People with sensory processing issues behave in ways that their friends / family / co-workers often find confusing. They might react strongly to loud noises or bright lights or complain that their clothes are uncomfortable. They may be clumsy or have trouble with fine motor skills like fastening buttons. Some people show extreme behaviors like screaming when their face gets wet.
These behaviors happen because the person is having trouble processing the information they receive from their senses. In addition to the traditional five senses, there are also two internal senses that give us information about movement and where our body is in space. Hyposensitive people need more sensory stimulation. They often love to move around and crash into things. Hypersensitive people avoid strong sensory stimulation and get overwhelmed easily.
Many parents of children with sensory issues call their behaviors sensory processing disorder, or SPD. But SPD is not currently a recognized psychiatric disorder. Sensory issues are considered to be within the autism spectrum because many people on the autism spectrum experience them. But not everyone with sensory issues is on the spectrum. Some have ADHD, OCD or developmental delays. Or they may not have a diagnosis at all.
Here’s a detailed sensory checklist that you can use to learn more about sensory issues. It covers responses to all different types of input. A lot of these responses are often misunderstood. Identifying the cause can bring relief.
Sensory Processing Issues Explained
Sensory Processing Issues Explained
Sensory Processing Issues Explained
People with sensory processing issues behave in ways that their friends / family / co-workers often find confusing. They might react strongly to loud noises or bright lights or complain that their clothes are uncomfortable. They may be clumsy or have trouble with fine motor skills like fastening buttons. Some people show extreme behaviors like screaming when their face gets wet.
These behaviors happen because the person is having trouble processing the information they receive from their senses. In addition to the traditional five senses, there are also two internal senses that give us information about movement and where our body is in space. Hyposensitive people need more sensory stimulation. They often love to move around and crash into things. Hypersensitive people avoid strong sensory stimulation and get overwhelmed easily.
Many parents of children with sensory issues call their behaviors sensory processing disorder, or SPD. But SPD is not currently a recognized psychiatric disorder. Sensory issues are considered to be within the autism spectrum because many people on the autism spectrum experience them. But not everyone with sensory issues is on the spectrum. Some have ADHD, OCD or developmental delays. Or they may not have a diagnosis at all.
Here’s a detailed sensory checklist that you can use to learn more about sensory issues. It covers responses to all different types of input. A lot of these responses are often misunderstood. Identifying the cause can bring relief.