Perhaps you’ve heard of sensory processing disorder.
Maybe your child is affected by it.
It’s possible your speech therapist referred you to see an occupational therapist for sensory integration therapy.
Or maybe this is all brand new to you!
Every day, we are flooded by different types of sensory input…
- light pouring in an open window
- the sound of busy traffic outside
- smelling freshly baked bread
- wet raindrops falling on our skin
However, if your brain processes this sensory information typically, you may not realize how chaotic our daily environment can be.
If a child experiences sensory processing disorder (SPD), their brain interprets sensory input differently than children who are typically developing. SPD may present as hypersensitivity (a heightened, increased sensitivity to sensory input) and/or hyposensitivity (a decreased sensitivity to sensory input).
Hypersensitivity
If a child is hypersensitive to sensory input, they experience sensory input more intensely than a child who is typically developing. This could mean that a child is highly uncomfortable when faced with new sensations. A child may also pick up sensory information that others do not recognize, such as the buzzing of a fluorescent light bulb.
Hyposensitivity
Children who are hyposensitive to sensory input have a decreased sensitivity to new sensations. As a result, they may show sensory-seeking behaviors that provide additional sensory stimulation to meet their needs, such as licking or bumping into objects.
Sensory Processing & Communication Skills
Some children experience both hypersensitivity and hyposensitivity, while others experience just one. Since every child is unique, no two children will experience sensory processing disorder in the same way.
Depending on how children respond to sensory input, they may experience challenges with building effective communication skills. For example, if a child is hypersensitive to auditory sensory input, they may hear many different sounds more clearly than a child who is typically developing. This heightened sensitivity can make it extremely difficult for a child to focus on communicating, as they are also paying attention to many other sounds.
If a child has increased auditory sensitivity, they may have difficulty distinguishing between different speech sounds. This may result in speech and language delays.
From an oral-motor perspective, children with SPD who have tactile defensiveness may have challenges eating solid foods due to the texture. If a child is not chewing food, they are missing opportunities to develop oral-motor function and muscles. This lack of strength can make it difficult for children to produce speech sounds.
Remember, every child is unique, so SPD affects every child differently. In order to meet the individual communication needs of each child, their pediatric speech-language pathologist will develop a comprehensive treatment plan that targets their unique needs.
If any of this rings true for your child and you’re not seeing someone, you can still get help right away. Contact a speech and language pathologist who can conduct a thorough evaluation and go from there. No matter what the results are, you’ll be glad you did.