  • Loud conversations and discussions in one space without zones

  • HVAC systems that have loud sound emission

  • Lack of natural light

  • Furniture that are not adjustable to suit tasks

  • Highly patterned floor and wall finishes

  • Bold colours

  • Disorganised and cluttered spaces

  • Reflective materials including internal glazing

  • Cluttered and cramped communal spaces

  • Kitchen smells (in staff areas)

  • Bathroom odours including deodorises

  • Loud hand dryers

  • Inconsistent and multiple signage

  • Unfamiliar social dynamic

  • Accidental touch

  • Unclear wayfinding

  • Cleaning chemical smells

  • Inaccessible

  • Blank walls

Community centres, libraries

  • LED and fluorescent light bulbs or strips (flickering/strobing visual and buzzing noise they emit)

  • Quiet areas are adjacent to noisy areas with unsuitable acoustic treatments such as acoustic insulation

  • Crowded spaces

  • Loud conversations and discussions in one space without any zones

  • HVAC systems that have loud sound emission

  • Lack of natural light

  • Furniture that are not adjustable to suit tasks

  • Highly patterned floor and wall finishes

  • Bold colours

  • Disorganised and cluttered spaces

  • Reflective materials including internal glazing

  • Cluttered and cramped communal spaces

  • Kitchen smells (in staff areas)

  • Bathroom odours including deodorises

  • Loud hand dryers

  • Non-consistent and multiple signage

  • Crowded spaces

  • Unfamiliar social dynamic

  • Accidental touch

  • Unclear wayfinding

Residential:

  • LED and fluorescent light bulbs or strips (flickering/strobing visual and buzzing noise they emit)

  • Noisy air conditioning or heating

  • Bedrooms adjacent to living rooms and kitchen with unsuitable acoustic treatments such as acoustic insulation

  • HVAC systems that have loud sound emission

  • Lack of natural light

  • Uncomfortable and singular type furniture

  • Highly patterned floor and wall finishes

  • Bold colours

  • Disorganised and cluttered spaces

  • Reflective materials including internal glazing

  • Cramped spaces

  • Kitchen smells

  • Bathroom odours including deodorises

  • Accidental touch

  • Textures (clothing, fabric on chairs)

  • Change in routine