Sensory processing disorder in children
ii If your child finds loud sounds difficult to bear, refuses to wear some types of clothing, and always needs to move around, he may be suffering from sensory issues autism or a sensory processing disorder for children. Let's get into the blog. What Is Sensory Processing Disorder? Sensory processing disorder for children is a disorder of the nervous system that affects an individual’s ability to respond to sensory input in a productive manner. These inputs involve the senses of sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch, and awareness of one’s own body and its movements. The characteristics of SPD include: SPD symptoms in toddlers Being overly responsive (hypersensitive) to stimuli Being under-responsive (hyposensitive) to stimuli Having a craving for excessive sensory input Sensory processing disorder is common among autistic children, but it can also develop separately from autism. Age One through Three – Important Years for Signs of SPD in Toddlers Avoids or seeks out certain textures (avoids messy play, dislikes certain fabrics) Strong response to textures or temperatures of foods Afraid of swings, slides, or activities involving movement Trouble adjusting to changes in environment or routine  Always moving or avoiding movement Pre-school age (3-5 years) Overwhelming in noisy or overcrowded environments Meltdowns occur because of clothes being “wrong” Difficulty with fine motor skills such as crayons and scissors Excessively aggressive or non-contact seeking School Age Children (6+ Years) Disturbed easily by noises and visual stimuli Dislike hugging or touch that is unexpected Chew on inedible objects frequently Unsteady and uncoordinated Types of Sensory Processing Difficulties Hypersensitivity Children and Therapy Hypersensitive children are overly responsive to sensory stimuli: Normal sounds can cause pain and distress Touch can irritate the skin Feelings of being overwhelmed in noisy or busy environments Under-responsive to Stimuli Clumsy and bumps into objects Difficult for child to participate in dialogue and play Difficulty responding to textures Sensory Seeking Constant activity Seeking too much roughhousing  Chews inedible objects Causes of Sensory Processing Disorder The exact cause of SPD is still not known; however, some possible causes of SPD include: Genetics Brain Differences  Brain differences lead to SPD.  Prenatal Pre-Natal and Early Childhood Influences Pre-natal influences could be Can exist independent of autism SPD and Autism Connection The connection between sensory processing issues and autism spectrum disorder is important: Sensory problems occur in many people with autism spectrum disorder Most people with autism have sensory processing problems But it is possible to have SPD and not autism The important thing is that although sensory problems are common in people with autism, it does not mean that everyone with SPD has autism and vice versa Diagnosis of Sensory Processing Disorder Who Can Diagnose SPD? A diagnosis is normally made by an occupational therapy sensory specialist (occupational therapist) Occupational therapists will suspect SPD if symptoms cause dysfunction and interfere with daily activities The Diagnosis Process Occupational therapist examines child’s sensory reactions, motor abilities, and problems A sensory profile can be conducted during the evaluation process  Despite the absence of universally accepted diagnostic criteria, SPD can still be diagnosed by occupational therapists. Evidence-Based Therapy Approaches Occupational therapy sensory integration is one of the most effective treatments for children with SPD. read complete blog on https://mindsmilestones.com/