Do Small Things Seem To Bother Your Young Child?
For instance:
- Having a tantrum to take a bath
- Screaming when putting on clothes
- Exaggerating pain
- Clumsy and constantly walking into things
- Eats only the same food
( Scherer P. (2018) Is it Sensory Processing Disorder or ADHD?)
First you think its just bad behavior but then you think that maybe something else is going on?
Sensory Processing Issues are commonly misinterpreted for poor behavior.
With sensory processing issues a child may feel overwhelmed and disorganized or clumsy and have a high tolerance for pain.
According to Sensory Processing Challenges in Children, Crtitz, Blake, and Nogueira explain that sensory processing challenges can have a great impact on a child’s ability to learn, navigate in their environments, and their behaviors. Sensory processing issues are commonly seen with other diagnosis such as autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, although they can also be seen alone without a separate diagnosis. Identifying and acknowledging these issues are important for a child to function in their daily environments. Untreated sensory issues can guide confused, uncomfortable, and unorganized behaviors.
When is child feels overwhelmed and disorganized they tend to be over-responsive to the information their senses are receiving. An under-responsive child is lethargic, clumsy, and tends to have high tolerance for pain due to the information their senses are receiving.
What we feel, hear, taste, smell and see are our senses receiving input.
In addition to the 5 commonly known senses there are two more senses called our “internal senses”:
- touch
- hearing
- taste
- smell
- sight
- body awareness (proprioception) Our body awareness is knowing where your body parts are.
- vestibular (balance) Our vestibular sense is the connection between our brain and inner ear that control our balance and spatial orientation.
When a child feels over-responsive to a sensory input they are hypersensitive. In other words they want to avoid the sensory input they are receiving ( touch, taste, hear, smell, sight, body awareness, movement). When a child feels under-responsive to the sensory input they are hyposensitive. These children are generally seen as seekers for sensory input.
Being over-responsive or under-responsive to proprioceptive and/or vestibular input can affect a child’s motor skills.A child struggling with motor skills may appear clumsy, not enjoy physical activities that other kids typically like, constantly moving, or out of control.
Watch this video below of a young boy explaining how is body feels on a daily basis:
(Sensory processing issues is sometimes referred to as a Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), as it is currently in the processing in becoming an official diagnosis).
What bothers one kid may go unnoticed by another.
Being able to participate in every day activities is crucial for a child’s quality of life. Sensory processing issues can make it extremely challenging for a child to engage in the most important developmental activities, which are play and social interactions. Parents will struggle to have their child strive to develop accommodations to help their child survive and succeed in their activities. In the literature review Supporting Participation for Children With Sensory Processing Needs and Their Families: Community-Based action research. Silverman and Tyszka examine the effects of a community-based programs and sensory features. It was observed that in a community museum, there are many features that impact our senses. Such as unusual sounds, overwhelming visual information, movement from exhibit pieces, and the close proximity to others.
Now imagine all the other environments and situations that could feel overwhelming for your child?
Who Can Help?
An occupational therapist can determine if your child is having any sensory processing difficulties and can help to treat these challenges.
According to The American Occupational Therapy Association (2018), occupational therapist can be seen in multiple settings including home care, outpatient, and school. In some settings a physician referral is required. The occupational therapist will gather information from the parents, teachers, and any other crucial caregivers. They will perform an evaluation to determine if there are any sensory processing issues. With completion of the evaluation, the occupational therapist will then determine if services are necessary. If your child is eligible for occupational therapy services, the therapist will then create a treatment plan. Treatment plans vary depending on the child’s needs and setting.With simple tips and strategies your child may be able to participate in everyday tasks with more comfort and control.
The information provided on this blog is gathered from a combination of resources. Current media news, accredited scholarly journals and medical information all support the information. It was discovered that recent media news has been accurate in explaining sensory processing issues and effective treatment.
References:
The American Occupational Therapy Association (2018). Addressing Sensory Integration and Sensory Processing Disorders Across the Lifespan: The Role of Occupational Therapy.
A Child’s View of Sensory Processing (2012). Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1G5ssZlVUw
Crtitz C., Blake K. Nogueira E. (2015). Sensory Processing Challenges in Children. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners.
Scherer P. (2018) Is it Sensory Processing Disorder or ADHD?. New Hope Media LLC.
Silverman F., Tyszka A.C. (2017). Supporting Participation for Children With Sensory Processing Needs and Their Families: Community-Based action research. American Journal of Occupational Therapy
The Star Institute for Sensory Processing disorder (2018). What is SPD? Star Center Foundation.
Treating Children for Sensory Processing Disorder (2016). Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZuu0kInwp8