OUR Creatures

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We have included an excerpt from an article written by Understood For All Inc to raise awareness of SPD - Sensory Processing Disorder. Some parents, and adults in general, may not be aware that these challenges exist, but they are very real and affect many children on a universal scale. 

In some people, the brain has trouble organizing and responding to information from the senses. Certain sounds, sights, smells, textures, and tastes can create a feeling of “sensory overload.” Bright or flickering lights, loud noises, certain textures of food, and scratchy clothing are just some of the triggers that can make kids feel overwhelmed and upset.There are two types of sensory processing challenges, and many kids experience a mix of the two. One is oversensitivity (hypersensitivity). This leads to sensory avoiding—kids avoid sensory input because it’s too overwhelming. The other is undersensitivity (hyposensitivity). This causes kids to be sensory seeking—they look for more sensory stimulation.Often, kids with sensory processing issues are oversensitive. They try to avoid sensations they find intolerable.But some kids seek more sensory input, not less. They may want to touch things and feel physical contact and pressure. They may also be undersensitive to pain and have an unusually high tolerance for it. That’s why they may prefer playing rough and not understand if they’re hurting someone.Some kids may be both sensory avoiding and sensory seeking. They may be oversensitive to some sensations, and undersensitive to others. A child’s reactions can also change from one day to the next, or even throughout the day, depending on the environment or situation.Sensory processing issues aren’t a specific learning disability. But they can still have a large impact on learning.

Sensory Processing Issues Signs and Symptoms

What you or your child’s teacher might see depends on two things. The first is the trigger—the sensory input that’s overwhelming your child. The second is the type of sensory processing challenge your child has.

Sensory Avoiding

Kids who are sensory avoiding may react to a wide range of triggers. These can include loud sounds, uncomfortable clothing, crowded spaces, or certain food smells or textures, among others. Whatever the trigger, the reaction can sometimes be extreme.Sensory overload can lead to sensory meltdowns. These are very different from tantrums because they’re out of the child’s control.Here are some other signs you might see in your child:

• Is easily overwhelmed by people and places
• Seeks out quiet spots in noisy, crowded environments
• Is easily startled by sudden noises
• Is bothered by bright light
• Refuses to wear itchy or otherwise uncomfortable clothing
• Avoids touching people or hugging them
• Has a strong reaction to the texture or smell of certain foods
• Refuses to try new foods and has a very limited diet of preferred foods
• Gets upset about small changes in routine or environment and avoids trying new things

Sensory information isn’t limited to the traditional five senses: sight, smell, taste, touch, and sound. Interoception is a lesser-known sense that helps you understand and feel what’s going on in your body. Kids who have trouble with it may have a harder time with toilet training or have an unexpected threshold for pain. Two other senses, body awareness (proprioception) and spatial orientation (the vestibular sense), can also affect kids with sensory issues. Sensory avoiding kids may have trouble knowing where their body is in relation to other kids or their environment. Or they may be wary about using playground equipment like the swings.

Sensory Seeking

Kids who are undersensitive to sensory input have the opposite situation. They often have a need for movement. And they may seek out input like spicy or sour tastes and physical contact and pressure. Here are some other signs you might see in your child at different ages:

• Constantly touches objects
• Plays roughly and takes physical risks
• Has a high tolerance for pain
• Often squirms and fidgets
• Is constantly on the move
• Invades other people’s personal space
• Often gets distracted or feels anxious
• Is clumsy and uncoordinated

Keep in mind that kids aren’t always one or the other. Some kids may be sensory seeking in certain situations and sensory avoiding in others, depending on how that child is coping or self-regulating at the time. That’s why it’s so important to observe your child’s reactions and to try to anticipate what triggers them.

For more information please visit Understood.org