Sensory Processing Disorder

By DOUGLAS TITTERINGTON

"Sensory Processing Disorder" provides a comprehensive exploration of the complexities surrounding sensory processing challenges, offering practical strategies, insightful guidance, and a sense of empowerment for individuals, families, and professionals navigating this often misunderstood condition. From decoding sensory experiences to implementing effective interventions, this book serves as a beacon of hope and support for those seeking to understand and overcome the obstacles associated with SPD.

Decoding Sensory Experiences: Gain a deeper understanding of sensory processing differences and how they manifest in everyday life, empowering you to recognize and interpret the unique sensory needs of individuals with SPD.

Navigating Everyday Challenges: Discover evidence-based strategies and practical tips for managing common challenges associated with sensory processing difficulties, such as sensory overload, meltdowns, and sensory-seeking behaviors, fostering a more supportive and inclusive environment.

Creating Sensory-Friendly Environments: Learn how to design and adapt home, school, and community environments to better accommodate sensory needs, promoting comfort, safety, and participation for individuals with SPD.

Empowering Self-Advocacy: Equip individuals with SPD with the tools and strategies needed to advocate for their sensory needs and preferences, fostering autonomy, self-awareness, and confidence in navigating the world.

Collaborating with Professionals: Explore the importance of collaboration between families, educators, therapists, and other stakeholders in supporting individuals with SPD, ensuring a coordinated and holistic approach to intervention and support.

Fostering Understanding and Acceptance: Promote greater awareness, understanding, and acceptance of sensory processing differences within society, fostering a culture of empathy, inclusion, and support for individuals with SPD and their families.

? Embark on a journey of understanding, empowerment, and resilience with "Sensory Processing Disorder." Whether you're a parent, educator, clinician, or individual living with SPD, this book offers valuable insights, practical strategies, and a sense of hope for navigating the challenges and celebrating the strengths associated with sensory processing differences. Take the first step toward embracing neurodiversity and fostering a world where everyone's sensory needs are recognized, respected, and supported! ?

• Language: English
• Publisher: DOUGLAS TITTERINGTON
• Release date: Apr 17, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224208180

Book preview

Douglas Titterington

Sensory Processing Disorder

Copyright © 2023 by Douglas Titterington

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

First edition

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Contents

1. Introduction

2. What is SPD?

3. Data and Statistics in The World

4. Difference Between Autism and SPD

5. Sensory Processing in Infants and Children: A Typical Development

6. What Parents Need to Do

7. The Parent as Therapist

8. The Gustatory and Olfactory Senses

9. Tactile Dysfunction

10. Vestibular Dysfunction

11. Proprioceptive Dysfunction

12. Visual Dysfunction

13. Auditory Dysfunction

14. Chapter 13 Motor Planning

15. Low Muscle Tone

16. Sensory Processing at All Ages

17. Medication and Treatment

18. Conclusion

1

Introduction

Sensory Processing illness (SPD) is a neurodevelopmental illness characterized by sensory processing problems. Many children and adults may have SPD without ever realizing it.

The condition might be present from birth or appear before the age of three. Overwhelmed by light, sound, touch, taste, and/or smell; emotional response to sensory stimuli; decreased sensitivity to pain; frequent motor tics and/or fidgeting; difficulty with motor skills such as handwriting or fine motor activities such as tying shoelaces are some common SPD symptoms.

SPD is defined by the following characteristics: difficulties with one or more of the five senses, such as sight, hearing, taste, touch, or smell; repetitive and compulsive behaviors that are not based on an underlying mental disorder; at least six months of age; onset during the developmental period (age 0-3); associated with learning disabilities; and lack of response to treatment. SPD can be caused by another condition, such as autism spectrum disorder or attention deficit disorder.

SPD is diagnosed through observation and a thorough evaluation by a professional diagnostician. Measuring sensory processing and monitoring motor development are examples of these evaluations. However, this is insufficient evidence to make an SPD diagnosis; additional information should be gathered through observations. If a child is suspected of having SPD but the diagnosis cannot be verified by observation, the child should be referred to a mental health expert for additional testing.

Therapy is frequently used to assist children with SPD to improve and correct their sensory processing deficits. Some SPD children may benefit from behavioral therapy or another sort of therapy. Behavioral therapy prepares children to learn and apply new skills. Other therapies, such as occupational, physical, or speech therapy, may be suggested. A therapist will create a

Individual needs, strengths, and limitations of the person with SPD, as well as family status and preferences, will all be included in the treatment plan.

