Sensory Processing Disorder ​- Sensory Integration

Sensory Processing Disorder refers to the way that the nervous system receives messages, decodes them, and turns them into a response.  Sensory Processing Disorder refers to the inability to use the information received through the nervous system in a manner that allows them to function smoothly in their daily life.

Some people with Sensory Processing Disorder are overly sensitive to things in their environment. For example, common sounds may be painful or overwhelming to them causing them to cover their ears or run out of the room.  Maybe smells bother the person and they are uncomfortable walking down the laundry detergent aisle at the grocery store or smelling gasoline or perfumes. Someone with Sensory Processing Disorder may not easily tolerate some fabrics like wool, polyesters, jean fabric, or even clothes made from GMO cotton.

Do you know someone who is considered picky, fidgety, clumsy, out of sync, uncomfortable with their surroundings, and in general, overly sensitive? The response to stimuli with someone who has SPD may not seem appropriate.

For the person with SPD everyday tasks in life may be overwhelming.

SPD can be explained in three main categories.

1.  Sensory Modulation Problems

~  problems with touch, movement, and body position are revealing signs of SPD

a.      Under-responsive:  doesn’t notice messy face, or how things feel, may need           a nudge to get out of bed and get going, seeks more stimulation

b.      Over-responsive:  does not like to touch or be touched, may be stiff and 
​         rigid, uncoordinated, likes less stimulation

​c.      Sensory-Craver:  craves constant stimulation, may be a risk taker, likes to
         spin and move fast, likes the pressure from hugs

​2.      Sensory Discrimination Problems

a.      Difficulty distinguishing one sensation from another-like temperature or pain

b.      Confuses likenesses and differences in pictures

c.      Can’t taste the differences between foods

3.      Sensory-Based Motor Problems

a.      May include problems with coordination and bilateral movement and may 
​         include dyspraxia (problems performing fine and gross motor skills)

Many symptoms of SPD look like symptoms of other common disabilities. 

Sensory Processing Disorder Checklist

The five main senses are:

• Sight - visual
• Touch - tactile
• Sound - auditory
• Smell - olfactory
• Taste - gustatory 

There is also the vestibular system (sense of balance and movement) which provides information about the head and body in relationship to the earth’s surface. 

Then there are the proprioceptors (joint and muscle sense) which provide information about where individual body parts are and what they are doing. Proprioceptors give information about body position, movement, pressure, weight, stretch, and changes in position in space.

Touch-Hypersensitive Checklist
​

Girl With Sensory Processing Disorder

• Fearful or anxious about unexpectedly being touched
• As an infant may have disliked being cuddled or hugged, may have pulled back    or arched up and pulled  away 
• Becomes frightened when someone comes up from behind or where they cannot be  seen 
• Uncomfortable standing in lines or crowds, especially in close proximity
• Bothered by bed sheets saying they are rough, itchy or bumpy
• Complains about hair being brushed, says it hurts
• Overreacts to minor scrapes, cuts and bug bites
• May wipe off kisses
• Dislikes wearing clothes with tags or socks with seams
• Avoids messy play (finger painting, slime, sand)
• Refuses to wear stiff clothes, clothes with rough textures, or turtlenecks, belts,   

      flip flops or hats 

• Avoids being dirty and washes hands frequently
• Picky eater about texture, color, taste-does not like foods mixed-may resist

      trying new foods 

• Excessively ticklish
• May walk on toes predominantly

Touch-Hyposensitive Checklist

• Has intense desire to be touched and needs to touch others and everything
• Unaware of being touched unless there is intense pressure
• May be self-abusive, bites self, scratches self, pinches self, or bangs head
• Frequently likes to touch smooth or soft objects like a blanket
• Looks for objects that provide intense tactile feedback
• Not aware that hands or face are dirty or that their nose is running
• Prefers food with strong tastes-spicy, tangy, salty, sweet, sour
• Not bothered by injuries/pain

Environmental Factors Which May Contribute to a Rise in Sensory Processing Disorder

Poor Tactile Discrimination Checklist

• May not be able to identify which body part was touched
• May be afraid of the dark
• Has difficulty with fine motor skills such as buttoning, hooking, zipping, fastening and tying
• Has difficulty with scissors, crayons, or silverware
• Has difficulty figuring out shapes, textures, sizes, weight, temperature, etc.
• May not be able to identify objects when reaching into a pocket, desk or backpack and needs vision to help
• May be a messy dresser-may not notice one pant leg up and one down-may not notice part of shirt is tucked in and the rest is out, etc.

