If your child struggles to cope with different sensations in their environment like loud noises, seems overly clumsy and accident prone, or experiences behavioral difficulties, they may have sensory processing disorder. This condition can make it challenging for your child to participate in daily activities and do well in school. With the help of our pediatric occupational therapists, your child can learn to better process sensory information and manage their responses to it in healthy ways.

What Is Sensory Processing Disorder?

Sensory processing disorder (SPD) is a condition that affects how the brain processes information received through the senses. This not only includes the five common senses (sight, touch, taste, smell, and hearing) but also the senses that help children move their bodies, balance, and recognize feelings like hunger. For children with SPD, everyday sensory input like the noise in a school cafeteria or the feeling of a clothing tag on their skin can be overwhelming. It can also be difficult for them to regulate how this sensory input makes them feel, leading to challenges with behavior, motor skills, and social interactions. 

Types of Sensory Processing Disorder

There are two different types of SPD that each have their own unique symptoms. Some children experience hypersensitivity, or being overly sensitive to their environment, which leads them to try to avoid sensory input as much as possible. 

Other children experience hyposensitivity, or being under-sensitive to the conditions in their environment, which leads them to seek out as much sensory input as possible.

Signs of Sensory Processing Difficulties in Hypersensitive Children

  • Startles easily from loud or sudden noises
  • Covers their ears in response to everyday sounds
  • Has difficulty concentrating in noisy environments
  • Is sensitive to bright lights or sunlight
  • Struggles to follow moving objects with their eyes
  • Avoids certain fabrics or clothing textures
  • Reacts strongly to temperature changes or strong smells
  • Is considered a “picky eater”
  • Overreacts to physical touch or hugs
  • Gets easily nauseated from car rides or other movements 
  • Avoids activities like swinging or spinning
  • Has difficulty with balance and coordination
  • Gets overwhelmed or melts down in places like school, the grocery store, etc. 
  • Struggles to hear conversations with background noise

Signs of Sensory Processing Difficulties in Hyposensitive Children

  • Has difficulty hearing or responding to quiet sounds
  • Does not seem to notice alarms or loud noises
  • Is unaware of temperature changes (extreme heat or cold)
  • Does not react to injuries or pain
  • Touches everything or “can’t keep their hands to themselves”
  • Seeks out intensely flavored foods (very spicy, salty, etc.)
  • Chews on clothing, pencils, or other items
  • Plays roughly and may tend to hurt other children or pets accidentally 
  • Has trouble sitting still
  • Often bumps into people or furniture
  • Gives very tight hugs
  • Does not respect other’s personal space
  • Gets distracted easily

How is Sensory Processing Disorder Diagnosed?

If you think your child may be facing sensory challenges, the best thing to do is schedule an evaluation with a pediatric occupational therapist (OT). We can evaluate your child’s behavior and reactions to sensory input through simple assessments, as well as speak with you to find out what you have seen at home to determine if your child has sensory processing disorder. 

How Occupational Therapy Helps Children with Sensory Processing Disorder

Occupational therapy is a fantastic treatment for SPD because it teaches children the skills they need to manage their reactions to sensory input and builds other vital developmental skills. OTs work closely with children to develop personalized treatment plans. These treatment plans include play-based activities and exercises designed to improve: 

  • Awareness and coordination
  • Ability to focus
  • Emotional regulation
  • Acceptance of different sensations

OTs can also give you strategies that you can use at home and activities you can do with your child to support their development between therapy sessions. 

Schedule an Evaluation

If you think your child might have sensory processing disorder, Little Hands at Play can help. Call us at (479) 226-3409 to schedule an evaluation with our occupational therapists today.

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