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Do you think your toddler might be overly sensitive? Do you think that you might have an adorable klutz on your hands? Do you think he likes screaming for no reason?
There’s always a reason, and in your child’s case, it could very well be a sensory issue.
Possible Sensory Issues
Sensory processing problems usually become apparent in the toddler years when parents observe that their children may be extra sensitive to any number of things. For some kids, it might be certain sounds. It doesn’t even have to be loud noises. At times, it could be ambient noises that the rest of us don’t even register anymore.
In other cases, it could be anything from the light, to the feel of their clothes or shoes, to the smell of a place, to the texture of food, et cetera. Sometimes, it’s not just that sensing these things are annoying or uncomfortable; in some cases, it can be downright painful for the child. It can also be debilitating as sensory issues can sometimes cause clumsy movements and difficulty with fine motor skills.
It can be very puzzling and certainly alarming for parents when they see their kids exhibiting seemingly unexplainable extreme behaviors. Here are some examples of how sensory issues manifest:
- Putting inedible objects such as paint and rocks into their mouths (a disorder called Pica)
- Refusing to get their faces wet and screaming when it happens
- Preferring to go around naked and giving you a hard time when you dress them
- Showing a seemingly unusual pain threshold, either too low or too high
- Often bumping into people and things, as well as other signs of frequent clumsiness
- Walking on tiptoes
They may also manifest as extreme pickiness when it comes to food. Top nutrition experts have tips and tricks for getting toddlers to eat better, but the problem may lie somewhere beyond ordinary fussiness.
Look into distinguishing child sensory and behavioral feeding problems if your child seems to be averse to certain tastes, smells, and textures. Therapy may be necessary.
Not a Disorder?
Sensory Processing Disorder is a term that’s already going around parenting and early childhood care and development circles, but according to psychiatrists, it’s not recognized by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual.
They attribute sensory problems to autism, but there are so many children who suffer from sensory processing issues but who are not on the autism spectrum. The unofficial disorder is clearly not exclusive to autism. It also accompanies symptoms of ADHD, OCD, as well as other developmental delays.
SPD Background
Sensory processing problems first came under attention when Dr. A. Jean Ayres identified them in the ‘70s. He said that some brains can’t process all the information coming in through the not just five, but seven, senses. Besides the sense of sight, smell, hearing, taste, and touch, there are also proprioception or body awareness and vestibular or movement.
What are these two extra “internal” senses all about?
1. Proprioception
The proprioceptive system refers to the receptors in the joints and ligaments that allow for posture and motor control. They tell the brain how to move based on the position of the body in relation to the objects around it.
When their receptors are hypersensitive, they have a hard time realizing exactly where they are in relation to the objects around them, and they can’t properly gauge the amount of force they’re applying in performing tasks. This explains the clumsiness.
2. Balance and spatial orientation
The vestibular system, which is located in the inner ear, is responsible for the body’s sense of balance and coordination. When children’s vestibular receptors are hypersensitive, they crave fast, constant motion and intense movement, like spinning and jumping on trampolines, but they may fear activities that require balance, such as biking and climbing the jungle gym.
Early Intervention
Whatever the reason may be behind it and whether it is an acknowledged disorder in itself or not, there is now an ever-increasing number of cases of sensory processing disorder. Parents have to be vigilant in spotting red flags in their children. As with many children of atypical development, early intervention is recommended. Consult your doctor if you suspect your child of having sensory processing issues.
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