Does My Child Have Sensory Processing Disorder?

We use our sensory processing skills every day and every moment! Sensory integration and processing takes place in our brain — we seek sensations and use these inputs to perform our daily tasks. Adults seek sensory input to maintain attention and regulation all the time; a coffee break can be super helpful on a workday afternoon, and a rocking chair might help you focus while reading. We need an integrated sensory processing system to function every day. Let's try to understand how it all works.

Sensory systems

Sensory information is sent to our brain from our senses. It is widely accepted that there are five main senses: sight (visual), smell (olfactory), taste (gustatory), hearing (auditory) and touch (tactile). These let us feel the outside world through sensory neurons, forming a feedback loop where we gather sensation inputs and respond with our own actions.

However, the five main senses are often not enough to describe the array of sensations we feel every day. We have very important systems like proprioception (body awareness), the vestibular system (balance and movement) and the interoceptive system (internal body signals) that we use all the time without being aware of them. Integrating these different sensory systems is required to perform childhood occupations and activities well.

Normal sensory processing

Typically, our brain:

• Receives information from the senses
• Processes and integrates the sensory information
• Decides how the body should respond
• Sends the command for the body to respond appropriately and adaptively

Everyone processes sensory input differently

While sensory processing occurs naturally in all our brains, we don't all experience the world the same way — because each brain receives, processes and interprets sensory stimuli differently. This is why some people love roller coasters while others hate them, or why some prefer soft porridge while others prefer crunchy rice crisps. We are all unique and have our own preferences.

Sensory processing only becomes an issue when we are not able to process and integrate our sensations well, and when it starts to interfere with natural development, social skills, and task performance. We call this sensory processing disorder (Kranowitz, 2005).

What does sensory processing disorder look like?

Sally, the "Energizer Bunny"

Sally doesn't walk; she jumps, skips and flies! She loves to wiggle all the time, struggles to sit still during story time, and climbs up high before jumping off. Children who appear "hyperactive" like Sally can be under-responsive to vestibular sensations — they seek out extra movement input.

Zac, the shy tortoise

Zac would rather hide in his shell than be in crowded places, and can be reactive when peers get too close during assembly or lining up. He hates the texture of sand and avoids activities involving clay, glue or slime. "Sensitive" children like Zac can be over-responsive to tactile sensations.

Aarya, the clumsy giraffe

You hear Aarya crashing and knocking into things before you see her. Peers accuse her of not staying in her space and knocking into them. Children who appear clumsy like Aarya can be experiencing under-responsiveness to proprioceptive sensations — they have reduced awareness of where their body is in space.

The effects of sensory processing difficulties

When children don't understand their sensory system, they may feel disheartened by occasional failures or comments from others. This can lead to a negative self-image ("I'm just bad at sports") and a vicious cycle where the child avoids the very opportunities they need to practise and build skills.

Diagnosis and how OT helps

Sensory processing difficulties are usually identified by an Occupational Therapist (OT), and occupational therapy is recommended to help children and families cope with their occupations — school work, play, and activities of daily living. OTs use sensory integration techniques to help a child's brain respond adaptively to challenging situations, providing graded sensory input in a Sensory Integration Gym. They also conduct routines-based interviews to understand how the environment contributes to responses, and suggest sensory diets and strategies for families.

It is important to note that sensory processing difficulties cannot be cured by medicine. They reflect an underlying neurological processing difference that is supported through sensory integration intervention.