Sensory processing disorders include a range of symptoms and levels of severity. How it may impact the participation of a child and family unit can differ, making it quite tricky to understand overall.

When our sensory receptors register a sensation, it prompts a response or non-response to the sensation. The nervous system may:

  • Respond adaptively. An adapted response is a response that is appropriate and expected, such as noticing that it is warm in the house and turning the air conditioner on or opening windows.
  • Not respond. The non-response occurs when the sensory stimulation has not changed or has not reached a threshold for response. For example, the air conditioner turns on, but it is a familiar noise that does not require action.
  • Respond maladaptively. This is a response that does not match the situation or the event. For example, I hear the air conditioner turn on and cover my ears, cry, and run away. 

Sensory over-responsiveness is likely the easiest subtype of sensory processing disorders to understand and recognize. This involves a maladaptive response to sensory stimuli (sight, sound, touch, smell, taste, muscle and joint input, and changes in head position). It can lead to a fight, flight, or freeze stress reaction as well as eventual avoidance of situations that may involve sensory input. This stress reaction can take a child from 0 to 100 relatively quickly on an emotional scale. Even more, the child can experience difficulties in returning to a “just right” state of alertness. Children with sensory over-responsiveness may struggle with:

  • Tolerating different types of clothing textures and fit of clothing
  • Haircuts
  • Grooming tasks (brushing teeth, combing hair, using soap to wash hands)
  • Sounds of crowded or busy environments
  • Car rides (tolerating seatbelt, car seat, siblings, radio, talking in the car, etc.)
  • Messy play (using finger paint, carving pumpkins, touching foods, craft activities(
  • Food restrictions and picky eating (food may have to be the same brand, shape, color, or texture)
  • Swinging or climbing on a playground

Those are just a few examples of how sensory over-responsivity can influence participation and restrict the child’s ability to engage within an activity and the entire family unit.

Treatment using a sensory-based approach to intervention is highly specialized and skilled while tailored to an individual child’s needs. Using multiple sensations simultaneously within playful activities that bring joy and fun to the child is the best way to rewire the nervous system and create lasting change with improved response patterns. It’s important to remember that the child does not choose to have an exaggerated emotional reaction. Still, it happens because the nervous system informs the body system that the situation is unsafe, which is where survival mode begins.

For more information about this subtype of sensory processing difficulty or if you have questions about your child’s response to sensation, email Kristin.Wittmayer@TheMoveU.com.