Symptoms of sensory processing disorder (SPD) usually manifest early in a child’s life, sometimes even as early as infancy to toddler hood. Perplexing behavior, like random outbursts or refusal to engage in some activities may be warning signs to watch. If your baby shows traits you think are dissimilar to other children his age, take your child to a developmental pediatrician immediately for diagnosis.
Discerning Sensory Processing Disorders
According to a study by the University of California San Francisco, sensory processing disorders affect five to 16 percent of school-aged children. These children may experience problems with their hearing, touch or taste, which may significantly affect how they go about in their daily life.
SPD is a condition where the brain has trouble receiving and responding to the information the senses receive. It affects all eight senses: vision, auditory, touch, olfaction, taste, vestibular system, positional sense, and interoception. Children suffering from this disorder may be oversensitive, undersensitive, or both to things in their environment. The smallest of sounds can cause them to freeze, panic or lash out.
How do you tell if your child is dealing with one of both of these conditions?
Oversensitive children:
- Severely respond to sounds, even at the lowest intensity
- Fear touch or any kind of physical contact, even with trusted adults
- Dislike crowds and avoids standing in proximity to others
- Have poor balance, may stumble often
- Refuse to wear new or uncomfortable clothing
- Have strong reactions to texture, taste, and smell of food
- Have trouble adjusting to changes in the environment
Undersensitive children:
- Constantly touch objects
- Play roughly and takes physical risks
- Have an unusually high pain tolerance
- Constantly seek stimulation, whether at play or with physical affection
- Have no concept of personal space
- Are clumsy and uncoordinated
- Fidget and squirm constantly
Children diagnosed with autism often exhibit SPD. Since SPD deals with the perception of the world through the senses, the majority of children on the autism spectrum find it difficult to manage their sensory input. Autistic children face challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication.
Occupational Therapy as Treatment
Occupational therapy (OT) is one way to help kids with autism and SPD. It deals with helping children go about their daily activities through exercises, activities, strategies, and accommodations helping them develop the skills they need to be more independent.
Occupational therapy uses sensory gyms where children can play in, swinging and crashing onto bean bags as they process what their senses are picking up on. OT allows them to develop gross motor skills, fine motor skills, coordination, visual skills and self-help skills through a variety of fun activities that catches their attention.
OT methods differ, depending on the needs of the child. It focuses on what skills need refining and what areas need the most development. For kids with SPD, occupational therapy lets them process the information through their senses on a step by step process where they aren’t overwhelmed or underwhelmed.
Life for children with SPD may be different from most children without it, but don’t let this condition hinder your child from having fun. Learning about his condition early helps you and your child adjust to his wants and needs so you’re well-equipped as he grows older.