This condition currently has no treatment. However, there is continuing research to find a technique to lessen SPD symptoms and thus improve sensory function.

2

What is SPD?

Have you been put off by many claims that SPD isn’t a real disorder?

Many SPD parents recognize that their child’s behaviors aren’t just a phase, something they’ll grow out of, or naughty behavior that demands more discipline. In this book, we look at the research and facts behind SPD and how it affects your kid.

Imagine your brain having difficulty sending and receiving information, and everything in your reality being twisted and amplified. This is the world of people with Sensory Processing Disorders.

Things we sense with our eyes, ears, and hands are taken for granted. We appreciate the flavor of food or the smell of freshly baked bread every time we eat. Imagine if you couldn’t enjoy those things, or if your senses caused everything in your life to turn upside down.

Those suffering from SPD become highly sensitive to their surroundings, to the point that they are unable to function. Common sounds, such as a blow dryer, might be painful and overpowering if you have SPD.

A light touch of a tag on a shirt may chafe your skin and irritate you greatly. Worse, crowds can be intolerable, preventing you from leaving the house or attending school. SPD can result in over- or under-responsiveness.

For example, a child with SPD may vomit at the table if they hear a leaf blower outside their window. They may also scream at the smallest touch or flinch from particular food textures to the point that they are unable to eat normally. Worse, a child with SPD may be under-responsive, failing to react to acute heat or pain.

Those suffering from the illness may experience meltdowns or tantrums that cause dread and trauma.

Children with SPD may appear incredibly clumsy or may frequently bump into things. They may also have difficulty conversing or playing with friends. Adults can be affected by this illness, and sensory issues are typical in people with developmental abnormalities such as autism.

Despite the fact that many people, including medical professionals, agree that this should change, Sensory Processing Disorder is not classified as a separate disorder. SPD may be diagnosed if these symptoms interfere with and disturb daily living.

Sensory processing is your body’s ability to receive information through the central nervous system. Your senses of sight, smell, touch, hearing, and tasting allow you to fully perceive the world.

Your brain helps you organize the information you observe by giving it meaning and guiding you in how to act on it. Sensory integration is the foundation of all learning, so image how difficult it would be if your senses didn’t work like most people’s.

Your senses allow you to enjoy the world around you, and without them, the world would be a very dreary place. The ability to sense and comprehend things begins in the womb and continues to develop throughout your life.

The first few years of childhood are regarded critical for establishing your sensory-motor skills since they lay the groundwork for you to prosper in your adult life.

Because they offer a framework that supports you throughout life, your senses allow you to feel comfortable and secure in the world.

Sensory processing disorder is a condition caused by neurological disarray that disrupts the nervous system’s processing. The brain does not receive messages properly in SPD—, in other words, the messages received are incoherent. Messages may also fail to integrate effectively with other sensory data from linked systems.

Those suffering from SPD may:

Excessive sensitivity to sights, noises, movement, or touch.

Be overly sensitive to sights, noises, movement, and touch. You are easily distracted.

Have emotional or social difficulties.

May have an odd activity level, i.e., too high or too low.

Transitioning from one situation to the next may be tough.

Inability to control oneself.

Be reckless or clumsy.

I’m having trouble relaxing.

Poor self-esteem.

Speech or linguistic delays.

Motor skill delays.

Problems with academic performance.

SPD was discovered in the mid-1900s, but it didn’t gain much attention until Dr. Jean Ayres, an occupational therapist, published Sensory Integration and Learning Disorders in 1972.

Dr. Ayers was an occupational therapist, educational psychologist, and neuroscientist from the United States who pioneered the study of sensory processing disorder. Dr. Ayers’ book investigated the links between sensory processing and the behaviors of disabled children.

Her views were based on the premise that when a child’s sensory processing is compromised, it can lead to social, emotional, motor, and functional issues, as well as sensory integrative dysfunction.

Dr. Ayer’s work was based on studies that linked sensory processing to learning disabilities. Dr. Ayers died in 1988, yet her work lives on through the research of others.

It is believed that 5% of the population, and possibly up to 13%, suffer from sensory processing disorder.

Sensory Processing Disorder has been known by various names over the years.

Sensory Integration Disorder (SID).

Dysfunction of Sensory Integration.

Sensory Integration Dysfunction.

Do you suspect your child has a sensory processing disorder?

Many parents may find it reassuring to finally have answers and an explanation for why their child interprets sensory information differently than others.

In this book, we attempt to explain SPD in a way that is understandable to you.

Teachers, friends, and family members are just some of the people that don’t understand what SPD is or how to support someone who has it. We break SPD down in this book so you can see how unique we all are!

