Sensory Processing Sensitivities: Helping Your Overwhelmed Child

Does your child cover their ears when they hear a mixer or vacuum cleaner? Do they refuse to wear certain fabrics, or complain about tags in their shirts? Conversely, do they seek constant motion, crashing into walls and jumping on beds? These behaviors are often linked to Sensory Processing Sensitivity.

Understanding Sensory Input Our brains constantly receive and filter sensory information from our environment—touch, sound, balance, and visual cues. For children with sensory processing delays (common in autism and ADHD), the brain either over-amplifies these inputs (hypersensitivity) or under-registers them (hyposensitivity).

• **Hypersensitive (Sensory Avoiders)**: Overwhelmed by common environments. They avoid loud noises, hate tags, dislike sticky play-dough, and get distressed in bright, crowded supermarkets.
• **Hyposensitive (Sensory Seekers)**: Crave physical stimulation. They love deep pressure, crash into objects, flap their hands, spin in circles, and can tolerate extremely loud environments without distress.

What is a Sensory Diet? A sensory diet is not about food. It is a customized plan of physical activities designed by an Occupational Therapist to help a child regulate their nervous system throughout the day. - **For Avoiders**: Quiet corners, noise-canceling headphones during outings, weighted vests, and gradual exposure to sticky or rough textures. - **For Seekers**: Trampoline jumping, heavy lifting activities (carrying groceries), obstacle courses, and swinging in specialized therapy setups.

Clinical sensory integration therapy in a safe environment is highly effective at helping children self-regulate, reducing behavioral meltdowns and anxiety.