What is Sensory Processing Disorder?

What is Sensory Processing Disorder?  SPD (formerly Sensory Integration Dysfunction) is a neurological disorder that causes difficulties in taking in, processing and responding to sensory information in the environment or within ones own body.  Everyone processes sensory information as part of our daily activities.  We see/hear/smell/taste, we feel movement, we sense hunger.  Our brains process this information and provide a reasonable response to the stimuli.  If we are hungry we eat.  If we are in a crowded room, we are able to discern the voice of our friend and carry on a conversation.  If we are shopping, we are able to ignore a barrage of visual input and focus on the task at hand.   But, sensory information is often processed differently in the brain of someone with SPD.  A child like JC is unable to discriminate the “important” input from that which can be ignored.  A trip to the market is for him creates the same overstimulation as a trip to Disney world would be to another child.  A crowded restaurant becomes as overstimulating as a Rock Concert.  And the touch of noodles is worse for him than a bowl full of worms would be for me.  This altered response to sensory input makes everyday tasks and situations almost unbearable and he lives with this on a daily basis. 

If you think about it, we all have some sort of sensitivity to sensory input.  Some can’t stand to use metal utensils, others may have a hard time touching cotton balls, some may hate the feel of a wool sweater, or think about textures of food that you just can’t stand to eat (cottage cheese maybe).  But imagine that aversion on a constant basis – with no way to escape it.  Imagine feeling so overwhelmed by an itchy tag or the thought of eating a bowl of applesauce, that you just won’t get dressed at all, or won’t eat at all.  That is the life of a child with SPD.  And when it becomes such a problem that it interferes with everyday tasks and quality of life, then intervention like occupational therapy may be needed.

There are individuals with SPD who have hypersensitivities, reduced sensitivities or a combination of both.  Difficulties may be evident in every day activities such as problem solving, and for many (like JC) the extreme sensitivity to input can lead to avoidance, agitation, distress, fear and confusion.  SPD is often diagnosed along with other neurological, physciatric, behavioural and language disorders .  It is commonly found in individuals with autism for example.   If left untreated SPD can lead to difficulties in learning, social interaction and overall development. 

What causes SPD?

·         Genetics appears to be a compont as other family members often show sensory processing problems.

·         Trauma: SPD often appears in response to Prenatal exposure to drugs, illness and maternal stress, birth complications or prematurity

·         Allergies: Virtually all people with sensory processing problems also suffer allergies and food sensitivities.

·         Toxins: Exposure to environmental toxins,  chemicals or destructive viruses can often lead to oversensitivity

A child with SPD may need extra assistance such as:

·         One-on-one Teaching, or small groups depending on the need of the child

·         Learning with other professionals such as speech/language therapists, occupational therapists and educators

·         Constant Verbal reweards and reinforcers

·         Picture Exchange Communication System

·         Sign Language

·         Sensory Play

·         Teaching through senses

·         Arts/Music/Drama/Dance/Singing

·         Prepared Lessons and resources

We all know of the 5 senses, but what about the others?

Tactile: the sense of touch; input from the skin receptors about touch, pressure, temperature, pain and movement of the hairs on the skin.

Auditory: input relating to sounds; one's ability to correctly perceive, discriminate, process and respond to sounds

Oral: input relating to the mouth; one's ability to correctly perceive, discriminate, process and respond to input within the mouth

Olfactory: input relating to smell; one's ability to correctly perceive, discriminate, process and respond to different odors.

Visual: input relating to sight; one's ability to correctly perceive, discriminate, process and respond to what one sees.

Vestibular: the sense of movement; input from the inner ear about equilibrium, gravitational changes, movement experiences and position in space.

Proprioception: the sense of "position"; input from the muscles and joints about body position, weight, pressure, stretch, movement and changes in position.

Interoception: The sense of what is happening INSIDE the body.  Hunger, need to urinate etc.  Many times infants who are “colicky” are simply having a difficult time with this interoception.  Digestion makes them uncomfortable.