(If you find this book valuable, please share it with others.)

What Is the Impact of SPD on You?

Sensory processing disorder, which affects not only children but also teenagers and adults, may be disastrous for families. SPD affects all aspects of life, from family interactions to school, jobs, and so on.

Excessive risk-taking or jumping and crashing into things, poor athletic performance, difficulty with manual dexterity like putting puzzles together, covering their ears because of everyday noises like hair dryers or toilets flushing, wearing only certain clothing, eating only certain foods, inability to calm themselves or get to sleep, and many other behaviors are common in children.

Children who have SPD may:

Be terrified of being touched or refuse to play with anything unpleasant or filthy.

Some people have unreasonable concerns, such as being scared of playground equipment.

Fear of large crowds is possible.

They may be unable to organize themselves effectively at school or at home. They may seek organization in all aspects of their lives, from their bedroom to the food on their plate.

You could have trouble falling asleep at night. It is possible that you will have difficulty sitting up.

Risky behavior, like jumping from a tree, is possible.

Consider a world in which all of your senses were heightened or enlarged. Most people find it difficult to understand, but for those with SPD, typical everyday activities can be terrifying.

Children with this disease are frequently stuck in an emotional prison, with caretakers and loved ones attempting to understand and assist them. However, information is power, and understanding this disease is the first step toward treatment.

Sensory Processing is an essential aspect of life. Those suffering from sensory processing disorder may struggle with:

Academic abilities.

Auditory discrimination is difficult.

Problems with concentration.

Problems with hearing or auditory processing.

Problems with balance.

Problems with bilateral coordination.

Body awareness issues Body positioning issues

Kinesthesia, or the knowledge of the position and movement of body parts through sensory organs, is a problem.

Inadequate emotional security.

Hand-eye coordination issues.

Eye-foot coordination issues.

Problems with fine motor skills.

Problems with adaptability.

Gravity-related issues make it difficult to feel secure.

Maintaining healthy relationships is difficult.

Muscle tone is low.

Postural instability.

Self-soothing that is pathological.

Self-esteem issues.

Problems with self-defense.

Social skills difficulty.

There are issues with tactile stimulation.

Visual issues.

There’s a lot more.

Did you know that a significant proportion of children with SPD do not have autism spectrum disorder?

Unlike other Sensory Processing Disorder materials, this book focuses only on SPD in children and adults, excluding other common conditions such as ADHD, Autism, and Asperger’s.

Before getting into the specifics of the many different types of sensory processing disorders, it’s important to understand how the five senses work in the human body.

The Five Primary Senses

Visual or sight.

Auditory or auditory.

Tactile means to feel or touch.

Olfactory or smell.

Gustatory or Taste

Additional Sense - In terms of movement and position:

Vestibular: Aids in balance and spatial organization in relation to the ear.

Proprioception is the sense of the relative position of nearby bodily parts.

Interception: This sense detects internal regulatory reactions such as respiration, hunger, heart rate, and digestive excretion.

The human body has two separate neural systems:

The Central Neural System and the Autonomic Nervous System.

The Central Nervous System, the nervous system’s processing core, uses the brain and spinal cord.

The sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems are two divisions of the autonomic nervous system, which regulates the functions of internal organs such as the heart and stomach.

The sympathetic nervous system regulates one’s ability to respond to emergencies, sometimes known as the fight or flight response. The sympathetic nervous system regulates heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure. This system also produces adrenaline, which provides energy during an emergency. When someone is apprehensive or anxious, the sympathetic nervous system may also be activated.

The opposing response is produced by the parasympathetic nervous system. It slows the heart rate, blood pressure, and even respiration. The parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for restoring the body to a state of tranquility or quiet in order for the body to save energy.

There is an interplay between feeling and movement. Sensory messages from the environment enter the body. The central nervous system processes the messages and aids in their integration. The sensory messages received assist someone in achieving the proper motor response.

Among the co-occurring disorders are:

Autism.

Asperger syndrome is a type of autism.

ADHD stands for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Language problems.

Learning difficulties.

PTSD is an acronym for post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Syndrome of Fragile X.

Sensory Processing Disorder can impact just one sense, such as sight or hearing, or it can affect several senses. Each case is distinct. The disease is also sometimes misdiagnosed as ADHD. It is conceivable for a youngster to be misdiagnosed and to grow up still experiencing symptoms of the condition.

SPD does not have an established cause. According to Web MD, a 2006 study on twins revealed that hypersensitivity to light and sound may have a