5 Things You Need to Know About Sensory Integration Disorder

1. Sensory Avoidance

Sensory Integration Disorder usually involves at least some sensory avoidance. Textures feel different to people with SID. Because of this, they can't stand the feel of certain things. Young children who have SID may have problems with solid foods, and prefer baby food texture. Things such as pudding and mashed potatoes are too much for some SID sufferers. Playdoh is not a fun toy for many SID kids. With the help of an occupational therapist, new and different textures are introduced slowly and eventually tolerated.

2. Sensory Seeking

Sensory seeking in Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) is a reference to seeking out certain textures, feelings or pressures. Children with SPD often stroke blankets, soft textures and animals over and over. Some crawl into tight spaces to get the pressure their body craves. Toe-walking is a very common sensory seeking behavior. Children who sensory seek often mouth objects. This involves licking and putting them in their mouth just to feel them. These behaviors range from barely noticeable, such as the blanket stroking, to severe, such as the child who bangs his head on a wall. An occupational therapist works to find more socially acceptable outlets and ways to seek those same senses.

3. Responses May Vary

Many times, there is a combination in people with SPD. In this case, a person may be sensitive to sounds, but have a high physical pain tolerance. The responsiveness to different senses varies greatly.

4. Under-Responsive Goes to Extremes

If there is sensory under-responsiveness, the person needs to go to extremes to get the same sensory input that is experienced through daily activities for most people. Extremely loud noises and screaming can be enjoyable. Playing very rough is common. Often, the pain tolerance of the SID person with under-responsiveness is extremely high. Since they do not process pain properly, do a thorough examination if an injury is suspected, just to rule out serious injuries that may not be obvious.

5. Over-Responsive Feel Pain Deeply

Over responsiveness is when normal sensory experiences overload the SPD sufferer. Noises that seem low make their ears and head hurt. Light touches may make them cringe. The physical response to these senses is extreme and very uncomfortable. A small bump or scratch is devastating to these sufferers. Many times others label them attention seekers, but in fact, they are not just looking for attention. They are really in severe pain due to their abnormal responses.