Sensory issues occur
when a child has a difficult time receiving and responding to information from their senses
. Children who have sensory issues may have an aversion to anything that triggers their senses, such as light, sound, touch, taste, or smell.
What are the different types of sensory issues?
- Visual/Sight.
- Tactile/Touch.
- Olfactory/Smell.
- Auditory/Sound.
- Gustatory/Taste.
- Vestibular/Body Movements.
- Proprioception/Body Awareness.
Can you have sensory issues and not be autistic?
Fact: Having sensory processing issues
isn’t the same thing as having autism
spectrum disorder. But sensory challenges are often a key symptom of autism. There are overlapping symptoms between autism and learning and thinking differences, and some kids have both.
Do sensory issues come with anxiety?
Sensory overload and anxiety are
mental health conditions
that are deeply related to one another. When a person feels anxious or already overwhelmed, they may be more prone to experiencing sensory overload in certain situations. Likewise, experiencing sensory overload can make you feel a sense of anxiety.
What are the signs of sensory issues?
- Think clothing feels too scratchy or itchy.
- Think lights seem too bright.
- Think sounds seem too loud.
- Think soft touches feel too hard.
- Experience food textures make them gag.
- Have poor balance or seem clumsy.
- Are afraid to play on the swings.
What are the 3 patterns of sensory processing disorders?
- Pattern 1: Sensory modulation disorder. The affected person has difficulty in responding to sensory stimuli. …
- Pattern 2: Sensory-based motor disorder. …
- Pattern 3: Sensory discrimination disorder (SDD).
How do I know if my child has sensory issues?
If your child has a hard time gathering and interpreting those sensory inputs, they may show signs of sensory issues. These may include
difficulty with balance and coordination
, screaming, or being aggressive when wanting attention, and jumping up and down frequently.
What are the 8 sensory systems?
- Visual.
- Auditory.
- Olfactory (smell) System.
- Gustatory (taste) System.
- Tactile System.
- Tactile System (see above)
- Vestibular (sense of head movement in space) System.
- Proprioceptive (sensations from muscles and joints of body) System.
What is sensory seeking behavior?
Sensory seeking behaviors typically include
poor balance, coordination, and awareness of their body in space
. Kids with sensory challenges also have decreased awareness of vestibular and/or proprioceptive input.
Who treats sensory processing disorder?
SPD treatment often means working with
an occupational therapist
on activities that help retrain the senses. Many therapists use a sensory integration (OT-SI) approach that begins in a controlled, stimulating environment, and focuses on making SPD easier to manage in day-to-day life.
Do sensory issues get worse with age?
Can it become worse as one ages?
SPD becomes worse with injuries
and when with normal aging as the body begins to become less efficient.
Are you born with sensory processing disorder?
Preliminary research suggests that SPD is often
inherited
. If so, the causes of SPD are coded into the child’s genetic material. Prenatal and birth complications have also been implicated, and environmental factors may be involved.
Is sensory processing disorder considered special needs?
While SPD may affect the child’s auditory, visual, and motor skills, and the ability to process and sequence information, it
is not
, at present, specifically identified as a qualifying disability, making a child eligible for special education and related services.
What it feels like to have SPD?
If you are hypersensitive to the point that it interferes with your functioning
, you may have SPD. Many adults describe the feeling as being assaulted, attacked, or invaded by everyday experiences. They are bothered by sounds or textures that most people don’t hear or feel.
How do you calm a child with sensory overload?
Close a door, turn off lights, put a crying baby to sleep, etc.
Teach age-appropriate meditation and self-calming techniques
. Deep breathing, yoga, and mindfulness help people of all ages manage stress and anxiety by calming the sympathetic nervous system, lowering blood pressure, and reducing reactiveness to stimuli.
What is sensory overload a symptom of?
Sensory overload can happen to anyone, but it is more common in autistic people and people with ADHD, PTSD, and certain other conditions. It causes feelings of
discomfort
and being overwhelmed. Moving away from sources of sensory input, such as loud sounds or strong smells, can reduce these feelings.