Vestibular Hypersensitivity Checklist

• Dislikes risk taking, prefers sedentary play
• May be clingy with adults they trust
• May be afraid of falling even when there is no risk present
• Avoids or dislikes elevators, merry-go-rounds, roller coasters and sometimes driving in a car-may actually get motion sickness from them
• Afraid of heights, sometimes even curbs or high steps
• Afraid of feet leaving the ground
• Startled if someone moves them
• Avoids or dislikes rapid or rotating movements
• May dislike activities requiring balance-bicycling

Vestibular Hyposensitivity (Unresponsive) Checklist

• Could spin for hours and hours and never gets dizzy
  
• Always in motion, can't hold still
  
• Loves being tossed up in the air
  
• Is a risk taker and seeks thrills like amusement park rides
  
• Always running, skipping, jumping, hopping
  
• Jumping on furniture, swivel chairs, trampolines
  
• Loves being upside down
  
• Craves fast, intense, spinning motion
  
• When sitting, is shaking leg, rocking body or moving head

Poor Muscle Tone and/or Coordination Checklist

• Frequently slumps or slides down in chair or over desk
• Often sits with legs in “w” position to stabilize body when sitting on floor
• Has a limp or floppy body
• If falling, has difficulty stopping the fall
• Compensates for “looseness” by grabbing objects tightly
• Difficulty with turning knobs, handles-opening and closing items
• May never have crawled as a baby
• Difficulty getting dressed with zippers, hooks, buttons, fasteners and shoe laces
• Tires easily
• Poor fine motor skills (writing, using scissors, drawing)
• Poor gross motors skills (jumping, catching a ball)
• Looks unsure of body movements
• Has difficulty learning dance steps

Proprioception

Proprioceptors are located in our muscles, joints, ligaments, tendons, and connective tissues. Proprioceptors have a lot to do with sensing position in relation to ourselves and to the objects around us.  If the proprioceptors are not properly receiving or interpreting sensory information correctly, then we refer to it is Proprioceptive Dysfunction.

​It is especially difficult for children.  They may not understand how much a muscle is stretching, or if a joint is bending or stretching, or how much or to what degree this  may be happening.

Proprioceptive Dysfunction Checklist

​If they are under responsive to proprioceptive input (i.e. sensory seeking) they will...

•   (too hard) walk to hard, push too hard, bang too hard, write too hard, play with   objects too hard, etc.
•   be the loud ones, rough ones, crashers, movers, shakers, runners, jumpers,        and bouncers (i.e. an insatiable bundle of energy!)
•   shake his legs or constantly bang the back of his foot on the floor/chair while   sitting in class
•   play too rough (often hurting himself or others), jump off of or crash into    anything he can
•   crack his knuckles, chew on his fingers, bite his nails until they bleed, chew on   pens, gum, pencils, clothing collars, sleeves, or strings, or inedible objects (i.e.   paper clips, pieces of toys etc.)
•   enjoys tight clothes (i.e. turtlenecks, tight belts, hoods, hats, jackets zipped all   the way up, tight pajamas etc.)

​

Sensory Seeking Behavior Checklist

• May grind teeth
• Loves wrestling and roughhousing
• Stomps feet when walking
• Bites or sucks on fingers-or cracks knuckles
• Chews on things
• Frequently hits, bumps or pushes other children

​If they have poor motor planning, body awareness, or motor control, they will... 

• ​have difficulty climbing, running, riding a bike, doing jumping jacks, hitting a ball, roller skating, etc.
• have difficulty tying shoes (this is a great resource... Tie Your Shoes: Rocket Style/Bunny Ears) or knowing how to move his body when you help him get dressed/undressed
• frequently bump into objects and people
  
• accidentally trip and fall often
• have difficulty learning to go up and down stairs, and may be frightened by them (escalators too)

Difficulty with Grading of Movement Checklist

• Always seems to be breaking objects
• Has difficulty regulating pressure when drawing or writing-too light or too hard 
• Messy paper work and often rips paper when erasing
• Seems to do things with too much pressure-slamming doors, slamming

      down objects

• Misjudges weight of an object (picking something up with too much force)
• Plays too rough with animals​

Signs of postural instability will include... ​

• slumping at desk, dinner table etc.
• appear to be "limp" and lethargic all the time
• needing to rest his head on his hands or lay his head down on his arm on the desk/table while working
• having poor posture during motor tasks
• being unable to stand on one foot and have difficulty with any balancing tasks

Auditory Dysfunction Checklists

(With No Diagnosed Hearing Problem) 

Hypersensitive to Sounds Checklist (Over-Registers)

• Distracted easily by sounds not noticed by others-humming of a light or ticking of a clock
• Startled by loud or unexpected sounds
• Often asks people to be quiet
• Fearful of the sound of a toilet flushing, a hair dryer, a vacuum, dog barking
• May decide if they like someone based on the sound of their voice
• Refuses to go places that are loud-parades, movie theaters, concerts

Hyposensitivity to Sounds Checklist (Under- Registers)

• Likes to listen to loud music or TV
• Does not notice certain sounds
• Seems to like to make noise just to make noise
• Talks out loud to self when doing a task
• Has difficulty telling where a sound comes from
• Often needs directions repeated
• Did not babble or vocalize a lot as an infant

