HealthInfo West Coast-Te Tai Poutini
Sensory processing disorder
Mate ā-tairongo
Sensory processing refers to the way we get information about the world around us and from inside our own bodies.
Most people know the 5 common senses: smell, sight, sound, taste and touch. But we also have senses that give us information about what our bodies are doing and how they relate to what is around us.
Balance is one of these senses. Another is called proprioception (pro-pree-o-sep-shun). This is the sense of knowing where the parts of our body are in relation to one another and how to safely move around. For example, even if you are blindfolded, you will be able to touch your knee or know if your hand is by your side or above your head. This is proprioception.
With a sensory processing disorder, the information coming in through one or more of the senses becomes muddled or overloaded.
Generally, there are 2 types of difficulties:
- a tamaiti may be over-sensitive to some sensory information
- a tamaiti may be under-sensitive to some sensory information.
Sometime tamariki (children) are over-sensitive to some information. For example, noise. At the same time, they can be under-sensitive to other information. For example, balance.
Symptoms of a sensory processing disorder
Sensory processing disorders are hidden difficulties. We cannot see what is going on inside a child's nervous system, so we have to use their behaviour as a guide.
If a tamaiti is over-sensitive to some sensory information, they may become very anxious. This anxiety may cause them to withdraw. They may try to avoid certain situations or become controlling as they try to avoid overload. They may also have frequent meltdowns as a result of overload.
If a tamaiti is under-sensitive, they may seem quite hyperactive as they continually try to seek out more sensory information. For example, they may move around constantly, make a lot of noises or try to touch people or things all the time. Alternatively, they might always seem to be in a daydream. This is because they simply do not get enough sensory information to focus on what they are doing.
Sensory processing difficulties often happen with other development problems. For example, dyspraxia, learning difficulties, autism spectrum disorder and ADHD.
Diagnosing a sensory processing disorder
Sensory processing disorder is usually assessed by occupational therapists. If you need help finding an occupational therapist, speak to your child's general practice team or teacher.
An occupational therapist will ask you about your child's history and watch how they behave in different environments. They may ask you to do a sensory profile questionnaire. This helps to show how your tamaiti is processing the information they receive from their senses. They may also check for other development difficulties that often happen alongside sensory processing disorder. For example, autism spectrum disorder and dyspraxia.
Helping a child with sensory processing disorder
The help you can offer your tamaiti will depend on their specific difficulties as well as their strengths. Once you know more about what they have difficulty with and what they do well you can:
- Adjust the home environment to suit them. For example, they may need less noise and less visual clutter.
- Adjust the tasks you give them, and how. For example, an over-sensitive tamaiti may need plenty of warning and a visual clue. This can help stop them becoming anxious.
An occupational therapist may be able to help them build awareness of their own bodies or decrease some of their sensitivities.
Talk to your child's occupational therapist or teacher about what will work best for your tamaiti.
There are community child development support services that can help. Your general practice team or child's school may also know what services are available.
Long-term effects of a sensory processing disorder
Sensory processing disorders affect different people in different ways. Generally, a child's disorder will stay with them as they grow up. But people with sensory processing disorders tend to choose jobs and hobbies that suit their strengths, minimising the difficulties they face.
Adults with significant sensory processing disorders will probably continue to need to make adjustments in their environment. They may also need continued support to avoid mental health issues such as low self-esteem, anxiety and depression.
Written by a private occupational therapist, Canterbury. Adapted by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed December 2024.
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Review key: HICDG-40335
