Last week I talked about the definition of sensory integration and the term sensory processing disorder, and how sensory processing works in the brain. I was able to get through explaining the common symptoms that are seen when children have vestibular (movement) or tactile (touch) processing difficulties. Today I am going to continue this conversation and go over some symptoms commonly seen when the other 5 senses aren’t working efficiently.

The following sections highlight the discussions on this episode, in an easy-to-read format for you.

Gustatory (our sense of taste):

Children needing to calm their body often crave calming tastes such as sweets or bland foods. Children who are sensory seekers often seek out sour, spicy or bold tastes to alert their senses for: greater eating skills, less drooling and greater attention.

Visual (Seeing):

An under-responsive visual system makes it difficult for children to find objects in a cluttered space, keep up with reading & writing assignments, or complete puzzles well.

An over-reactive visual system can cause a child to be overwhelmed with busy places resulting in avoidant, overly-emotional or inattentive behaviors.

Auditory (Hearing):

Children who are under-responsive to sounds tend to not tune-in well when others are speaking, causing them to: miss details and get in trouble often with adults giving instructions, or frequently express high levels of frustration.

Hypersensitivity to sounds can be caused by reoccurring ear infections, low muscle tone/endurance or inefficient sensory processing, resulting in behavioral or emotional outbursts with daily sounds such as: vacuums, hair dryers, fire alarms, singing, group events or any loud & unexpected sounds.

Olfactory (Smell):

Soothing smells like vanilla and lavender can have a calming effect on the body & nerves, while strong odors like fish, cleaners and perfumes can be perceived as stimulating, and often offensive to sensory sensitive kids.

Proprioception (Muscles & Joints):

Physical activities like jumping, climbing, running, swimming and push-ups activate the proprioceptive receptors in the muscles & joints of the body, resulting in greater overall sensory processing and calming. Everyone needs this type of input for overall physical and mental well being. This sense has the similar effect in sensory kids as it does for those who feel great after jogging or getting a massage.

Neurological impulses are automatically sent to the brain every time our senses are activated, which is all day long! These are functions we take for granted until we realize that they are not working well. These senses need to be processed correctly in the brain in order to get higher level skills such as attention, learning, good behaviors, and best of all–happy kids!

How to Detect SPD:
Sensory processing disorder may be suspected when the level of stress or excitement we would expect to see from any given activity does not match the child’s behavioral or emotional responses. This causes quiet children to often fall through the cracks when they are under-responsive to sensory stimulation, and highly active or hypersensitive children to get labeled as having behavioral, emotional, learning, psychological, and/or attention problems. Parents are often misunderstood by family, friends and other health care professionals when they explain the difficulty they have with their child on a daily basis, as the severity of these difficulties is often not translated well. The person who spends the most time with the child is the one who will recognize the magnitude of their child’s difficulties. Children with sensory processing disorder are often highly intelligent children who have a hard time getting through the day without excessive distress experienced by the child or the caretakers. These difficulties often present themselves with or without the additional conditions of: Anxiety/Depression, Allergies, Food or Chemical Sensitivities, ADD/ADHD, Learning Disabilities, Developmental Delays, Prematurity, Drug Exposure, Neglect from orphanages and Autism Spectrum Disorders/Asperger’s Syndrome.

How to Get Help:
Visit our website for a comprehensive list of symptoms and commonly asked questions, and for the most popular books on sensory processing disorder, also known as Sensory Integration Dysfunction. We can: help you communicate your concerns to your child’s doctors or teachers; complete a comprehensive evaluation for your child; identify other possible conditions that present with similar symptoms; and help resolve these symptoms for a happier, more productive child!

These kids are wonderful kids who are often smart, well spoken, funny and full of life! We just need to get their bodies working better for them so they can enjoy their life to the fullest. Happy, productive and well-coordinated people are the ones who have good sensory processing.

Parents out there, be patient and find a therapist with good sensory training, so you can get the best treatment for your child. You should be able to achieve great, life-long gains!

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