What is sensory processing disorder in kids? It is a condition that affects how children respond to sensory information. Kids with sensory processing disorder may feel overwhelmed by sounds, textures, or even movements. This can make daily activities very hard for them.
Parents often notice signs like avoiding certain textures or loud sounds. Sometimes, kids might seem extra active or unusually quiet. Understanding these signs is the first step to helping your child.
In this article, we will explain the symptoms, causes, and solutions for sensory processing disorders in kids. We will also share expert insights and tips for parents.
With the right knowledge and strategies, you can help your child feel comfortable and confident every day as well as not panic anytime someone asks you about ‘What is sensory processing disorder in kids?’
What Is Sensory Processing Disorder in Kids?
Sensory processing disorder (SPD) refers to a condition where the brain struggles to process sensory information, such as sights, sounds, smells, tastes, or touch. It can affect one sense or multiple senses. Most often, SPD causes heightened sensitivity to stimuli that others may not notice.
SPD is more commonly observed in children than in adults. However, adults with SPD often exhibit symptoms they’ve had since childhood. Over time, many adults develop coping mechanisms to mask their condition.
There is ongoing debate within the medical community about whether SPD qualifies as a standalone disorder. Some physicians argue it reflects typical childhood behavior or heightened sensitivity.
Others believe SPD may be a symptom of conditions like autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or anxiety, rather than a distinct diagnosis.
Yet, some professionals recognize SPD as a condition requiring attention, even though it isn’t formally recognized as a medical diagnosis. Regardless, SPD can help identify individuals who need extra support.
Sensory processing challenges often become noticeable during toddlerhood. Parents might observe aversions to loud sounds, bright lights, tight shoes, or scratchy clothes. Other signs include clumsiness, difficulty climbing stairs, and struggles with fine motor tasks like using a pencil or fastening buttons.
Although parents often label these challenges as SPD, the disorder isn’t officially recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM). Children with sensory processing difficulties can display puzzling behaviors, such as reacting intensely to loud noises, bright lights, or wet clothing. Some struggle with motor skills or show extreme reactions like screaming when their face gets wet.
These behaviors occur because the child has difficulty interpreting sensory input. Besides the five traditional senses, two internal senses help us understand body movement and spatial awareness.
If you suspect your child has sensory challenges, consider using a sensory checklist. This tool can help identify patterns in how they respond to different stimuli. Understanding the cause of these behaviors can provide relief and guidance for both children and parents.
Signs and Symptoms of Sensory Processing Disorder
Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) can impact one or several senses. Children with SPD may either overreact or underreact to sensory stimuli. Those who are oversensitive might struggle with sounds, and textures in clothing, or food textures, while those who are under-sensitive often crave intense and thrilling activities.
For example, they may enjoy jumping from tall structures or swinging very high on playgrounds. It’s important to note that a child with SPD can display both oversensitivity and under-sensitivity, depending on the situation.
Signs of Oversensitivity:
Children who are oversensitive might:
- Feel clothes are too scratchy or irritating.
- Find lights overly bright.
- Perceive sounds as too loud.
- Feel that light touches are too rough or painful.
- Gag on certain food textures.
- Struggle with balance or seem uncoordinated.
- Be fearful of swings and playground equipment.
- React strongly to sudden noises, bright lights, or unexpected touches.
- Show signs of behavioral challenges.
- Screaming if their faces get wet
- Throwing tantrums when you try to get them dressed.
- Crashing into walls and even people
These symptoms may also accompany difficulties with motor skills. For instance, a child might struggle to hold pencils or scissors, climb stairs, or maintain muscle tone. In some cases, speech or language delays are also present.
For older children, these challenges can affect their self-esteem. Over time, this might lead to feelings of isolation or even depression.
Signs of Under-Sensitivity (Sensory-Seeking):
Children who are under-sensitive may:
- Struggle to stay seated or still.
- Crave thrilling activities like jumping, climbing, or spinning.
- Spin without becoming dizzy.
- Having an unusually high or low pain threshold.
- Miss social cues in interactions.
- Have difficulty respecting personal boundaries.
- Chew on objects, including their clothing or hands.
- Seek out visual input, such as screens or electronics.
- Experience issues with sleep.
- Fail to notice when their face is dirty or their nose is running.
Recognizing these symptoms is key to understanding how SPD manifests and helping children receive appropriate support. These symptoms and other unusual behaviors may indicate sensory processing challenges — trouble processing information from the senses, which can overwhelm children and lead to confusing actions.
