At some point, every child will throw a tantrum. Every child will react adversely to a certain smell, flavor, or texture. Every child will struggle with a major change or life transition.
But, that doesn’t mean every child has a sensory processing disorder.
Sensory processing disorders (SPD) are a real concern for parents, as they can significantly impact a child’s daily life. Not only is your child—who, depending on their age and cognitive ability, may or may not be able to verbalize their feelings—battling a complex and confusing array of sensory inputs that they can neither process nor appropriately respond to, but parents may feel bewildered, frustrated, and even ashamed about their child’s behavior.
If you feel that way, trust me…you are not alone!
At Orchid Pediatrics, we understand the importance of shedding light on SPD—offering insights into the signs, causes, interventions, and everyday advice that can make a meaningful difference in your and your child’s well-being.
Understanding Sensory Processing Disorders
Sensory processing disorders occur when a child’s nervous system struggles to process and respond as expected to sensory stimuli. These stimuli include touch, sound, taste, sight, and smell. As parents, recognizing the signs of an SPD is crucial to providing the best possible support for your child.
Signs of a Sensory Processing Disorder
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- Tantrums and Meltdowns: Parents often observe intense emotional reactions, such as frequent tantrums or meltdowns, triggered by sensory experiences.
- Hypersensitivity: Children with SPD may display hypersensitivity to certain stimuli, reacting strongly to sounds, textures, or lights that others find tolerable.
- Difficulty with Transitions: SPD can make transitions challenging for children, impacting their ability to adapt to new environments or activities.
- Avoidance or Seeking Sensory Input: Some children may actively avoid specific sensory experiences, while others may seek them out excessively, like avoiding certain textures, or constantly seeking deep pressure input.
Is it a difference or a disorder?
Sensory differences are part of our life. It is easy to think of someone has a disorder if it doesn’t fit with our framework. The truth is autistic people process the world differently than non-autistic people. Is that a disorder? No. It is a disorder when taken into the context of what is expected by non-autistic people.
If a child processes their sensory world differently than expected, it doesn’t mean they are autistic. But it is likely they are neurodiverse. They may have ADHD.
Whatever the diagnoses (or lack there of), it is important to remember what one person needs in their environment will look different than another. Let’s embrace our uniqueness!
Interventions and Support
Early identification and intervention are key in supporting kids with sensory differences. Orchid Pediatrics collaborates with other professionals including occupational therapists, speech therapists, and other specialists to create personalized strategies for each child.
Fun and Function has amazing strategies for kids who process sensory information differently than expected. Started by an occupational therapist, it gives many strategies of what to bring into a child’s environment to help them thrive.
As a parent, there are several interventions you can take to create a better environment for your child:
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- Address visual sensitivities: eliminate fluorescent lighting, reduce clutter, streamline your child’s work space, and use larger fonts for homework and worksheets
- Address auditory sensitivities: use earmuffs or noise-cancelling headphones in moderation, or ask your developmental pediatrician about developing a therapeutic listening program for your child
- Address tactile sensitivities: use fidgets, buy seamless or soft clothing (Hanna Anderson has some great options!), and keep chewing gum on hand (Avoid ones artificial flavor.)
- Take “sensory breaks” throughout the day: try jump roping, setting up mini obstacle courses at home, try bounce therapy, play hopscotch, or try deep pressure therapy
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Understanding sensory processing disorders (or differences!) is a crucial first step in curating a safe and comfortable environment for your child. At Orchid Pediatrics, we are dedicated to supporting children with SPD by offering comprehensive care and tailored interventions. By recognizing the signs and implementing effective interventions, we can help your child thrive and reach their full potential.
If your child needs support sensory support, or you have concern for their behaviors, contact Orchid Pediatrics to learn how we can help. Also, check out our free series of cognitive assessments—provided in partnership with Creyos—to gain more insight into your child’s cognitive health.
*** Disclaimer
This blog is for entertainment, informational, and general educational purposes only and should not be considered to be healthcare advice or medical diagnosis, treatment or prescribing. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical care. Always seek the advice of your qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
