Is Your Child's Behavior Linked to Sensory Issues?

Sep 13

Imagine a world where every sound, touch, or texture feels like a cluster of chaos. Overwhelming, right? Now, picture your little one trying to cope with this every day without the experience or understanding of what's happening to their body or the world around them.

Sensory issues, like Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), are like this for many children. SPD is a condition that affects how the nervous system receives and processes sensory information, often leading to unusual reactions to input that might seem ordinary to others.

The 7 Senses

Our senses - touch, taste, sight, smell, sound, proprioception (body awareness), and vestibular (balance and movement) - are like little messengers that send feedback to our brain about the environment. The senses work together to give us a complete picture of the world. However, for some children, these messages can get tangled, distorted, or intensified.

Imagine wearing a scratchy sweater that feels like sandpaper on your skin or hearing a gentle whisper as if it were a loud siren. That's what it's like for children with sensory issues.

1. Sight (Visual): Children with sensory issues may be sensitive to bright lights, fluorescent lighting, or flashing lights. On the other hand, some may seek visual input by staring at spinning objects or moving lights for extended periods.

2. Sound (Auditory): Auditory sensitivities can cause children to be easily startled by sudden loud noises or be unable to concentrate in noisy environments like classrooms. Some children might seek auditory stimulation by enjoying loud music or making repetitive noises.

3. Touch (Tactile): Tactile sensitivities in children can result in discomfort from specific textures, like clothing tags or certain fabrics. They might react strongly to light touches, like a gentle pat on the back, which can feel intense to them. Some children may also seek tactile input by enjoying deep pressure activities like squeezing or bear hugs.

4. Taste (Gustatory): Some children may be selective eaters, avoiding foods with certain textures, tastes, or temperatures. Some may seek intense flavors to fulfill their sensory needs.

5. Smell (Olfactory): Children with sensitivity to smell might be highly sensitive to strong odors, reacting strongly to scents that others barely notice.

6. Proprioception (Positioning): This is your child's internal GPS system, the sense that helps them understand where their body is in space. It's what lets them jump, run, and catch a ball without looking. Children may have difficulty coordinating their movements or judging how much force to use when interacting with objects.

7. Vestibular (Balance and Movement): Children with vestibular sensitivities may be fearful of activities involving balance or movement, like swinging or spinning. They might become dizzy or anxious in response to these sensations. Conversely, some children seek out vestibular input by engaging in activities like spinning or rocking to self-soothe.

Understanding Sensory Processing Issues

So, if one or many of these senses are working overtime, there is too much information coming in all at once. Things that may seem minor to some can create overwhelm for these kids. Some children become hypersensitive, reacting strongly to certain stimuli and avoiding them, while others become hyposensitive, seeking out intense sensory experiences. This can impact children's behavior, emotions, and how they engage in daily activities. These behaviors stem from their attempts to cope with sensory challenges.

Signs that senses are impacting behavior

Avoidance and Sensitivity: Some kids are super sensitive to certain sensations, leading to meltdowns or tantrums when faced with sensory triggers.

Extreme Reactions: Your child might react intensely to certain clothing textures, loud noises, or strong smells.

Sensory Seeking: Some children seek out intense sensory experiences through activities like crashing into pillows, walking on uncomfortable objects, or swinging high on the playground.

Difficulty Focusing: Sensory issues can make every day sounds more distracting and make it tough to concentrate.

Overstimulation: Too much sensory input all at once can cause some kids to melt down, leading to mood swings or outbursts.

But what causes sensory issues?

Sensory processing issues affect approximately 5-16% of children and are as diverse as your child's unique personality. They can involve genetic predisposition and environmental factors. No two kids with sensory issues are exactly alike, so what triggers one might not bother another.

Strategies for handling sensory issues

Understanding and managing sensory processing issues is a team effort involving parents, teachers, and healthcare professionals. Here are a few strategies that can help:

Recognize the Signs: Watch for behaviors including difficulties with transitions, resistance to touch or clothing, and an elevated startle response. Delays in developmental milestones could also indicate sensory issues.

Sensory Avoidance and Overstimulation: Children might avoid situations that trigger their sensitivities.
Sensory Seeking and Understimulation: Children may also seek sensory experiences through activities like swinging or jumping to get the sensory input they need.

Give them support

You are your child's biggest supporter in this sensory adventure.

Listen and Observe: Pay attention to your child's reactions. What seems to trigger their sensory sensitivities? The first step is understanding their unique quirks.

Creating Sensory-Friendly Environments: Create environments that accommodate a child's sensory needs using softer lighting, calming colors, and minimizing overwhelming stimuli.

Therapies: Occupational therapy helps children engage in purposeful activities to manage their sensory challenges. It's like giving them the tools to manage their sensory world. A sensory diet involves planned activities that provide the right sensory input. Additional therapies may be needed as well, like physical therapy, speech therapy, feeding therapy, and play therapy.

Seek Professional Help: If you're concerned, don't hesitate to reach out to healthcare professionals or occupational therapists who specialize in sensory issues. They can provide guidance and strategies tailored to your child's needs.

Sensory processing issues are not mere quirks but significant challenges that shape a child's world. This might throw a few curveballs your way, but with understanding and support, you can help your little one navigate their sensory world with confidence. Embrace the quirks, cherish the uniqueness, and watch your child thrive in their one-of-a-kind sensory adventure! By increasing our knowledge, we can create a more inclusive and supportive environment, ensuring that every message in a child's sensory story is heard and understood.

Brandy Hall, MSN, RN

Meet Brandy—nurse practitioner, parent coach, and fellow mom in the trenches of high-needs parenting.

She’s navigated the sleepless nights, the endless appointments, the sensory battles, the frustration of fighting for answers, the therapy waitlists, and the constant worry of Am I doing enough? With one kid, it was a feeding disorder that no one seemed to take seriously. With the other, it was a whirlwind of sleep struggles, sensory quirks, and safety worries—eventually leading to an autism and ADHD diagnosis.

But she didn’t just sit back and accept the “wait and see” approach. She dug in—researching, advocating, and using her medical background to find real solutions. And along the way, she realized something: moms like her don’t just need more advice—they need real support from someone who gets it.

If you’re raising a child with autism or ADHD and feel like you’re constantly running on fumes, you’re in the right place. Brandy’s here to share what works, what doesn’t, and how to make sure you don’t get lost in the chaos. Because no mom should have to figure this out alone.