Our brain’s amazing capacity to take in, understand, and react to the diverse range of sensory data that is all around us is known as sensory processing. We explore, learn about, and interact with our surroundings through this complex network of senses. However, a disorder known as Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) develops when this balance is disturbed. Before we analyze behaviors related to sensory seeking and sensory avoiding information, let’s first understand what SPD is.
What is Sensory Processing Disorder?
The condition known as Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) affects how your brain interprets stimuli (information) that are sensed by your body. Children with SPD may struggle with processing sensory information. This makes it challenging for them to react appropriately to such information. Things that you can see, hear, smell, taste, or touch are considered sensory information.
SPD can affect one sense or multiple senses. It often indicates an oversensitivity to stimuli that other individuals do not experience. However, the disorder may also have the opposite impact. The development and behavior of a child may be affected by this condition.
It’s essential to understand that sensory seeking and sensory avoiding behaviors are not always harmful or troublesome. In fact, it may be a natural and beneficial approach for people to interact with their environment and fulfill their sensory needs. Giving the right kind of assistance and direction, however, could be required if sensory seeking or sensory avoiding gets out of control or interferes with day-to-day activities. Their capacity to fully engage in daily routines, social activities, and schooling may be considerably impacted by these difficulties.
What are the signs of Sensory Processing Disorder?
Children with sensory processing disorders often exhibit either hypo- or hyper-sensitivity (Sensory seeking or sensory avoiding) to sensory inputs; however, they might exhibit both.
- Sensory Seeking Behaviors (Hyposensitivity): Compared to their classmates, children who are hyposensitive react to sensory stimuli less strongly and are more likely to seek out new experiences to make up for what they are lacking.
- Sensory Avoiding Behaviors (Hypersensitivity): These children react to sensory stimuli more strongly than their classmates do, and they also prefer to avoid sensory situations because they feel overstimulated and want to retreat.
Sensory Seeking Behaviors
Children with sensory processing disorder (SPD) may display various kinds of actions and reactions to stimuli. Among these is sensory seeking behavior. It describes the intentional seeking and need for sensory stimulation. It is necessary to understand the reasons behind these actions and make sure they don’t interfere with day-to-day activities.
It’s interesting to note that children with a wide range of disorders, including autism and ADHD, can exhibit sensory seeking behaviors. Children with ADHD, for instance, might have a craving for sensory stimulation to feel more awake and engaged. Similar to this, children with autism may turn to sensory stimulation to help them deal with the overstimulating sensory environment they live in.
Some indicators that your child may be sensory-seeking or hyposensitive are:
- Have a poor sense of personal space and talk to others while standing too closely.
- Possessing an exceptionally intense desire to touch and feel objects and people
- Appearing clumsy, disengaged, or aloof.
- Lack of self-awareness regarding their strengths
- Unable to recognize whether they are speaking too quietly or loudly
- Having lots of energy and finding it difficult to calm down when required
- Experiencing oral fixation; putting non-food items into the mouth.
- Prefer to play “rough” on the playground (sprinting, jumping, and colliding with objects and others, perhaps to the point of being hazardous).
- Possess a very high pain tolerance.
- Squeezing the body into tight spaces
- Oral fixation: placing objects in the mouth that are not food.
- Take big, noisy steps when walking.
Sensory Avoiding Behaviours
Sensory avoiding behaviour occurs when a child intentionally avoids sensory stimuli. Avoiding bright lights, loud noises, and other strong stimuli are a few examples of this. Children with anxiety disorders or sensory processing disorders, who may experience overload from specific sensory stimuli, may exhibit sensory avoidance behaviours.
Some indicators that your child may be sensory-seeking or hypersensitive are:
- Potentially disturbed by background sounds that are audible to others
- Has an intolerance for new foods and reacts strongly to specific foods, scents, or textures.
- Becomes irritated at even little changes to routine and trying new things.
- Avoids hugs and cuddles and is uncomfortable being touched.
- Refuses to wear irritating or uncomfortable clothes.
