How to Recognize 'Sensory Processing Disorder' in Your Child

You know your five senses: sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell.

A person with SPD might not like bright lights, loud sirens, or pungent smells.

However, there are also the senses of yourself in space (proprioception) and movement (vestibular).

Each sensory system is a cup, says Samantha Davis, an occupational therapist withKidsplay Therapy Center.

They may love spicy foods or spinning over and over on the tire swing.

How do you find out if your child has SPD?

She avoided being touched by other kids and liked jumping off of scary-high jungle gyms.

She also hadbig tantrumsand washaving trouble eating solids.

I knew kids who wereautistic often had sensory sensitivities, but she didnt show other signs of being autistic.

I founda checklistfromSensory Smart Parent, and she met criteria in several categories for both hyper and hyposensitivity.

Her pediatrician agreed this sounded like sensory issues and referred us to a private occupational therapist for an assessment.

Later she was put into anearly intervention programthrough our neighborhood school district.

I found out we could also have started there to receive a free assessment and services.

But sensory processing disorder, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and ADHD are all neurological disorders.

There is also a correlation betweenanxietyand SPD.

Additionally, there has beenresearch that students who are intellectually gifted are more likely to have sensory sensitivitiesand SPD.

She did some specific feeding therapy to address the issue.

Modifications can be small yet very effective.

Even changing sanitizers from gel to spray can make a huge difference for a child who is tactile defensive.

If it substantially limits school progress, you should be able to get accommodations.

Remember that SPD isnt something to fixit is something to accommodate.