About Sensory Processing Disorder

Your pre-schooler screams in pain at the sound of a fire engine. Your toddler resists any hugs. Your grade schooler has severe difficulty with handwriting. These are all symptoms of a neurological condition called sensory processing disorder in which difficulty processing sensory information overwhelms a person's daily life.

Controversy

• Not all doctors believe that sensory processing disorder exists because it is not yet listed in all diagnostic manuals. New research, however, including a study by Davies and Gavin in 2007, lends physiologic evidence to the diagnosis.

Symptoms

• According to the Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation, symptoms of the disorder differ based on age and the senses affected. In some children, a straightforward symptom like refusing to eat foods of a certain texture might be experienced. In other cases, behavioral issues like explosive outbursts might be the primary symptom.

Diagnosis

• Currently, diagnosis is usually made by an occupational therapist after interviews, screening and testing. A physician can also make the diagnosis, which can aid in insurance coverage for treatment.

Occupational Therapy

• Occupational therapists have been treating sensory processing disorder for decades and a recent study from Lucy Jane Miller et al. gave empirical evidence that this approach appears to help.

Other Therapy

• People with sensory processing disorder may also benefit from physical therapy, listening therapy or brushing therapy.