Sensory processing difficulties are now recognized as a symptom of autism, as most individuals on the autism spectrum experience significant sensory issues.
However, sensory problems are not exclusive to autism. They can also be seen in children with ADHD, OCD, or other developmental delays, or even in children with no additional diagnoses.
What Causes Sensory Processing Disorder?
The exact cause of SPD remains unknown. However, researchers are investigating a possible genetic link, which suggests it may run in families. Some experts believe there could be a connection between autism and SPD, meaning adults with autism might be more likely to have children with SPD. It’s essential to understand that many individuals with SPD do not have autism.
Dramatic mood shifts and outbursts
One of the first things parents often notice is unusual behaviors and dramatic mood swings, which can range from strange to distressing. These reactions are usually triggered by environmental changes — a sudden and unexplained shift in the child’s behavior.
For example, a first-grader might manage well in a calm, quiet setting with an adult. However, take that child to a bustling grocery store filled with overwhelming visual and auditory stimuli, and an extreme tantrum might ensue, which can be frightening for both the child and the parent.
“These kids’ tantrums are incredibly intense, prolonged, and nearly impossible to stop once they begin. You just can’t ignore them,” says Nancy Peske, whose son Cole has sensory challenges. Peske coauthored Raising a Sensory Smart Child with occupational therapist Lindsey Biel, who worked with Cole.
Fight-or-flight reaction
Another common response to overwhelming stimuli is to flee. If a child runs across a playground or parking lot without regard for the danger, Peske explains that this could signal that the child is attempting to escape from something upsetting—even if it’s not obvious to others—or heading toward a place or sensation that calms them.
Sometimes, children may act aggressively when overloaded, which Peske describes as a neurological “panic” response to everyday sensations most people take for granted.
Some children with autism are also known to wander towards water, which can be dangerous. One theory is that water offers the sensory input they crave due to their sensory issues.
“Not all sensory-sensitive children do this,” says Peske, “but many are drawn to the sensations and environments they find soothing or stimulating. Their self-regulation skills may be poor, so their need for sensory input can override safety concerns.”
Children, teens, and adults with sensory challenges may experience either hypersensitivity (over-sensitivity) or hyposensitivity (under-sensitivity).
Understanding Sensory Processing Issues
Sensory processing issues were first identified by occupational therapist A. Jean Ayres in the 1970s.
Dr. Ayres introduced the concept that some individuals’ brains cannot do what most people take for granted — process the sensory information from seven senses, not just the traditional five, to create an accurate understanding of what’s happening internally and externally.
In addition to the five traditional senses (touch, hearing, taste, smell, and sight), Dr. Ayres also included “internal” senses: body awareness (proprioception) and movement (vestibular).
When the brain struggles to integrate this information simultaneously, Peske compares it to a traffic jam in the brain, where conflicting signals from all directions leave the individual unable to make sense of it all.
What are the “extra” senses in Dr. Ayres’ work?
The internal senses
Proprioception is the sense that provides awareness of body position and movement through receptors in joints and ligaments. This system helps with motor control and posture. Children who are hyposensitive to proprioception often seek input through activities like jumping, crashing, or deep pressure, such as tight hugs.
Hypersensitive children may struggle with knowing where their body is in space, leading to clumsiness or accidents. They might find tasks like erasing a mistake too forceful or struggle with physical tasks because they cannot gauge the amount of pressure needed.
The vestibular system, found in the inner ear, helps the brain understand where the body is concerning space by providing information about movement and head position. This system is crucial for balance and coordination.
Children with hyposensitivity in this area may constantly seek movement, enjoying fast, spinning, or intense activities, such as jumping on furniture or being tossed in the air.
Hypersensitive children might fear activities that require balance, like climbing, biking, or standing on one foot, especially with their eyes closed. They may also seem clumsy.
A Sensory Checklist
To assist parents in identifying sensory processing issues, Peske and Biel have developed a detailed checklist that covers responses to different types of sensory input. This includes reactions to simple things like walking barefoot or smelling non-food items, as well as motor skills challenges like using scissors (fine motor) or catching a ball (gross motor).
For infants and toddlers, signs may include resistance to cuddling or even arching away when being held, which could indicate sensitivity to touch. By the preschool years, children may show anxiety that manifests in frequent or intense tantrums.
Grade-schoolers with hyposensitivity might exhibit behaviors like hyperactivity, not because they’re overly energetic, but because they are seeking sensory input. On the other hand, those with hypersensitivity may avoid certain tasks, such as brushing their teeth or getting their face painted.
