Do Not Ignore These Signs of Sensory Processing Disorder

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The symptoms of sensory processing disorder are not necessarily straightforward and often overlooked. Read more to see if your child’s behavior might actually be signs of sensory processing disorder.

Are my child’s behaviors red flags for sensory processing disorder?

Sensory processing disorder (SPD) affects how your brain processes sensory information.

Sensory information includes things you see, hear, smell, taste, or touch.

There are other sensory systems at play as well that are responsible for body movement and balance.

The vestibular system is often associated with the inner ear and informs us of how our body is moving, helps us keep balance, tells us which direction we are going and how fast, as well as helps us to remain upright.

The proprioceptive system informs us of our body position in space. Proprioception is important in building body awareness and achieving motor milestones.

Everyone has sensory needs. But when sensory systems affect our ability to function appropriately, this is a red flag for sensory processing disorder.

Check out these Sensory Toys and Tools for ideas!

I put together a free printable checklist of some telltale symptoms of sensory processing disorder.

Use it to track your child’s sensory behavior and see if it warrants further evaluation with a pediatrician or occupational therapist.

It is by no means comprehensive nor does your child have to exhibit all of these signs of SPD in order to be affected by the disorder.

But the checklist is a place to start to see if there are any red flags for sensory processing disorder.

Enter your email below to have this free printable checklist – signs of sensory processing disorder – delivered straight to your inbox.

Symptoms of Sensory Processing Disorder

When sensory dysfunction affects daily life, it is probably time to consult with your pediatrician or look for an occupational therapist in your area.

Sensory processing disorder can affect one or multiple senses.

Children may overreact or underreact to sensory input (or a mix of the two).

Sensory processing disorder is a vast spectrum and no two children experience it the exact same way.

Some common symptoms of sensory processing disorder for a child who is hypo-sensitive and seeks sensory stimuli include:

Constantly touching objects – Children who touch everything in sight, including people and other materials in their environment, are often seeking tactile (or touch) input to their bodies

Squirms and/or fidgets frequently – children who are sensory seekers have a difficult time staying still. They are often described as squirmy or fidgety – this could be a red flag if it affects the ability to function appropriately.

Constantly moving – children with SPD may have a difficult time sitting still as it is easier to run and move than to sit (which requires continuous contraction of many muscle groups).

Clumsy or uncoordinated – sensory processing disorder can affect a child’s ability to motor plan or know where their body is in space.

Invades personal space – touching someone’s hair, pushing or crashing into others can all be an attempt to meet the need for sensory input.

High pain tolerance – Although many children with sensory processing disorder exhibit a high pain tolerance, that does not mean they don’t sustain injuries.

Mouths objects – children seeking oral input may place objects may frequently place objects in to their mouth.

Signs of sensory processing disorder for a hyper-sensitive sensory avoider:

Sensitivity to clothing tags and textures – things that may go unnoticed by others can be extremely irritating to children with SPD, including certain textures or tags on their clothing.

Easily overwhelmed by people and places – a child with SPD may be extremely sensitive to bright lights, sudden noises or even smells. Often, children with sensory processing disorder cover their ears or have a meltdown if they are overwhelmed.

Extreme food aversion – this is more than just being a picky eater for a child with SPD – they will literally gag and even vomit trying to eat certain foods.

Aversion to being touched – many children with SPD do not like to be touched as their sensory system perceives that tactile input as uncomfortable or irritating.

Toe walking – this is a common trait of children with SPD as they avoid sensation to the nerves on the bottom of their feet. Some children even avoid walking barefoot.

As a parent, it is a challenge to deal with your child’s daily struggles with sensory issues.

They can often result in tantrums, meltdowns and other undesirable behavior.

Kids with sensory processing disorder can have difficult calming themselves or falling asleep which can lead to bigger problems.

MORE RESOURCES:

Sleep Strategies for Sensory Kids

These signs of sensory processing disorder are indicators that further treatment may be necessary – the earlier, the better.

For more information about sensory processing disorder, check out Sensory Processing Explained and get all of your questions answered.

Often parents wait to see if these signs of sensory processing disorder diminish with time.

Others ignore the red flags of sensory processing disorder and chalk it up to typical kid behavior.

The key to deciding whether or not your child may have symptoms of sensory processing disorder is determining if it affects their ability to function.

There is help for a child who experiences sensory dysfunction. Consult with your pediatrician if you are concerned that your child is exhibiting some red flags of sensory processing disorder.

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