![]() ![]() The good news is that if your child has problems with sensory processing, there’s a lot you can do about it, especially if you work with a knowledgeable OT. If your or your child’s teacher checked off a lot of “avoids,” “seeks,” or “mixed,” get an evaluation with an occupational therapist(OT) specially trained in assessing and treating sensory processing issues. Because school presents a different set of challenges, consider asking your child’s teacher to fill it out too. Print out our Sensory Checklist to understand your child’s unique sensory portrait. Explore Your Child’s Unique Sensory Portrait A child with sensory issues has responses to such experiences that are way out of proportion, consistently showing behaviors that can’t be dismissed. A strong dislike of itchy fabric or brushing teeth, shyness with strangers, or fear of a noisy goat at the petting zoo can be “typical” for a younger child as long as these sensory experiences do not interfere with day-to-day function. But a 10-year-old who has a meltdown during every art project is a different story. Many such behaviors are typical at certain stages of development. Poor attention and focus: often “tunes out” or “acts up” Uncomfortable/easily overstimulated in group settings Difficulty with self-confidence and independence Oral motor and feeding problems, including: ![]() Gross motor delays (e.g., walking, running, climbing stairs, catching a ball ).Fine motor delays (e.g., crayons, buttons/snaps, beading, scissors).Motor skill and body awareness difficulties, including: Squints, blinks, or rubs eyes frequently.Very sensitive to sounds (volume or frequency). ![]() Distressed by light touch or unexpected touch.Bothered by clothing fabrics, labels, tags, etc.Common Signs of Sensory Processing Problems Out-of-proportion reactions to touch, sounds, sights, movement, tastes, or smells, including: Sensory issues affect all kinds of people-from those with developmental delays, attention and learning problems, autistic spectrum disorders and other diagnoses to those without any other issues. If you keep sliding off your chair, look away when you hear any noise, feel like your shirt is hurting you, or the words you are reading pulsate, you may have sensory processing disorder, also known as sensory integration dysfunction. If you occasionally lose focus because your shirt label is itchy, you may have a mild sensory issue. You filter out unimportant sensory input so you can make sense of what you are reading. You hear background sounds and feel your clothing, chair, and the floor beneath your feet. Right now your senses are working together. It’s tempting to think of senses (touch, sight, sound, movement, body awareness, taste, and smell) as separate channels of information, but they work together to give us a reliable picture of the world and our place in it. Sensory processing is how we transform sensory information from within our own bodies and the external environment into messages we can act on. ![]()
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