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Have you seen the video going around Facebook about the barber shop that offered a special haircut for a little boy who usually had meltdowns during haircuts?

I’ve had so many people tag me and ask me if I’d seen it! In fact, there are a lot of companies that are starting to offer sensory-sensitive activities for children with autism and a sensory disorder. It does my heart good to know that sensory processing issues are being discussed among mainstream media.

We have developed a test with 16 questions where you only click yes or no to find out if your child has sensory processing disorder issues

Some types of sensory issues can be spotted, when you know what to look for…but a lot of parents don’t really know how to get a sensory processing disorder test.

There are children, like Liz’s son, who have panic attacks when surprised by loud noises and can’t resume the rest of their day normally.

Other children can’t stand to wear certain types of clothing because they feel constricted or pain to the touch.

Some children obsess over certain food textures or temperatures and can’t get through a meal without help and are prone to sensitivity to sensory processing.

Children like these who are sensitive to elements in their environment are said to have sensory issues. Some have a condition called Sensory Processing Disorder to which a sensory diet can help too
Sensory seeking behaviors typically include poor balance, coordination, and awareness of their body in space.

What is Sensory Processing Disorder?

It’s important for parents and teachers to understand that there are many types of sensory disorders. Sensory disorders are also known as Sensory Processing Disorder, SPD or Sensory Integration Dysfunction and sometimes confused with autism spectrum disorder.

And sometimes it takes an experienced parent, teacher, or pediatrician to recommend a child receive a sensory processing disorder evaluation.

Sensory Processing Disorders are also known as sensory integration disorders, or SID. Such disorders cause a person to struggle to integrate or interpret information from their senses, when these senses provide information about our body and environment which necessitates occupational therapy.

Considering our five senses of: sight, smell, sound, taste, and touch

Occupational therapists have added the sense of:

• movement (vestibular sense), the sense of
• body position (proprioceptive sense) and the sense of
• interoception (identify what is happening inside the body, e.g. hunger, toileting needs, breathing, and more).

This brings us to the 8 senses that are important when talking about Sensory Processing Disorder.

Each of these eight senses provides us with information about our world. Through our bodies, to our brain, we interpret what is going on around us.

Specifically, these senses all give our brain feedback about our body:

• our sense of touch,
• the sensation of proprioception or position of the body,
• sensation of movement,
• the sensation of interoception, and
• the sense of taste and texture in the mouth.

Conversely, the senses that provide information about the environment around us are:

• vision,
• auditory (hearing) and
• smell.

An example:

Consider now how your body takes the feedback from these senses. It delivers the feedback rapidly to the brain where it is integrated into your cognitive development. 

From there your brain can signal the body to have the appropriate reaction or behaviour.  For example, when touching a hot surface, the sensation of heat and pain travel to your brain. Ideally, your brain decides to quickly snatch your hand away from that stimulus of pain.

This whole process is called sensory integration.

Now, picture that feedback loop malfunctioning. You touch the hot surface, but your nervous system DOESN’T shoot a pain signal to the brain.

Maybe your brain does get the signal – but it doesn’t have any the motor skills how to process it. Consequently, it doesn’t trigger your body’s reflex to remove your hand from the heat.

SPD Disorder presents an obstacle in the way a person reacts to their environment.

Symptoms of sensory processing disorder don’t just apply to pain signals. Sensory issues in kids could surface in the form of a slight irritation from the feeling of itchy clothing – that then escalates to a major distraction so overwhelming that you can’t focus on anything else until the clothing is removed.

It could appear in the form of being overwhelmed by the many sounds of a crowded café. To any other person, this hubbub would simply turn into background noise. Yet to a person with SPD, the noise is unbearable.

Different reactions – some manageable, some not

All of us – children and adults – have different reactions to sensations in the environment. Some of us love spicy food, others enjoy a quiet read.  Some are energized by social events with loud music and some like to sty home!

The difference between a typical reaction and a problem is in the way the person can bounce back and continue with every day tasks. A person with sensory processing difficulties becomes overwhelmed. They have difficulty calming down and to continuing with the next task.

Think about kids in a classroom with background noise. When they hear a sudden loud noise outside the door, they will all jump, look up, try to identify what made the noise. The majority of the children will calm down and settle as soon as they have identified that the noise was caused by a non-threatening event.

However, the children with sensory processing difficulties will stay in the fright / fight mode for a long period of time.  And they will have difficulty getting back to focus to continue with the task without sensory integration therapy.

There are Different Types of Sensory Disorders: A Simplified ADHD Test Can Narrow it Down

Symptoms of sensory processing disorder is categorised into four basic types of sensory mal-interpretation. These are:

Hypersensitivity (over-responsive)

When someone is overly sensitive to sights, sounds, touch, or smell, they are considered hypersensitive.

Hyposensitivity (under-responsive)

This is when someone is under reactive to sights, sounds, touch, or smell.

Poor Self-regulation

If someone is lacking in their ability to control and adapt emotions and behaviors in any given situation, they are considered to have poor self-regulation

Poor Proprioception

This is lacking the ability to sense where one’s body is in space, without looking.

Seekers Vs. Avoiders

The way in which people cope with different types of sensory disorders can also be categorized. People with types of sensory disorders are referred to as either seekers or avoiders.

The challenging issue for parents and teachers is that these signs of sensory processing can change from day to day and sometimes from hour to hour. A child who enjoys a cinema one day might have a meltdown in the same cinema the next day.

Seekers

People will be referred to as ‘seekers’ when their SPD symptoms are manifested by hyperactivity. They’ll show a need to experience continuous physical stimulation. 

Seekers are people who cannot sit still. They will have restless legs. Children who chew on their clothes or wrestle with and “bug” their friends to the extent of irritating them fit this description.

Seekers tend to use too much force when manipulating buttons or a pencil. Children who are always climbing furniture, spinning on the spot, or running to and from constantly fit this category and most often called called sensory integration.

Avoiders

Those overwhelmed by too much input and stimulation tend to be sensory avoiders. They will cover their ears in noisy, busy places. Some might call them picky eaters because they don’t like the textures of certain foods in their mouth. Being hugged or snuggling is not favorable for them.

Avoiders will be labelled as ‘fussy’, simply because they don’t like the sensation of getting their hands or feet dirty.

How Do I Get a Sensory Processing Disorder Evaluation for my Child?

Step 1: You can start with our simple, adhd test

Step 2: Speak to your pediatrician about your concerns.

Step 3: Schedule a virtual sensory processing disorder evaluation with me through our Coordi Consultations page.

Step 4: Consider signing up for our Home Course for fun video series that take children through 15 minutes of daily therapeutic and developmental exercises daily to boost their midbrain development and bridge gaps in development.

These are carefully designed movements that you can do with your child to start working on improving their symptoms for all types of sensory disorders.

“I have been following CoordiKids for a long time and it is an amazing home-based program for OT exercises. There are many benefits of this program and it works fantastic alongside therapy. It’s fun and super engaging. Exactly what kids need to make learning happen.”

 

~ Lize Roos from South Morang, Victoria, Australia

Download a free copy of the Sensory Processing Disorder Checklist of common sensory processing disorder symptoms to start a Sensory Profile that you can discuss with your pediatrician.