What is Sensory Processing Disorder?

There are a multitude of symptoms that can suggest that your child may have Sensory Processing Disorder. Remember that your child may experience one or more of these symptoms.

Does your child:

• Cover his ears at the first sign of noise?
• Become agitated when the seams on his socks don’t line up, or refuse to wear socks and shoes at all?
• Avoid foods with certain textures and refuse to eat all but a few different foods?
• Chew on non-food items well past the mouthing stage?
• Bump, push, or squeeze too hard without realizing it?
• Spin around or jump on the couch to excess?
• Fall down a lot?
• Have poor handwriting or trouble handling food utensils?

Of course, many children do one or more of these things and don't have SPD. My own kids have shown a few of these signs over the years. One lived in leggings and sweats for years because jeans were "too rough." She has also worn out our couch from jumping and flipping on it. The other tends to fall frequently (better now that she's older), but still has terrible handwriting. It's really when symptoms add up to something that concerns you that you need to bring them to the attention of your doctor.

There is still a lot to learn about Sensory Processing Disorder. Doctors are yet to find the root cause but believe that there may be a genetic link to the disorder. There are some doctors that believe there is a link between autism and Sensory Processing Disorder. This had led to the hypothesis that parents with autism may be more likely to have children with the disorder. However, a lot more research needs to be conducted to verify this since most people who have Sensory Processing Disorder don’t have autism.

“Sensory Processing Disorder can impact how a person experiences everyday sensory experiences, such as how a person responds to the feel of clothing on the back of their neck or the sound of a dog’s bark or the look of your favorite painting,” Dr. Staci Holweger of Lifepatches told Mom.com. “People with SPD will experience these things differently than someone without SPD.”

If you think your child is exhibiting symptoms of Sensory Processing Disorder, you’ll want to explore treatment options sooner than later to help them better adjust to the world around them. Treatment will start with your child working with an occupational therapist. The goal is to retrain the brain to respond differently to the stimulation received from the senses. If your child has issues with eating, you may also be advised to introduce them to a sensory diet so that they get the nutrition they need without being overwhelmed by sensations.

In the process of diagnosis and treatment, your therapist will determine if your child is over-stimulated or under-stimulated. From there, the therapist will work with your child to better understand and process stimulation. You may also need to make lifestyle changes so that your child is better able to deal with day-to-day stimulations.

“In occupational therapy, families learn to recognize triggers,” explained mom Sully Montero who’s been helping a family friend and her daughter with the disorder. The therapist helped teach them ways to “manage SPD-related tantrums,” and has been a massive help in the entire family coping with the disorder and helping the child, Montero shared.

Here are five quick facts about SPD:

Sensory Processing Disorder is not autism. Though kids who have autism, ADHD, and Fragile X syndrome are at higher risk for SPD, kids with SPD do not necessarily have autism.

SPD appears to run in families. So when your mother-in-law pops up and says that your son or daughter is "just like her dad," she might just be right.

Kids don't outgrow SPD. Though SPD is often identified (these days) in early childhood, it is a lifelong condition. However, learned coping strategies can reduce the severity of symptoms in adulthood.

SPD is controversial. SPD is not yet a "stand-alone" diagnosis like autism or ADHD, but many believe that it should be.

Help is available. If you think that your child is showing signs of SPD, your school's occupational therapist may be able to help. If your child is not yet school-age, contact your local early intervention program for an evaluation.