People on the autism spectrum often (but by no means always) also have sensory processing challenges. As an example: The lights going on and off in the story was how Joey perceived the flickering of fluorescent lights. Many people on the spectrum find such lighting distracting at best and overwhelming at worst. Think of what a strobe light's impact might have on someone who has a bad hangover, and you'll begin to get the idea. Things that most people won't even notice may be almost painful to someone with a sensory processing disorder.
I learned about all of this in the process of trying to understand my own son's behaviour when he was quite young.
As always, all feedback welcomed.
