HOW SENSORY PROCESSING DISORDER AFFECTS CHILDREN

We take a deep dive into how sensory processing disorder can affect children, and what you can do as a parent to support your little one

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Sensory processing disorder is a condition that affects the way a child’s brain deals with inputs coming from their different senses. Children who have sensory processing disorder may be more or less sensitive to different things than is usual. Sound, touch, light, smell and taste are all examples of sensory inputs that your little one may have difficulty with. If they’re over-sensitive to these, they will try to find ways to reduce the effect it’s having on them, such as covering their ears against sounds or trying to remove uncomfortable clothes.

THE SENSES

There are eight different types of sensory processing that translates the external world into our body. In addition to the five main senses (sight, hearing, touch, taste and smell), there are three more senses to be aware of.

Interoception

Interoception is the sense of what your body is experiencing. This sense provides the brain with information about our internal organs such as hunger, pain, body temperature and needing to use the bathroom.

Proprioception

Proprioception is the awareness we have of our body. This sense receives sensory information from our muscles and joints to help us know where our body is in space and how to plan movements with our arms and legs. It also helps us to know how much force to use when holding objects, kicking a ball and writing with a pencil.

Vestibular

Vestibular is the sense located in the inner ear that provides us with information about balance and equilibrium.

HOW TO SPOT SENSORY PROCESSING DISORDER