Sensory Processing
Disorders |
Understanding The
Importances of Early
Intervention
Sensory Processing Disorders | Understanding The Importances of Early Intervention
The term “sensory processing disorder” has been around a while. It’s possible that you’ve heard the term “sensory disorder” in relation to a child lately. Perhaps you’re aware of someone who claims their kid has a sensory condition or sensory integration disorder, but what exactly is it?
Let’s start with defining the different types of sensory input. We all know about the 5 senses that we are taught about in elementary school:
Our sense of sight or how we see things come through our eyes
Our sense of sound or how we hear things come through our ears
Our sense of smell comes through our nose
Our sense of taste comes through our mouthOur sense of touch or how we feel things is transmitted through our skin
In addition to these 5 well-known senses, there are other ways our body receives input as well:
The vestibular sense, which is how our body processes movement and movement detection, comes from the inner ear.
Our proprioceptive sense, which allows us to tell where our body parts are in terms of force used during activities, is received through the inner ear and receptors in joints throughout the body.
Interoception is recognizing and understanding internal feelings in our body such as the ability to know when you are hungry, know when you feel hot or cold
Our five senses allow our bodies to comprehend and interact with the world around us. Most individuals are capable of determining which feelings are essential and can ignore those that aren’t. My vision, for example, can focus on the words on the screen while ignoring the fan noise overhead since it has no bearing on my current activity at this moment.
However, for people who have a sensory problem, their bodies do not react to the stimuli in a typical manner. They may be oversensitive to the feeling of hypersensitivity, under reactive to the sensation of hyposensitivity, or seek out various types of sensation (sensory seeking). The following are just a few examples of sensory abnormalities;
Sense of Sight
Hypersensitive – frequently covers eyes in bright lights, prefers solid colors over patterns
Hyposensitive – does not react to fast-paced light changes (strobe lights)
Sensory Seeker – will look directly into bright lights, seeks out bright patterns with contrasting colors
Sound
Hypersensitive – will cover ears at sounds that others don’t perceive as loud, startles easily with sounds, avoids loud sounds
Hyposensitive – does not respond to loud sounds such as a fire alarm
Sensory Seeker – will place objects that make noise right next to their ears, will throw objects to hear the sound it makes when it hits the floor
Smell
Hypersensitive – gags at the smell of foods, makes faces when smells are present
Hyposensitive – doesn’t respond to extreme smells
Sensory Seeker – will repeatedly bring things to their nose to smell them
Taste
Hypersensitive – will only eat bland flavors, eats a limited number of foods
Hyposensitive – can eat strong flavors and hot foods with no reaction
Sensory Seeker – prefers strong flavors such as sour things and extreme spicy foods
Touch
Hypersensitive – will only wear specific types of clothing, doesn’t like to be touched
Hyposensitive – shows no reaction to abrasive textures
Sensory Seeker – wants to touch different types of textures
Vestibular
Hypersensitive – doesn’t like extreme movements, doesn’t like climbing or swinging at the playground
Hyposensitive – can spin in circles without getting dizzy
Sensory Seeker – likes to climb, jump, and spin on things
Proprioceptive
Hypersensitive – appears to be clumsy when moving, may be a picky eater because certain foods require coordinated and forceful chewing
Hyposensitive – poor body awareness, may sit in uncomfortable position for extended periods of time without readjusting self
Sensory Seeker – purposefully bumps into things, walks touching the sides of walls, constantly leaning on things
Interception
Hypersensitive – overeats because they constantly feel hungry, always feels hot or cold
Hyposensitive – struggles with potty training because they can’t recognize when they need to go
Sensory Seeker – holds their bladder too long because they like the feeling of a full bladder
Conclusion
Sensory processing difficulties can affect any one or a combination of senses. Despite the fact that these processing disorders may have an impact on daily life, there is hope. Working with an occupational therapist to determine specific sensitive spots and develop a strategy to address them might assist.
Creating a plan specific to each child’s needs can help to teach the brain the proper way to process sensory inputs or help identify ways to change daily routines to decrease sensory-based meltdowns.
If you feel like you could use some assistance in this area, sign up for a consultation today, we would be happy to help!