- Is disturbed by bright lights.
- Often overwhelmed by people and crowded areas; prefers calm areas Extremely afraid of loud, unexpected noises and sounds
How can you help a child with Sensory Processing Disorder?
We at the Dr. Beema Clinic can help you treat disorders related to sensory processing in children. Our occupational therapists give individualized sensory integration treatment based on each child’s individual needs, and we do thorough assessments and profiles of sensory processing. We also use extremely effective Ayurveda treatments for sensory seeking and sensor avoiding in addition to sensory integration therapy.
- Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Therapy: Behaviour disorders, motor skill impairments, and communication problems can all be treated using applied behaviour analysis (ABA). It involves utilising learning principles to make long-lasting, beneficial adjustments in your child’s life. For instance, applying the “reinforcement” principle makes it more likely that a desired behaviour will occur in similar circumstances down the road. In our Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Therapy Center in Muvattupuzha, Dr. Beema Clinic provides the best ABA therapy thanks to our distinctive integration of the benefits of Ayurveda, modern medical research, advanced equipment, and proven reliable methods. Our skilled ABA professionals use research-proven techniques to teach adaptive skills and enhance your child’s social, communicative, and academic abilities.
- Ayurveda Sensory Diets: A customised plan that includes sensory exercises and techniques to assist children with difficulties in sensory processing. Ayurvedic Panchakarma treatments like nasya, in which medicinal oil or decoction is injected via the nose to open up and stimulate the olfactory system and correct taste and smell, are examples of sensory diets that stimulate the sensory system.
- Sensory Integration Therapy: Our occupational therapists (OT) systematically and repeatedly expose children with SPD to sensory stimuli. This will ultimately improve the brain’s ability to interpret and react to feelings over time. While exposing the kid to various stimuli, the occupational therapist develops and teaches coping mechanisms. The way the activities are presented gives the child the opportunity to experience sensory stimulation without feeling overstimulated in an enjoyable, regulated manner. Dr.Beema Clinic provides the best Sensory Integration Therapy Treatment in Kerala. For further information on occupational therapy, contact us at the Dr.Beema Clinic. Our occupational therapy professionals can assist you and your child with their sensory processing difficulties at our Occupational Therapy Center in Kerala.
Using Sensory Tools and Equipment:
- Sensory Swings: Provides vestibular stimulation and may be calming for individuals who are looking for motion.
- Weighted vests and blankets: Induce deep pressure, which has a relaxing effect.
- Aromatherapy Diffusers: These devices utilise calming smells to encourage relaxation, such as chamomile or lavender.
- Fidget toys: By offering tactile stimulation, these toys aid with attention and self-soothing.
- Noise-Cancelling Headphones: Lessens auditory input and lessen vulnerability to loud noises.
- Yoga: Yoga can improve muscular tone and body awareness in children with SPD. It can enhance fine and gross motor abilities, bilateral coordination, motor planning, and balance. In addition to regular pranayama practice, asanas like vrikshasana, thaadasanam, and paadahastha asana help balance the chakras and align the nervous system, which promotes internal healing and improves sensory processing.
- Sensory Room: The rooms are set up to provide a comfortable, stress-free environment for kids with sensory processing disorders to interact and experiment with their senses. These rooms typically have aromatherapy, soft lighting, soothing colours and sounds, and a variety of play stimuli that offer various sensory inputs.
In Conclusion
The quality of life of children with SPD may be significantly improved by addressing their sensory demands through methods including creating a sensory-friendly environment, implementing a sensory diet, integrating techniques into practice, and getting assistance from professionals. Children with difficulties with sensory seeking or sensory avoiding behaviour can have fulfilling lives if they are given the time, space, and assistance they need from family, friends, and specialists.
Recognizing the distinctive ways in which each individual interprets their sensory surroundings is the key to understanding sensory seeking and avoidance. The aim is to embrace diversity with empathy, understanding that each touch, sound, and texture adds to the unique experience of our lives.
