Treatments for Sensory Processing Disorder

People afflicted with sensory processing disorder find normal visual, auditory, olfactory and sensory stimuli overwhelming. A tag in a shirt, socks with misplaced seams and the light of a bright afternoon are all things that might drive a child with this disorder into hysterics. Adults with this disorder have usually found ways to cope with unwanted stimuli, but this is not always the case. They may find they are extremely unproductive and uncomfortable in environments that trigger their natural responses.

Sensory Diet

• Developing and implementing a sensory processing disorder diet, sometimes called a sensory integration disorder diet, allows patients to make careful decisions about when, where and how they will be exposed to unwanted stimuli.
  Identifying exactly the stimuli that causes a bad reaction as well as identifying stimuli patients find smoothing makes it possible to create environments that reduce unwanted feelings and behaviors related to stimuli.
  Although one cannot strip the world of unwanted noises, smells and sounds, one can certainly create or find places that do not have these triggers.

Occupational Therapy

• In this course of treatment, patients work with occupational therapists who address how to handle sensory processing disorder at work, at play, at home or in school. Specific exercises may be developed to help patients soothe themselves when unwanted stimuli occur. Patients may be taught how to quickly identify sources of unwanted stimuli and how to eliminate them or reduce their impact quickly and unobtrusively. For example, a child with SPD may be taught to choose a chair that allows him to face the teacher without looking into bright light from a window. He may be taught to use ear plugs to reduce the chaos of a normal classroom to normal levels.

Listening Therapy

• Auditory information has an intimate and direct impact on emotion and behavior. Information processed on this level is often unconscious. Listening therapy usually involves the use of CDs and very high-quality earphones to help integrate a patients emotions, movement and behavior. CDs are played at a level below speech (50 to 60 dB), and they are targeted at specific behaviors. Use of these tools is usually suggested by an occupational therapy or physician.

Medications

• Medications are almost never used to treat SPD. When a child with SPD takes medications, he is usually being treated for another illness like ADHD. In some cases, the medications actually make the SPD worse. Sensory diets, occupational therapy and listening therapy are some of the most commonly used treatments for people with SPD. If you or someone you know seems to be suffering from SPD, then seek professional help.