Sensory

Processing
Difficulty
What is Sensory Processing
Difficulty?
● Sensory processing disorder (SPD) is a condition that
affects how your brain processes sensory information
(stimuli). Sensory information includes things you see,
hear, smell, taste, or touch. SPD can affect all of your
senses, or just one. 

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What is Sensory Processing
Difficulty?
● SPD usually means you’re overly sensitive to stimuli
that other people are not. But the disorder can cause
the opposite effect, too. In these cases, it takes more
stimuli to impact you.

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What is Sensory Processing
Difficulty?
● Children are more likely than adults to have SPD. But
adults can have symptoms, too. In adults, it’s likely
these symptoms have existed since childhood.
However, the adults have developed ways to deal with
SPD that let them hide the disorder from others.

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Symptoms
Of Sensory
Processing
Disorder
 SPD can affect one sense or multiple senses.
 Children who have SPD may overreact to sounds, clothing, and food
textures. Or they may underreact to sensory input.
 This causes them to crave more intense thrill-seeking stimuli. Some
examples include jumping off tall things or swinging too high on the
playground.
 Also, children with SPD are not always just one or the other. They can
be a mixture of oversensitive and under-sensitive.

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Children may be oversensitive if they:
● Think clothing feels too scratchy or itchy.
● Think lights seem too bright.
● Think sounds seem too loud.
● Think soft touches feel too hard.

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Children may be oversensitive if they:
● Experience food textures make them gag.
● Have poor balance or seem clumsy.
● Are afraid to play on the swings.
● React poorly to sudden movements, touches, loud
noises, or bright lights.
● Have behavior problems.

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Sometimes these symptoms are
linked to poor motor skills as well.
Your child may have trouble holding
a pencil or scissors. He or she may
have trouble climbing stairs or have
low muscle tone. He or she also may
have language delays.

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In an older children, these symptoms may
cause low self-confidence. They may lead
to social isolation and even depression.

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Children may be under-sensitive (sensory-
seeking) if they:
● Can’t sit still ● Seek thrills (loves ● Can spin without
jumping, heights, getting dizzy.
and spinning).

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Children may be under-sensitive (sensory-
seeking) if they:
● Don’t pick up on ● Don’t recognize ● Chew on things
social cues. personal space. (including their
hands and
clothing).

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Children may be under-sensitive (sensory-
seeking) if they:
● Seek visual ● Have problems ● Don’t recognize
stimulation (like sleeping. when their face is
electronics). dirty or nose is
running.

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What causes
sensory
processing
disorder?

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Doctors don’t know what causes SPD.
They’re exploring a genetic link, which
means it could run in families. Some
doctors believe there could be a link
between autism and SPD. This could mean
that adults who have autism could be more
likely to have children who have SPD. But
it’s important to note that most people
who have SPD don’t have autism.

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How Is Sensory Processing Disorder
Diagnosed?

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 Parents may recognize their child’s behavior is not typical. But
most parents may not know why.
 Don’t be afraid to discuss your child’s behavior with your doctor.
He or she may refer you to an occupational therapist. These
professionals can assess your child for SPD.
 He or she will likely watch your child interact in certain
situations.
 The therapist will ask your child question. All of these things will
help make a diagnosis.

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SENSORY PROCESSING
DISORDER TREATMENT

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 Treatment is usually done through therapy.
Research shows that starting therapy early is key
for treating SPD. Therapy can help children learn
how to manage their challenges.

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 Therapy sessions are led by a trained therapist.
He or she will help you and your child learn how
to cope with the disorder. Sessions are based on
if your child is oversensitive, under-sensitive, or
a combination of both.

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 There are different types of therapy:

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This type of therapy uses fun activities
in a controlled environment. With the
therapist, your child experiences stimuli Sensory
without feeling overwhelmed. He or she Integration
can develop coping skills for dealing
with that stimuli. Through this therapy,
Therapy (SI).
these coping skills can become a regular,
everyday response to stimuli.

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Many times, a sensory diet will
supplement other SPD therapies. A
sensory diet isn’t your typical food diet.
It’s a list of sensory activities for home Sensory Diet
and school. These activities are designed
to help your child stay focused and
organized during the day. Like SI, a
sensory diet is customized based on your
child’s needs.

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A sensory diet at school might include:
● A time every hour when your child could
go for a 10-minute walk.
● A time twice a day when your child could
swing for 10 minutes. Sensory Diet
● Access to in-class headphones so your
child can listen to music while working.
● Access to fidget toys.
● Access to a desk chair bungee cord. This
gives your child a way to move his or her
legs while sitting in the classroom minutes.

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Your child also may need this therapy
to help with other symptoms related
to SPD. It can help with fine motor
skills, such as handwriting and using Occupational
scissors. It also can help with gross therapy.
motor skills, such as climbing stairs
and throwing a ball. It can teach
everyday skills, such as getting
dressed and how to use utensils.

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