Auditory Language Processing Dysfunction Checklist
​

• Unable to locate the source of a sound
• Bothered by sudden, loud, high-pitched or metallic sounds
• Looks to others for reassurance before answering
• Difficulty identifying people’s voices
• Often talks out of turn or off the topic
• Difficulty putting ideas into words (verbally or written)
• Difficulty filtering out other sounds when someone is talking to them
• Difficulty discriminating similar sounds-like fear and fair
• Ability to speak may improve after intense movement
• If not understood, has difficulty re-phrasing and gets angry or upset
• Difficulty reading, especially out loud (may be dyslexic)
• Difficulty enunciating and speaking clearly

Hypersensitivity to Tastes Checklist (Over-Registers)

• May gag with certain foods
• Picky eater, limited amount of foods eaten, may not like to eat at other people’s homes
• Fearful of dental work
• Does not like to lick stamps or envelopes
• May have difficulty swallowing pills
• Prefers bland foods, avoids seasoned and spiced foods
• May eat only hot or cold foods

Hyposensitive to Taste Checklist (Under-Registers)

• Frequently chews on hair, shirt or nails
• Prefers food with intense flavor
• Piles on condiments or seasoning on food
• Acts like all food tastes the same
• Likes vibrating tooth brush

Smells

Hypersensitive to Smells Checklist (Over-Registers)

• Refuses to eat certain foods because of their smell
• Bothered or irritated by smells of colognes or perfumes
• Irritated by smells of gasoline, smoke, or laundry detergent
• Tells other people that they smell funny
• May dislike going to other people’s homes because of the way it smells
• Bothered by cooking smells
• Reacts negatively to smells other people do not notice

Hyposensitive to Smells (Under-Registers)

• May eat or drink things that are poisonous because they do not recognize the smell as being “bad”
• Has difficulty discriminating unpleasant odors
• Uses smell to interact with objects
• Does not notice smells that most people find offensive

Visual Input Disorder Checklists

​(No Visual Problem Diagnosed) 
​​

Hypersensitivity to Visual Input Checklist (Over-Registers)

• Sensitive to bright lights, may squint or get headaches
• Easily distracted by other visual stimuli in the room, such movement, toys, decorations, doorways, windows
• Rubs eyes or has watery eyes when watching TV or reading
• Has difficulty focusing and staying on task for an appropriate amount of time
• Enjoys playing in the dark
• Avoids eye contact

Hyposensitivity to Visual Input Checklist
​
(Under-Responsive, Or Difficulty With Tracking, Discrimination
or Perception)

• Focuses on the details and patterns and has difficulty seeing the big picture
• Often loses their place when copying from a chalkboard or a book
• Difficulty with eye movement needed to track an object that is moving
• Has difficulty telling the difference between color, shapes and sizes
• Has difficulty locating items in a drawer, desk, pocket or box
• Has difficulty telling the difference between p, q, d, b
• Complains about seeing double
• Has difficulty with lining up numbers in a math problem
• Confuses left and right
• Has difficulty finding differences in pictures, symbols, words or objects
• Tires easily at schoolwork
• Has difficulty putting puzzles together
• Has difficulty judging spatial relationships and may bump into people and furniture often or missteps from curbs or stairs
• Has difficulty when writing to keep size of letters and spacing consistent
• Tends to write on a slant on a page

Visio-Spatial Awareness Disorder Checklist
 
(Reduced ability to make sense of information taken in through the eyes)

 Also see Dyslexia (click here ) Learn More

• Difficulty with right and left
• May have difficulty of where self is in relationship to objects
• May have difficulty navigating
• Difficulty seeing the foreground from the background
• May have difficulty discriminating sizes, forms and position in space
• Problems with orientation of objects, letters, etc., including letter reversal
• Words that move or appear strange on the page
• Issues with color, light or glare

Risks and Complications

Other related problems:

Lacks self-esteem
Lacks confidence

At Home

• Has trouble getting to the point-may get stuck
• Often loses things in plain sight
• Difficulty estimating or budgeting time
• May appear awkward or clumsy, bumping or knocking things over
• Does not understand strategies or goals to be able to win at a game
• Tries to get out of going to school

At School
​

• Messy papers (papers are crumpled, smudged or have tears)
• Dislikes or avoids writing or drawing
• Disorganized backpack, locker and/or desk

Often, along with SPD, there is a problem with motor skills and other abilities. People with SPD are also at risk for emotional, educational and social problems.  They may experience difficulty making friends and fitting in, then frustration causing disruptive “out–of-control” behavior, awkwardness and clumsiness, academic failure, and aggression, which in turn may lead to poor self image and lack of confidence. Parents are sometimes blamed for children’s behavior due to this “hidden handicap.”

Because adults with Sensory Processing Disorder have struggled for most of their lives, they may also experience depression, underachievement, anxiety, social isolation, aggression, and other secondary effects.

Realize Your Full Potential!

GET STARTED - GET A COMPREHENSIVE BRAIN AND BODY ASSESSMENT - CLICK HERE

Call Now to Schedule an Assessment

Get the Help You Need

636.227.2222