Sensory Processing Disorder or Sensory Integration Dysfunction

There are 5 senses, touch, taste, hearing, sight and smell. The child with Sensory Processing Disorder (previously called Sensory Integration Dysfunction) has some or all of these senses working too much or too little. You can frequently see them in a crowded room with their hands over their ears because they can’t bear the noise. They hear everyone individually and can’t tune in one person and tune out another and so they suffer from information overload.

The disorder rarely stands alone, a person will often suffer from another disability and have Sensory Processing Disorder as well. It’s very common to find an autistic child who also has SPD.

Touch

The SPD child is hypersensitive to a touch that anyone else would consider normal. Just a pat on the back can send them screaming that they are being hit. Or they are the child you can’t cuddle enough because they are seeking sensory input. This child will love or hate swings, roundabouts or roller coasters. The smallest problem in an article of clothing will be a big deal to them and they will be unable to wear anything that is slightly uncomfortable.

Taste

People with SPD tend to be known as fussy eaters. They will only eat foods of a certain texture or not be able to eat some foods such as Jello. The SPD child will eat either mainly bland food or love spicy food. They will often be seen chewing fingers, hair or anything else they can find.

Also they will have a low frustration tolerance when learning a new task and will tire easily when doing something for a long time.

Hearing

SPD children have over sensitive hearing, but they can’t distinguish between the sounds they want to hear from the sounds they don’t want to hear. So a classroom or a party are very confusing places for an SPD child. They will often hear a noise, but their brain will not translate it to what they are supposed to hear. It sounds to them as if the noise is coming through water. But they will also seek certain sounds, like the humming of the dishwasher, or chose to listen to music loud if they have control of the volume. So they will often make noise because it is not confusing to them.

Sight

The SPD child will have difficulty looking at people, but will try and look at the sun. They like to move things just to watch them move, so they will open and close doors just to see them move.

Smell

Children with SPD have very acute smell, they will find things repulsive that other people don’t even notice. They either love or hate cologne or perfume.

How do I help my SPD child?

The main thing is to recognize that it exists, understand that is who they are, and accept and not get annoyed with their behaviors. A physical therapist can help a child with SPD.

If your child is a sensory seeker than it is good to provide that stimulation, so if your child wants to be pushed high on the swings then do so, as long as it is safe. But if your child doesn’t want to swing high, then don’t push him.

Understand how repulsive smells are to them and if they don’t want to be around the smell then let them go somewhere else.

The best thing to do is to believe the child when they get upset by sensory stimulation and give them permission to not eat what is presented, and to leave the room if the noise is too loud.

Sometimes the child might react badly to something they feel strongly about and it might be perceived as bad manners, so you the parent will need to teach your child phrases to say if they are put in a situation where they are over stimulated and need to escape.

I strongly recommend “The Out of Sync Child Has Fun”, listed on the right, for activities to do with your SPD child.

Do they ever grow out of it?

Yes and no. Some things, like textures they can’t stand, will become less of an issue as they learn to buy the clothing that isn’t itchy. The sense of smell may lessen as they reach adulthood, but even some adults have problems with noise being too loud.