How to Recognize & Cope With Sensory Processing Disorder

Children with sensory processing disorder (SPD), or sensory integration dysfunction, have a problem with the way their brain processes sensory signals. A child with SPD might be misdiagnosed as having either attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or autism, since all three are pervasive developmental disorders. According to the Spiral Foundation, 5 to 13 percent of children entering school have SPD, and 75 percent of them are boys. Though the problem generally occurs in childhood, the symptoms can persist throughout adulthood if left untreated.

Instructions

• 1

  Study the disorder. Read about cases of SPD and understand that since it has yet to be proven as an actual psychological disorder, it is not listed in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual. Your child might also be experiencing other disorders, such as autism and ADHD. SPD differs from autism and ADHD in that the child with SPD typically behaves normally except in his interaction using some or all of his five senses. The best way to determine what your child's symptoms indicate is to discuss them with a professional.

• 2

  Become familiar with your child's habits. Is he overly sensitive to noise or touch, acting out against wearing certain clothes or eating certain foods? Or is he not sensitive enough? Does he bang into things with no thought of how these actions can affect him? If he becomes frustrated easily and has trouble handling new situations, it could be a sign he has SPD.

• 3

  Discuss your thoughts with a psychologist or therapist. Tell him that you have read about the disorder and think your child is experiencing symptoms. Because some psychologists disagree that SPD is a disorder, contact the Sensory Therapies and Research Center near Denver to understand the disorder better.

• 4

  Try activities designed to help his agitation or to better understand the limits of his own body. According to "Time" magazine, A. Jean Ayre, the first person to write about SPD, suggested that people with SPD have problems identifying their relationship to their arms and legs, as well as their body's relationship to gravity. It is because of this that children need to be shown how to interact with their senses. For an oversensitive child, low lighting and gentleness when gradually being presented with the sensations he dislikes will help him overcome problems with sensitivity. For an under-sensitive child, have her exercise and teach her about her body, helping her to understand what her body can and cannot do.