Sensory Processing Challenges

Based on your child’s exam today, your therapist at Seattle Children’s may recommend a thorough evaluation and follow-up with a community based (OT) who has experience working with children with challenges. We will provide you with activities for home and recommended reading.

What are sensory Sensory processing challenges (SPC) happen when a child cannot manage processing sensory signals from their body and/or the world around them in a useful way. They may be referred to as Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). SPD used to challenges? be called Sensory Integration Dysfunction (SID).

• Children with poor sensory processing may have a hard moving their bodies. • They may become upset by too much noise or when their hands get messy. These problems with the can affect the way a child behaves, moves, plays and learns. • Children with SPCs may not notice sensory input. For example, they may not recognize when they are hurt.

At what age can my SPCs can affect people of all child develop ages. Symptoms may be detected in infancy or later SPCs? childhood. It often shares features of other diagnoses like spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and .

What senses are You’ll notice below there is a wide variety of responses to senses for children affected? with SPCs.

Sight Bright lights may bother your child’s eyes.

Sound Your child may cover their or run away from loud sounds like alarms and the vacuum cleaner or talk too loudly in quiet settings.

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To Learn More Free Interpreter Services • Occupational and • In the hospital, ask your nurse. 206-987-2113 • From outside the hospital, call the • Ask your child’s healthcare provider toll-free Family Interpreting Line, 1-866-583-1527. Tell the interpreter • seattlechildrens.org the name or extension you need.

Sensory Processing Challenges

Taste/smell The , or smell of foods may cause your child to push food away, refuse to eat or hold food in their mouth.

Touch Your child may become very upset by the feel of a shirt tag on their neck, or when their hair is combed. They may not notice when their clothes are twisted.

Movement Your child may appear clumsy, trip or fall a lot or become scared when swinging. They may want to swing, jump or run around much more than other children.

Body Your child may use too much force when petting a dog or writing with a pencil. They may appear clumsy and have a harder time to ride a bike or throw a ball. They also may have poor awareness of their internal sensations of , feeling full (satiety), bladder and bowel fullness as well as . This is called .

Sensory Processing SPD can affect children in different ways. Some children are affected by Disorder sensory processing challenges more than others. A child can have a hard time with any number of senses. The way they react to sensory input may also change from day to day or place to place. For example, at home a child may behave well, but in a busy classroom they may get in trouble for pushing others in line, having sudden outbursts or not staying on task. SPD exists on a spectrum, ranging from not noticing sensations (under- responsive) to very aware of sensations (over-responsive). A child may be anywhere along this line (see below):

To understand what your child may be going through, how would you feel if:

• A person touched you lightly and that touch felt painful. Would you protect your body by pushing the touch away? Would you scream? Would you run away and try to escape this touch every time? • You could not figure out how to move your body to get on a bike and ride. After trying several , you were still not able to get on and ride. Would you become frustrated or even angry?

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Resources for SPC It is hard for us to fully explain this condition in a short time while evaluating your child. Many medical providers do not fully understand this condition, and it is often unnoticed and misunderstood. To better understand SPCs, we encourage you to read more about it. We recommend the websites and books below.

Websites • Understanding Sensory Processing Issues - Understood understood.org/en/learning-thinking-differences/child-learning- disabilities/sensory-processing-issues/understanding-sensory-processing- issues

• Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation spdfoundation.net

Books • Sensational Kids: Hope and Help for Children with Sensory Processing Disorder Lucy Miller, 2014.

• The Out-of-Sync Child: Recognizing and Coping with Sensory Processing Disorder Carol Kranowitz, 2006.

• The Sensory-Sensitive Child, Practical Solutions for Out-of-Bounds Behavior Karen A. Smith and Karen R. Gouze, 2005.

Seattle Children’s offers interpreter services for Deaf, hard of or non-English speaking patients, family members and legal representatives free of charge. Seattle Children’s will make this information available in alternate formats upon request. Call the 12/20 Family Resource Center at 206-987-2201. This handout has been reviewed by clinical staff at Seattle Children’s. However, your child’s PE1108 needs are unique. Before you act or rely upon this information, please talk with your child’s healthcare provider. © 2020 Seattle Children’s, Seattle, Washington. All rights reserved.

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