Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)

What Sensory Processing Disorder looks like in children?

The symptoms of an SPD exist on a spectrum. SPD may affect one sense such as hearing or taste or it may affect multiple senses. Similarly, children can be over or under-responsive to sensory stimuli. There are several SPD subtypes:

1. Sensory modulation: This is where children tend to respond more intensely to sensory input which frequently results in avoidance behaviour. Common symptoms include, withdrawing from light, gagging and resultant refusal to eat textured food, refusal to brush teeth, wash hair, or cut nails and an over-sensitivity to sound or visual stimuli (eg. the child may clasp their hands over their ears or eyes at a loud noise or bright light)
 
2. Sensory discrimination: This is where children have difficulties with recognition and interpretation of sensory stimuli. Common symptoms include difficulty following instructions, problems finding images in a cluttered background, using too much or too little force, poor balance, poor sense of movement or speed.
 
3. Postural-ocular disorder: This is where children have difficulties controlling or stabilising the body during movement or at rest. Common symptoms include poor posture control, poor equilibrium and balance, fear of heights.
 
4. Dyspraxia: This is where children have difficulties in planning, sequencing unfamiliar actions and motor skills. Common symptoms include being accident-prone, clumsy, resistant to new activities, and poorly coordinated with fine motor tasks.

Impact of Sensory Processing Disorder in children

Research has shown that many children with an SPD are more vulnerable to experiencing social, emotional and educational problems (Dunn, 1997). Children who are hypersensitive to sound and touch may experience intense effect, often feeling overwhelmed or impulsive.

On the other hand, children who are hypo-sensitive may under-react to sensory information, which may be confused for lack of drive, a lack of empathy or being quite self-absorbed. Many kids with SPD are labelled as ‘clumsy’, ‘disruptive’ or ‘out of control’, and may have problems with the motor skills necessary for school success. Anxiety, depression, aggression, or other behaviour problems can follow.

Treatments for children with Sensory Processing Disorder?

The good news is that there are effective treatments for SPD.

1. Psychological intervention can help children get used to sensations they cannot tolerate. Graded exposure to sensory stimuli and teaching coping skills can help overcome avoidance to sensory stimuli. Behaviour modification, using reward charts, can assist in encouraging appropriate responses to sensory stimuli. A Psychologist can also help with the emotional and behavioural difficulties commonly associated with sensory difficulties such as defiant behaviour, anxiety, or school difficulties.
2. Occupational Therapy (OT) with a Sensory Integration (SI) approach is highly effective for sensory difficulties. Therapy generally takes place in a sensory-rich environment sometimes called a ‘sensory gym’. The goal of OT is to foster appropriate responses to sensations in an active, meaningful and fun way so that a child can behave in a more functional manner. Overtime (and with practice) the appropriate responses will generalise to other environments such as home and school.
3. Making a table with many tools and toys may be helpful for children with SPD. A bowl of rice, a bag of beans or play dough can be highly effective tools to help balance sensory needs. Fill a bin with toys and objects of different weights and textures and let your child explore!