What happens when we are uncomfortable? Think about shoes that are too tight, wearing too many layers in the summer, or ten people asking you questions at once. Think about noticing and feeling everything all the time, being unable to distinguish where the discomfort comes from, and being unable to tune it out. What does that feel like, and what does that feeling mean for someone’s ability to feel calm, secure, and comfortable not only in their environment, but in their own body? What does it mean for social interactions? What does it mean for mood? The link between sensory processing disorder and difficulties with emotional regulation runs deep.
Sensory Processing Disorder: Symptoms & Behaviors
Our senses help us understand the world around us. For individuals with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), sensory input and sensory information are not as easily organized in the brain. SPD is a neurological condition that interferes with the brain’s ability to interpret sensory information. A person with SPD can have sensitivity in any or multiple senses – sight, taste, smell, sound, touch, or movement. They can also overinterpret or under interpret sensory information, as well as avoid or seek sensory input in an effort to better regulate. This may look like:
- Avoiding certain textures (long sleeves)
- Avoiding sounds (loud noises)
- Seeking certain movements (swinging)
- Seeking pressure (tight hugs)
SPD is not typically a stand-alone condition, and the behavioral reactions to SPD often overlap, or get confused with, the symptoms associated with other diagnoses. Anxiety, autism, ADHD, and oppositional defiant disorder all have many overlapping symptoms.
Kids can end up expressing their internal discomfort, wherever it comes from, as frustration, irritability, outbursts, meltdowns, crying, isolating, or high energy and activity. Across groups, these sorts of difficulties with emotional regulation tend to be what is noticed and most easily observable.
Identifying Sensory Triggers
If your child has SPD, you may notice that certain sensory experiences can trigger them. For instance, they may be hypersensitive to a texture or type of fabric. Wearing particular items of clothing, like socks or shoes, can be an overwhelming experience. This in turn can make simple tasks a little more complicated, like getting ready for school or getting out the front door on time. For other kids with SPD, it could be a specific odor or food that provokes discomfort or even a meltdown. Kids with SPD may also have trouble with coordination and spatial recognition. Whatever the case, it’s important to first understand what environments or sensations cause dysregulation in order to move forward with a plan.
How to Help
Sensory Processing Disorder is complex, but there are ways to help. There are numerous activities and exercises that help kids with SPD practice sensory integration, including. Occupational Therapy is a common intervention for SPD, and one to consider if you are seeking professional support. Therapists can help children with SPD identify triggers and come up with strategies that allow them to take part in everyday activities more comfortably. Your child’s pediatrician can help connect you with a specialist.You can also help your child manage their SPD symptoms with Mightier!
Mightier is a game-based emotional regulation tool that helps kids build calming skills while they play. Mightier won’t remove sensory triggers, but it can help your child regulate their emotions and manage their behaviors when they do encounter uncomfortable sensations. In fact, in a study with Boston Children’s Hospital, 87% of families using Mightier saw emotional and behavioral improvements in 90 days. Learn more!
References
Chang Y-S, Owen JP, Desai SS, Hill SS, Arnett AB, Harris J, et al. (2014) Autism and Sensory Processing Disorders: Shared White Matter Disruption in Sensory Pathways but Divergent Connectivity in Social-Emotional Pathways. PLoS ONE 9(7): e103038. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0103038
McMahon K, Anand D, Morris-Jones M and Rosenthal MZ (2019) A Path From Childhood Sensory Processing Disorder to Anxiety Disorders: The Mediating Role of Emotion Dysregulation and Adult Sensory Processing Disorder Symptoms. Front. Integr. Neurosci. 13:22. doi: 10.3389/fnint.2019.00022
Miller, L. J., Schoen, S. A., Mulligan, S., & Sullivan, J. (2017). Identification of Sensory Processing and Integration Symptom Clusters: A Preliminary Study. Occupational therapy international, 2017, 2876080. https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/2876080