When a child is overwhelmed by sensory input their reactions may be:

Fight: Anger, irritability, and rage
Flight: Panic, running away and/or isolation
Freeze: Where a child is frustrated and/or overwhelmed and cannot move or speak

All children (and adults for that matter) have sensitivities, tantrums and individual needs.  But often with a child who has SPD, those sensitivities cause problems with everyday activities (such as eating or social interaction), Tantrums are replaced witih Meltdowns, and individual needs are so demanding that it requires therapy.

Tantrum vs Meltdown: AGES 1-5 years: 

TANTRUMS: “want “ directed, Goal or Control Driven, Audience to perform, Checks engagement, Protective Mechanisms, Resolves if goal is accomplished

MELTDOWN: overstressed/overwhelmed, Reactive Mechanisms, Continues without attention, Safety may be compromised, causes fatigue, not goal dependant, may require assistance to regain control

A Summary Of Sensory Integration Dysfunction Symptoms:
From: www.sensory-processing-disorder.com

Signs Of Tactile Dysfunction:

Hypersensitive:
Refuses or resists messy play, resists cuddling and light touch, dislikes kisses, rough clothes or seams in socks, resists baths, showers, or going to the beach.

Hyposensitive:
Doesn't realize hands or face are dirty, touches everything and anything constantly, may be self-abusive, plays rough with peers, doesn't seem to feel pain (may even enjoy it!)


Signs Of Vestibular Dysfunction:

Hypersensitive:
Avoids playground and moving equipment, fearful of heights, dislikes being tipped upside down, often afraid of falling, walking on uneven surfaces, and avoids rapid, sudden or rotating movements.

Hyposensitive:
Craves any possible movement experience, especially fast or spinning, never seems to sit still, is a thrill seeker, shakes leg while sitting, loves being tossed in the air, never seems to get dizzy, full of excessive energy.


Signs Of Proprioceptive Dysfunction:

Under-responsive:
Constantly jumping, crashing, and stomping, loves to be squished and bear hugs, prefers tight clothing, loves rough-housing, and may be aggressive with other children.

Over-responsive:
Difficulty understanding where body is in relation to other objects, appears clumsy, bumps into things often, moves in a stiff and/or uncoordinated way.

Difficulty Regulating Input:
Doesn't know how hard to push on an object, misjudges the weight of an object, breaks objects often and rips paper when erasing pencil marks.

Signs Of Auditory Dysfunction:

Hypersensitive:
Covers ears and startled by loud sounds, distracted by sounds not noticed by others, fearful of toilets flushing, hairdryers and/or vacuums, resists going to loud public places (even cafeteria at school).

Hyposensitive:
May not respond to verbal cues, loves loud music and making noise, may appear confused about where a sound is coming from, may say "what?" frequently.


Signs Of Oral Dysfunction:

Hypersensitive:
Picky eater with extreme food preferences and limited repertoire, may gag on textured food, difficulty with sucking, chewing, and swallowing, extremely fearful of the dentist, dislikes toothpaste and brushing teeth.

Hyposensitive:
May lick, taste or chew on inedible objects, loves intensely flavored foods, may drool excessively, frequently chews on pens, pencils, or shirt.


Signs Of Olfactory Dysfunction:

Hypersensitive:
Bothered or nauseated by cooking, bathroom and/or perfume smells, may refuse to go places because of the way it smells, chooses foods based on smell, notices smells not normally noticed by others.

Hyposensitive:
May not notice unpleasant or noxious odors, smells everything when first introduced to it, may not be able to identify smells from scratch 'n sniff stickers.


Signs Of Visual Dysfunction:

Hypersensitive:
Irritated by sunlight or bright lights, easily distracted by visual stimuli, avoids eye contact, may become over aroused in brightly colored rooms.

Hyposensitive:
Difficulty controlling eye movements and tracking objects, mixes up similar letters, focuses on little details in a picture and misses the whole, looses his place frequently when reading or copying from the blackboard.

CLICK HERE for a SPD Checklist