Expert Eye: Using Colour to Help Kids With Neurological Disorders
Here are ways to use colour to create supportive living environments for children with ADHD and other disorders
Jacquelene Symond
17 March 2018
Houzz Australia Contributor. Architectural Colour Consultant, Trainer, Writer and PostGrad Psychology student
Houzz Australia Contributor. Architectural Colour Consultant, Trainer, Writer and... More
Colour is one of the most interesting aspects of our visual experience. It can be both aesthetically pleasing and act as a powerful cue within our environment. In most newborns, colour vision is limited in the first month, followed by a rapid development of colour-sensitive receptors called cones, which allows babies to see certain wavelengths of light and identify them as colours. With neuro-developmental disorders such as autism and ADHD, this may not the case. If you have a child or adolescent who has been diagnosed with one of these disorders, here are some tips to help create a comfortable living environment for them.
If you know a child with ADHD, you’ll also know that they tend to have a high incidence of sleep problems. So reducing anxiety and promoting good-quality sleep is paramount.
To provide a soothing sleep environment, consider using shades of blues, greens and muted browns in the bedroom. Keep toys to a minimum and remove electronics such as computers, iPhones and iPads, which prove to be a distraction for any child.
To provide a soothing sleep environment, consider using shades of blues, greens and muted browns in the bedroom. Keep toys to a minimum and remove electronics such as computers, iPhones and iPads, which prove to be a distraction for any child.
Consider hanging some key artworks to provide tranquillity in both colour and image for your child to ponder. Oceans, rivers, flowers, trees and anything else nature-inspired can be beneficial. Use your judgement to decide on the mood of the artwork, perhaps including your child in the decision-making process.
A Caregiver’s Guide to a Supportive Home
A Caregiver’s Guide to a Supportive Home
As children with ADHD can be easily distracted, it’s essential that clutter is minimised, particularly before bedtime. Use a variety of storage solutions such as drawers under beds, shelving and baskets.
To take the stress out of identifying where their belongings are, ensure all storage solutions such as drawers and shelves are clearly labelled.
To take the stress out of identifying where their belongings are, ensure all storage solutions such as drawers and shelves are clearly labelled.
When it comes to bedtime, the best environment for a good night’s sleep is cool, dark and quiet.
Use blockout curtains, blinds and other window coverings that are designed to block out the light when fully drawn. If using patterns, keep them simple and not too stressful on the eye.
Use blockout curtains, blinds and other window coverings that are designed to block out the light when fully drawn. If using patterns, keep them simple and not too stressful on the eye.
If possible, separate your child’s play area from their work area and bedroom. This is another area where storage is important. Use open shelving for regularly used toys and art supplies so that your child has easy visibility. Label all drawers and cabinets.
Bear in mind that most children with ADHD find life easier when they’re organised, as this helps with routine and subsequently reduces stress and anxiety.
Bear in mind that most children with ADHD find life easier when they’re organised, as this helps with routine and subsequently reduces stress and anxiety.
When providing a space for your child to do their homework, opt for a desk in a quiet area facing a softly coloured blank wall, preferably in a shade of green or blue. Try to avoid any reflective surfaces or bright lights, which can distract them from the task at hand. This includes highly reflective white walls, which can be unpleasant on anyone’s eye, let alone a child that is easily stressed.
Ensure any unnecessary clutter is removed from the desk to allow them to focus on the task at hand.
Browse more dedicated study spaces
Ensure any unnecessary clutter is removed from the desk to allow them to focus on the task at hand.
Browse more dedicated study spaces
For those children on the autism spectrum, colour becomes even more important.
Research has found that due to a chemical imbalance, about 85 per cent of autistic children see colour with greater intensity than non-autistic children, so it’s essential that this is addressed within their living environment.
