Sensory Processing Disorder: What's That?

As a child, I hated walking in the grass. It felt like needles on my feet, my legs, my hands. Today, I can tolerate it. It still hurts; but I tolerate it. All of us have "quirks" that bother and annoy us. Maybe its a loud toilet flushing or the feel of chalk. Some children feel, smell, taste, hear, and see everything WAY too much.

This month, Parent's magazine has done it again with a comprehensive article, "Kids Who Feel Too Much"; an article featuring Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). Although SPD is not recognized as a medical diagnosis, ask any parent of a child experiencing SPD and they will tell you just how real it is.

Sensory Processing Disorder affects the way a child's brain processes messages sent to his body. This causes signals to be very severely misinterpreted or just slightly. A child may be tapped on the shoulder and his brain could tell him that he was hit, or not even register the touch at all. Many children with SPD have times of both over and under sensitivity; therefore, behaviors are hard to predict.

One of the biggest markers of SPD manifests as extreme behaviors; therefore,  many children suffering from SPD are mis-diagnoised with Autism. Another mis-diagnosis, Attention Deficit Disorder, stems from a continual need to stimulate the sensory system by moving muscles. The child looks too busy and over-reactive. 

Children with SPD typically have strong transitioning objections. It takes the child much longer to become comfortable in a new task so they’d just assume continue with the task they have already learned to handle. When asked to move to a new task, with new people, the child feels out of control and demonstrates objective behaviors. 

Children with SPD may appear clumsy, aggressive, hyperactive, or anti-social. They may love swinging, but hate the feel of squishy play bugs, etc.. However, it is important for these children to learn fine motor tasks in order to develop the coordination it takes to cut, hold a pencil, and eventually write.

Symptoms:

1)Sincerely bothered by certain sensations (hair cutting, loud noises, messy hands, walking barefoot on grass/sand, hugs, tags on clothing, etc…).

2) Does not seem to notice being touched. Prefers “quiet” play, may not seem to feel heat/cold/pain/hunger.

3) Uses too much or too little force with a pencil or when touching someone.

4) Passive, quiet, to respond to directions

5) Overly careful and fearful of new activities/group activities

6) May love spinning or swinging (more than typical)

7) Accident prone; may not be coordinated with learning new motor skills.

9) May have significant eating difficulties or aversions to certain “types” of foods (mushy, crunchy, etc.).

10) May have a language delay (generally will avoid contact with other kids due to unpredictability and dislike of being touched).

Treatment consists of practicing a variety of sensory activities at once to train the sensory system to handle sensory input and build positive neural connections with appropriate responses to the information coming in.

The goal is for the connections to become automatic.

Unfortunately, many insurances do not recognize SPD as a medical diagnosis; therefore, the child will need to receive related services (feeding, ADHD, etc.). Children with SPD may also need to be accommodated in school (wiggle seats, something to feel or fidget with at seat).

If you have a concern about a child in your life who may be suffering from SPD,  contact a child development specialist in your area.