Sensory Sensitivity and AI: Designing for the Neurodivergent Brain
- David Ruttenberg
- 4 days ago
- 5 min read
Imagine walking into a grocery store. The fluorescent lights hum and flicker overhead. A dozen conversations blend into a wall of noise. The air conditioning creates a constant low drone. For many people, this is just... Tuesday. But for neurodivergent individuals: especially autistic adults: this sensory cocktail can trigger overwhelming distress, cognitive fatigue, and a desperate need to escape.
This is the reality of sensory sensitivity. And it is one of the most underaddressed challenges in technology design today.
The good news? Artificial intelligence is finally catching up. Researchers and innovators are building systems that do not just acknowledge sensory differences: they actively adapt to them in real time.
Understanding Sensory Sensitivity
Sensory sensitivity is not about being "too sensitive" or needing to "toughen up." It is a neurological reality. Many neurodivergent individuals process sensory input differently. Sounds that seem normal to one person can feel painfully loud to another. Lights that seem fine can cause headaches, anxiety, or difficulty concentrating.
In my doctoral research at University College London, I explored how sensory sensitivity experiences affect autistic adults' attention, focus, and mental wellbeing (Ruttenberg, 2025a). The findings were clear: unmanaged sensory environments do not just cause discomfort: they can significantly impair cognitive performance and quality of life.
This is not a niche problem. According to the UK Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, invisible disabilities: including sensory processing differences: affect millions of people across education and employment settings (Ruttenberg et al., 2023). Yet most of our built environments and digital tools are designed as if everyone experiences the world the same way.
The Problem With One-Size-Fits-All Design
Here is the thing about traditional technology design: it assumes a "typical" user. Screens default to bright settings. Notification sounds are loud and attention-grabbing. Interfaces are cluttered with moving elements and competing visual cues.
For neurotypical users, these might be minor annoyances. For neurodivergent users, they can be genuine barriers to access.
Earlier research I conducted with colleagues at UCL demonstrated that sound impairment and auditory distractions can directly affect cognitive skill performance (Ruttenberg et al., 2020a). In other words, the sensory environment is not separate from how well someone can think, learn, or work: it is deeply intertwined.
This is why "accessibility" cannot just mean adding captions or screen reader compatibility. True inclusive design means building systems that adapt to the user, not the other way around.
Enter AI: Personalized, Adaptive, Responsive
This is where artificial intelligence changes the game.
AI-powered systems can now tailor sensory experiences to individual profiles. Instead of forcing everyone into the same mold, these tools recognize that a child who is sensitive to overstimulation might benefit from calming visuals and soft audio, while another individual might need brighter lights and more dynamic stimulation (Interactive Sensory Environments, 2024).
Even more powerful: real-time detection and adjustment. Using integrated sensors and vision-based tracking, AI systems can detect signs of overstimulation, distraction, or fatigue and automatically adjust the environment (Interactive Sensory Environments, 2024). Imagine an app that dims your screen when it senses you are becoming overwhelmed, or a workspace that adjusts lighting based on your stress levels.
This is not science fiction. This is happening now.
Building Sensory-Aware Wearables
I have spent years working on this exact problem. My research led to the development of multi-sensory, assistive wearable technology designed to provide sensory relief for individuals with sensory processing differences.
This work resulted in multiple international patents, including U.S. Patent US-12,208,213 B2 (Ruttenberg, 2025b), with additional filings through the European Patent Office, World Intellectual Property Organization, Canadian Intellectual Property Office, and Japanese Patent Office.
The core idea is straightforward: give people tools that respond to their unique sensory needs. Not generic "wellness" gadgets, but purpose-built technology informed by neuroscience and designed with input from the communities it serves.
In my PPI (Patient and Public Involvement) research, I explored what autistic individuals actually want from adaptive wearable interventions (Ruttenberg et al., 2020b). Spoiler alert: they want control, transparency, and respect for their autonomy. They do not want to be "fixed": they want to be supported.
The Ethics of Sensory AI
Of course, building AI that monitors and responds to sensory states raises important ethical questions.
Who owns the data? How do we prevent surveillance creep? What happens when these tools are used in workplaces or schools without consent?
I wrote about safeguarding autistic adults who use technology for the Local Government Association (Ruttenberg, 2023). The bottom line: ethical AI must prioritize user agency. People should be able to control what data is collected, how it is used, and when the system intervenes.
Brain-inspired AI that processes multiple sensory inputs together: mimicking how biological brains naturally integrate vision, hearing, and touch: offers a promising path forward (Brain-Inspired Computing Research, 2024). But the technology is only as ethical as the people building and deploying it.
What Comes Next
The future of sensory-aware AI is bright, but it requires intentionality. Designers, engineers, and policymakers need to:
Include neurodivergent voices in every stage of development
Prioritize transparency about how AI systems make decisions
Build for flexibility, recognizing that sensory needs change over time and context
Resist the urge to over-monitor, balancing helpfulness with respect for privacy
We have the tools. We have the science. Now we need the commitment to build technology that truly works for everyone.
Join the Conversation
If you are interested in sensory-inclusive design, ethical AI, or neurodiversity advocacy, I would love to hear from you. Visit davidruttenberg.com to learn more about my research and connect.
Together, we can build a world where technology adapts to people: not the other way around.
Dr David Ruttenberg PhD, FRSA, FIoHE, AFHEA, HSRF is a neuroscientist, autism advocate, Fulbright Specialist Awardee, and Senior Research Fellow dedicated to advancing ethical artificial intelligence, neurodiversity accommodation, and transparent science communication. With a background spanning music production to cutting-edge wearable technology, Dr Ruttenberg combines science and compassion to empower individuals and communities to thrive. Inspired daily by their brilliant autistic daughter and family, Dr Ruttenberg strives to break barriers and foster a more inclusive, understanding world.
References
Interactive Sensory Environments. (2024). AI-powered sensory adaptation for neurodivergent individuals. Sensory Technology Research Review.
Brain-Inspired Computing Research. (2024). Multi-sensory integration in artificial intelligence systems. Journal of Neuromorphic Engineering.
Ruttenberg, D. (2023, April 9). Safeguarding autistic adults who use technology. Local Government Association. https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/5PJRV
Ruttenberg, D. (2025a). Towards technologically enhanced mitigation of autistic adults' sensory sensitivity experiences and attentional, and mental wellbeing disturbances [Doctoral dissertation, University College London]. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.16142.27201
Ruttenberg, D. (2025b). Multi-sensory, assistive wearable technology, and method of providing sensory relief using same (U.S. Patent No. US-12,208,213 B2). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Ruttenberg, D., Porayska-Pomsta, K., White, S., & Holmes, J. (2020a, May 3). Sound impairment effect on cognitive skill performance. https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/fng7d
Ruttenberg, D., Porayska-Pomsta, K., White, S., & Holmes, J. (2020b, May 3). PPI questionnaire on adaptive wearable appropriateness as an autistic intervention. https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/a3jbz
Ruttenberg, D., Rivas, C., Kuha, A., Moore, A., & Sotire, T. (2023, January 12). Invisible disabilities in education and employment. United Kingdom Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology POSTnote, (689), 1-23.
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