For these children, muted colours have a calming effect. In a paper entitled Evaluation of Features Specific to an ASD Designed Living Accommodation, author Teresa Whitehurst reported that Dr Di Pauli in Pauli, Egerton & Carpenter 1999/2000, found that shades of pinks and purples were found to be the most positive colours to use on walls, while grey provided a neutral non-reflective reaction. In other studies by the University of Kingston, there was also a preference for subdued tones of blue and green.
The best solution is to determine your child’s favourite shade and work with a monochromatic colour scheme of tints and shades of that colour, remembering that grey is an ideal neutraliser.
Research has found that due to a chemical imbalance, about 85 per cent of autistic children see colour with greater intensity than non-autistic children, so it’s essential that this is addressed within their living environment.
For these children, muted colours have a calming effect. In a paper entitled Evaluation of Features Specific to an ASD Designed Living Accommodation, author Teresa Whitehurst reported that Dr Di Pauli in Pauli, Egerton & Carpenter 1999/2000, found that shades of pinks and purples were found to be the most positive colours to use on walls, while grey provided a neutral non-reflective reaction. In other studies by the University of Kingston, there was also a preference for subdued tones of blue and green.
The best solution is to determine your child’s favourite shade and work with a monochromatic colour scheme of tints and shades of that colour, remembering that grey is an ideal neutraliser.
Children on the autism spectrum often experience a range of sensory issues including an aversion to bright lights and loud noises.
Ensure you have ample natural light in your home, using warm white light globes where needed, and reduce the use of any flickering or fluorescent lights.
Furthermore, avoid strong graphic images or patterns on walls, floors or anywhere else where it can can cause confusion. Keep it simple.
Ensure you have ample natural light in your home, using warm white light globes where needed, and reduce the use of any flickering or fluorescent lights.
Furthermore, avoid strong graphic images or patterns on walls, floors or anywhere else where it can can cause confusion. Keep it simple.
As children with autism can have sensory-related issues, it is essential to create an area or room where they can experiment with different sensations, be it tactile, visual, auditory or olfactory.
Christina Kozlowski provides some good ideas to create a sensory area in the home including using fairy lights, stereos, hand-held massage machines and essential oils. Consider using bean bags and foam floor tiles for crash landings.
Christina Kozlowski provides some good ideas to create a sensory area in the home including using fairy lights, stereos, hand-held massage machines and essential oils. Consider using bean bags and foam floor tiles for crash landings.
As children with autism strive to feel secure and may have issues with large spaces, try to keep rooms an intimate size and surround them with familiar objects such as photos of friends and family.
As reflective surfaces, including mirrors, can increase the size of a space and sometimes cause glare, be mindful of this in all areas.
The Life-Enriching Benefits of Togetherness
As reflective surfaces, including mirrors, can increase the size of a space and sometimes cause glare, be mindful of this in all areas.
The Life-Enriching Benefits of Togetherness
Finally, remember when considering the needs of children with neurological disorders in the home, each child is unique. Walk through your home, consider the space based on their needs and address each area appropriately.
This is a general guide. Please consult a dedicated professional for any more specific help.
Tell us
Do you have a child with a neurological disorder? Please share what you’ve learned to help others in similar situations.
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This is a general guide. Please consult a dedicated professional for any more specific help.
Tell us
Do you have a child with a neurological disorder? Please share what you’ve learned to help others in similar situations.
More
Read more lifestyle stories on Houzz
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I have worked with adults with Autism and the same principles applied to them as are described above for children; sensory overload being a main trigger for behavioural issues. Calming colours, little or no pattern, large rooms with open circulation areas, reduced noise. Well established routines were also very important; unforeseen changes or unpredictable events were disturbing for these people. This is a fascinating area of study and many new techniques are being introduced to help these people with their disturbed and confusing lives.
It is interesting of course that there is little discussion about adults with autism - this is because autism was only used as a diagnosis relatively recently - so we are only now seeing people with that diagnosis coming to their adulthood. Pity older sufferers whose behaviour was put down to naughtiness, or worse still, stupidity.
What diverse topics we come across in Houzz!!!