Additionally, children can exhibit both seeking and avoiding behaviors, and face challenges with proprioception, vestibular senses, and the traditional senses.
Misunderstood Behavior
Peske sums up the impact of sensory processing issues in children:
“If you’re oversensitive to specific sensations, you may feel anxious, irritable, angry, or fearful. Unfortunately, you may be labeled ‘picky’ or ‘over-sensitive.’ If you rush away because you’re overwhelmed and struggle to control your impulses, you may be seen as ‘impulsive.’ If your difficulty with body awareness and motor coordination causes you to appear clumsy, you’re often called ‘awkward.’ Your sensory struggles might distract you from other tasks, which could make you seem ‘immature’ or behind your peers.”
For many parents, understanding the cause behind otherwise baffling behaviors can be a huge relief. “When I explain sensory issues to parents, the typical response is ‘Oh my gosh, that’s it!’ They’ve spent months, sometimes years, trying to figure out what’s going on. Once they understand, the sense of relief is overwhelming,” says Peske.
How is Sensory Processing Disorder Diagnosed?
Parents often notice their child’s behavior seems unusual, but they may not understand the reason behind it. It’s important to discuss these behaviors with a doctor, who may refer you to an occupational therapist. The therapist will observe your child in different situations and ask questions to help make a diagnosis.
Can Sensory Processing Disorder Be Prevented or Avoided?
Currently, there is no way to prevent or avoid SPD because the cause remains unknown.
Sensory Processing Disorder Treatment
Therapy is the main form of treatment for SPD. Research suggests that starting therapy early is crucial for managing the disorder. Therapy helps children develop skills to handle their challenges.
Therapists lead therapy sessions, teaching both you and your child how to cope with SPD. The approach may vary based on whether your child is over-sensitive, under-sensitive, or has a mix of both.
Types of therapy include:
- Sensory integration therapy (SI): This therapy uses enjoyable activities in a controlled setting, helping your child experience different stimuli without feeling overwhelmed. Over time, they develop coping strategies that become automatic in response to stimuli.
- Sensory diet: Often used alongside other SPD therapies, a sensory diet isn’t related to food. Instead, it’s a set of activities designed to help your child stay focused and organized. These activities can be tailored to fit your child’s needs and might include:
- A 10-minute walk every hour
- A 10-minute swing session twice a day
- Access to headphones during class for listening to music
- Fidget toys and desk chair bungee cords for leg movement in class
- Occupational therapy: This therapy helps children with SPD address issues related to fine motor skills (e.g., handwriting, using scissors) and gross motor skills (e.g., climbing stairs, throwing a ball). It also teaches everyday skills like dressing and using utensils.
If your child has a sensory deficit like hearing loss, hearing aids might help. Consult your doctor about testing for hearing loss and available hearing aid options.
Check Your Insurance
Consult your health insurance representative to determine if therapy is covered. Often, insurance won’t pay for SPD-related therapies since SPD is not yet officially recognized as a medical condition.
Living with Sensory Processing Disorder
Living with SPD can be challenging. Parents may feel isolated, avoid public places to prevent sensory overload, or feel the need to excuse their child’s behavior. Adults with SPD may face similar difficulties, feeling restricted by sensory overload, which can impact their ability to perform daily tasks.
Adults dealing with SPD should work with an occupational therapist who can help them adjust their responses to stimuli. This may lead to more manageable situations and improve their quality of life.
Even though therapy or aging can lessen SPD symptoms, it may not completely disappear. Stressful events can sometimes trigger symptoms.
Adults with hearing loss should consult their doctor about hearing tests and available hearing aids.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
- How can I determine if I or my child has SPD?
- What should I do if I/my child has SPD?
- How can I help my young child enjoy the playground if they have SPD?
- Can my child lead a typical life?
- How will my child respond to specific stimuli?
- Will SPD improve as my child grows older?
- Are there any medications to treat SPD?
- Can you help me find out if my insurance covers therapy?
Conclusion
Sensory processing disorder in kids can seem confusing at first. However, with understanding and support, kids can overcome many challenges. Start by noticing your child’s unique needs and reactions. Then, use solutions like therapy, routines, and calming techniques.
Always celebrate small progress. Kids with sensory issues need encouragement to feel secure and happy. Talk to experts for extra support when needed.
We hope this guide about what is sensory processing disorder in kids helps you take the first step. Share this article with other parents. Together, we can create a better world for every child!