Sensory processing is how your nervous system receives, organizes, interprets, and responds to the information your 8 senses take in from the environment. We all do this daily; however, when the brain struggles to receive, organize, and interpret these signals, difficulties can arise and show up as processing challenges.
It is not always a direct link with an autistic diagnosis, as many people have been led to believe. While 90% to 15% (or more) of autistic individuals experience sensory issues, SPD also occurs independently or alongside other conditions like ADHD and anxiety. Many processing issues can be masked throughout the day or accommodated. However, when it starts to affect school, friends, family, and interpersonal connections, we need to seek additional sources to help them through the day.
So what types of Sensory Issues can your child be experiencing, and how can you read the signals and offer them some help?
There are three types of reactions your child may have; they are:
- Hypersensitivity: Over-responding to everyday sounds, bright lights, or clothing tags.
- Hyposensitivity: Under-responding to input, leading to a need for extra sensory stimulation.
- Sensory-based motor challenges: Difficulty with balance, coordination, or body awareness.
Some ways one may be experiencing an over-sensitivity in their environment can present as
- Overreacting – Reacting to loud noises, bright lights, or sudden movements.
- Annoyance/Dislike – Lack of tolerance for certain clothing tags, seams, or fabric textures.
- Choking/Gagging – Refusing food because of specific textures and smells.
- Emotional Overload – Feeling overwhelmed in crowded or noisy places.
Some ways one may be experiencing an under-sensitivity in their environment can present as
- Seeming clumsy, uncoordinated, or having poor balance.
- Failing to notice extreme temperatures or pain.
- Struggling to recognize personal space or internal cues like hunger.
- Appearing sluggish or slow to respond to surroundings.
Some ways one may be experiencing sensory-seeking in their environment can present as
- Constantly touching objects, walls, or other people.
- Bumping into things, crashing, or craving fast/high movement like spinning or jumping.
- Making loud noises or talking loudly.
- Fidgeting heavily or seeming unable to sit still.
If you notice some of these reactions in your child, you may be able to help control or create several areas to make their days smoother.
First, you may want to try and create sensory-friendly spaces. Some families can set up a crash zone. They use large pillows, like old couch cushions, or a small indoor trampoline for jumping and tumbling safely. Within this area, or in another space, they also designate a specific area for their child to calm down. This quiet area has low lighting and soft seating so your child can retreat during sensory overload. Having both places helps them see that there are times and places to get their energy out when needed, as well as places to reorganize and calm down.
Second, you can use many everyday activities and exercises to help them reorganize their system when they become overloaded and overstimulated. At home, families can incorporate heavy work activities like pushing a laundry basket full of toys, doing animal walks, or helping to rake leaves, shovel snow, and even carry groceries to build body awareness. Tactile activities like making or playing play dough or slime and using sensory bins filled with rice or beans help them get used to different textures; for children who tend to chew on clothes or pencils, chewy necklaces or crunchy snacks can help regulate their oral motor skills.
Lastly, it has been proven that when there are established, predictable routines, many children and teens, not just those struggling with processing issues, excel. Some ways this can help your child and the whole household include using visual schedules that show the steps of daily tasks like bedtime or meals with pictures and timers. Also, keep tools like noise-canceling headphones and fidget toys handy for transitions or loud environments. Reducing clutter, especially in their room, and dimming bright lights can help prevent visual fatigue.
Need more guidance and help? At the Sensory Stepping Stones clinic, we provide a thorough assessment of each individual to determine which processing areas may be struggling. We can then offer many solutions for home, school, and in therapy to help address these issues. Want to know more? Sign up for your Free Consultation today!
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Melissa Bianchini is a licensed clinical social worker in New York and the owner and executive director at Sensory Stepping Stones, LLC. Her career has spanned over 20 years working with children and families around neurological processing concerns, stress-related trauma, and anxiety. Her passion in life is to make a difference in the lives of kids and families that she works with. It has led her spirit to create a facility that facilitates a holistic approach to overall health, wellness, and processing development for those 3 through 93 years young! To unwind and reconnect, Melissa enjoys spending time at home with her husband, Damian, and her dogs and cats, exercising, eating chocolate (of course!), and doing anything that involves nature!