Discover out how easy it is to get started with Sensory Solutions Therapy by scheduling your initial phone consult.
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The term “sensory processing disorder” has been around a while. It’s possible that you’ve heard the term “sensory disorder” in relation to a child lately. Perhaps you’re aware of someone who claims their kid has a sensory condition or sensory integration disorder, but what exactly is it?
Let’s start with defining the different types of sensory input. We all know about the 5 senses that we are taught about in elementary school:
Our sense of sight or how we see things come through our eyes
Our sense of sound or how we hear things come through our ears
Our sense of smell comes through our nose
Our sense of taste comes through our mouthOur sense of touch or how we feel things is transmitted through our skin
In addition to these 5 well-known senses, there are other ways our body receives input as well:
The vestibular sense, which is how our body processes movement and movement detection, comes from the inner ear.
Our proprioceptive sense, which allows us to tell where our body parts are in terms of force used during activities, is received through the inner ear and receptors in joints throughout the body.
Interoception is recognizing and understanding internal feelings in our body such as the ability to know when you are hungry, know when you feel hot or cold
Our five senses allow our bodies to comprehend and interact with the world around us. Most individuals are capable of determining which feelings are essential and can ignore those that aren’t. My vision, for example, can focus on the words on the screen while ignoring the fan noise overhead since it has no bearing on my current activity at this moment.
However, for people who have a sensory problem, their bodies do not react to the stimuli in a typical manner. They may be oversensitive to the feeling of hypersensitivity, under reactive to the sensation of hyposensitivity, or seek out various types of sensation (sensory seeking). The following are just a few examples of sensory abnormalities;
Sense of Sight
Hypersensitive – frequently covers eyes in bright lights, prefers solid colors over patterns
Hyposensitive – does not react to fast-paced light changes (strobe lights)
Sensory Seeker – will look directly into bright lights, seeks out bright patterns with contrasting colors
Sound
Hypersensitive – will cover ears at sounds that others don’t perceive as loud, startles easily with sounds, avoids loud sounds
Hyposensitive – does not respond to loud sounds such as a fire alarm
Sensory Seeker – will place objects that make noise right next to their ears, will throw objects to hear the sound it makes when it hits the floor
Smell
Hypersensitive – gags at the smell of foods, makes faces when smells are present
Hyposensitive – doesn’t respond to extreme smells
Sensory Seeker – will repeatedly bring things to their nose to smell them
Taste
Hypersensitive – will only eat bland flavors, eats a limited number of foods
Hyposensitive – can eat strong flavors and hot foods with no reaction
Sensory Seeker – prefers strong flavors such as sour things and extreme spicy foods
Touch
Hypersensitive – will only wear specific types of clothing, doesn’t like to be touched
Hyposensitive – shows no reaction to abrasive textures
Sensory Seeker – wants to touch different types of textures
Vestibular
Hypersensitive – doesn’t like extreme movements, doesn’t like climbing or swinging at the playground
Hyposensitive – can spin in circles without getting dizzy
Sensory Seeker – likes to climb, jump, and spin on things
Proprioceptive
Hypersensitive – appears to be clumsy when moving, may be a picky eater because certain foods require coordinated and forceful chewing
Hyposensitive – poor body awareness, may sit in uncomfortable position for extended periods of time without readjusting self
Sensory Seeker – purposefully bumps into things, walks touching the sides of walls, constantly leaning on things
Interception
Hypersensitive – overeats because they constantly feel hungry, always feels hot or cold
Hyposensitive – struggles with potty training because they can’t recognize when they need to go
Sensory Seeker – holds their bladder too long because they like the feeling of a full bladder
Conclusion
Sensory processing difficulties can affect any one or a combination of senses. Despite the fact that these processing disorders may have an impact on daily life, there is hope. Working with an occupational therapist to determine specific sensitive spots and develop a strategy to address them might assist.
Creating a plan specific to each child’s needs can help to teach the brain the proper way to process sensory inputs or help identify ways to change daily routines to decrease sensory-based meltdowns.
If you feel like you could use some assistance in this area, sign up for a consultation today, we would be happy to help!
Discover out how easy it is to get started with Sensory Solutions Therapy by scheduling your initial phone consult.