Sensory overload

A state in which the brain receives more sensory input than it can effectively process, leading to feelings of overwhelm, distress, anxiety, or shutdown. Sensory overload is particularly common among autistic individuals and people with sensory processing differences, but can affect anyone in sufficiently intense environments. In technology-mediated contexts, sensory overload can be triggered by audio distortion, competing sound sources, visual clutter, screen flickering, or unpredictable environmental stimuli amplified by devices. Designing accessible technology requires attention to sensory load — including providing controls to filter, reduce, or customize sensory input.