In the autism community, there is a lot of talk about sensory seeking. And we mean a LOT. Scroll through Pinterest, Instagram, or any websites that offer products for kids with special needs, and you'll find something that says the word "sensory." This buzzword is kind of loaded, but there's not a lot of explanation for it. So let's talk about it, what it means for children with special needs, and how you can help a loved one that experiences sensory processing issues.
What is Sensory Seeking?
Sensory Processing Disorder, SPD, is a continuum spectrum disorder, ranging from mild to severe, in which individuals experience sensitivities or aversions to what they can experience with their senses. If you remember from grade school, the five senses are taste, touch, sight, smell, and hearing. However, more recently, the STAR Institute has identified seven senses.
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Visual
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Auditory
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Olfactory (smell) System
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Gustatory (taste) System
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Vestibular (sense of head movement in space) System
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Proprioceptive (sensations from muscles and joints of the body) System
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Interoception
An individual with SPD may have trouble processing any of the sensory input in different settings. The senses ultimately manifest as signals in our neurological pathways, and those signals might not be interpreted differently than individuals without SPD.
Behaviorally, SPD can manifest itself in a lot of diverse ways. Some children might express or vocalize their dislike for specific sensory input. Some may scream, others may seem more closed off, and still, others might try to remove them from the situation. Some kids might not be able to tolerate the sensations of certain smells, textures, sights, and sounds and may have thrown a tantrum as a behavioral response. These episodes are often referred to as "sensory overload."
Their behaviors and responses to sensory stimulation can affect their relationships with peers, adults, the community, themselves, their productivity levels, leisure time, and health or hygiene.
What is going on in the brain?
Using an MRI scan, in a study from the University of San Francisco California, researchers studied the brains of children with SPD and typically developing children without SPD. Although the study and research are still in its early stages, it was concluded that the brains of children with SPD had a few differences. If you want to know exactly what that is, read these very confusing statements from UC San Francisco.
The researchers found a strong correlation between the microstructural abnormalities in the white matter of the posterior cerebral tracts focused on sensory processing and the auditory, multisensory and inattention scores reported by parents in the Sensory Profile. The strongest correlation was for auditory processing, with other correlations observed for multi-sensory integration, vision, tactile and inattention.
If you had trouble understanding that, no worries, so did we. Long story short, kids with SPD's brains have different ways of interpreting information from their environment than their typically developing peers. They especially noticed that the back of the brain in the parts that are known to process stimuli varied between the two groups, proving that there is a cognitive difference in the SPD group's brain's interpretation of external stimuli.
Do all kids who have Sensory Processing Disorder also have Autism Spectrum Disorder?
The two are not mutually exclusive, so the short answer is no. However, children on the Autism Spectrum can also have Sensory Processing Disorder. SPD and ASD are frequently mistaken for one another, which is where the confusion sometimes comes in.
What helps?
A lot of people will tell you a lot of different ways to help a child with SPD. The first and foremost thing that needs to be done is to consult a professional. Your child's pediatrician should be able to give you a referral to an occupational therapist that specializes in helping with sensory processing disorder in kiddos. If not, a quick Google search and a few phone calls should do the trick to help find a good OT for your kiddo.
Second, try desensitizing. A lot of the adverse reactions and behaviors a child might be having are caused by their lack of integration or interaction with a new sight, sound, feeling, smell, or taste. Take it little by little. It is kind of a frustrating process at times, but it is wholly worthwhile when it's over. We have written a few articles about helping desensitize children to various new environments, and the basic rules of desensitization are as follows:
- Identify the problem. Which of the senses does your child not process well?
- Figure out an activity that subtly introduces and incorporates the thing that your child has an aversion to. For example, if bath time is a problem for your kiddo, try using shaving cream to distract them from the things that they are sensitive with during bath time.
- Continue trying to incorporate the things that they have an aversion to, increasing the amount and frequency. Fundamentally, this practice is desensitizing your child to the senses that are causing their overload.
- Keep at it. Sometimes, it can feel like you're taking one step forward and two steps back. Other times, milestones can become huge celebrations.
- Consult an Occupational Therapist. They might be able to help fill in the gaps of where your child might need a little extra help.
What do "sensory toys" actually do?
You might have seen all those DIY calm down bottles, fidgets, squishes, and other sensory toys the internet seems to be obsessed with. These toys can help kids focus, calm themselves, and provide good sensory input. Sensory toys provide children with additional feedback and input that they are not receiving from their environment.
Going Forward
Sensory Processing Disorder is a unique and complicated disorder. Just how everyone is different, every case of SPD is different. What might work for some might not work for others. The best thing you can do for a child with SPD is to try to get outside help from an Occupational Therapist.