Sensory Processing Disorder

Jordan cries because his shoes are too tight or his socks are too scratchy; he hates the playground and the sand. Sarah doesn’t seem to know where she’s going and bumps into things; she’s tired all the time and mostly sits around at school. James is constantly fiddling with something, tapping his feet, or chewing his shirt; he wants to touch everything. Their extreme reactions to their environment could be signs of a sensory processing disorder.

What It Is: Sensory processing disorder is “the inability to use information received through the senses in order to function smoothly in daily life” (Kranowtiz, p. 9). Five percent (or 1 in 20) of all children may experience enough difficulty handling the information they receive through their senses (vision, hearing, touch, taste, smell, movement and body awareness) to affect their daily lives.

Children with a sensory processing disorder may

• Be over-sensitive to their surroundings (complain that lights are too bright or clothes are too scratchy, over-react to noise).
• Be under-responsive (tolerate unusual pain, don’t notice obstacles, are unaware of unpleasant smells).
• Crave more intense sensory experiences (like to play in mud, move constantly, like being squeezed hard).
• These children may also have trouble making friends or being part of a group
• They may seem clumsy, disruptive and out of control.
• Most of these children are not intellectually delayed, but their brains are wired differently.

Some but certainly not all children with a sensory processing disorder also have some form of autism and/or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

What You Can Do: There are lots of ideas for how to help a child with a sensory processing disorder. Not all suggested treatments or therapies have been proven to be effective.

However, all children, even those with normal sensory development, will benefit from activities that stimulate their senses, so children should have opportunities to do things that involve using all their senses. If children over or under-react to specific sensory stimuli, caregivers can individualize the activity and gently encourage the child to try new things that they might ordinarily avoid.

Resources

What Is Sensory Processing Disorder? New York Times. September 17, 2019. https://nyti.ms/2kOqPM1

 Sensory Processing Issues Explained. Child Mind Institute. http://bit.ly/2lndfiT

 Kids Who Feel Too Much. Parents. http://bit.ly/2mnNtvj

Sensory Processing Disorder: It’s Not… Something You Outgrow. STAR Institute. www.spdstar.org/node/1134

Contact

Programs and families can contact the program leadership directly at PAIECMH@pakeys.org with questions or concerns.

Additional Considerations

This project is supported by the Office of Child Development and Early Learning.