Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) is a condition that affects the way the brain processes and responds to sensory information. For those with SPD, everyday stimuli such as sounds, textures, and even movements can be overwhelming and difficult to manage.
This disorder can manifest in various ways, significantly impacting someone’s ability to function smoothly in daily life. Read on to learn symptoms of SPD as well as coping mechanisms, including one often-overlooked, holistic approach.
What is Sensory Processing Disorder?
SPD involves difficulties in the brain’s ability to understand sensory information from the environment. This disorder can affect one or more senses, including sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell. Individuals with SPD might overreact or underreact to sensory stimuli. For example, a person might find normal background noise unbearably loud or might not notice extreme temperatures.
Symptoms of Sensory Processing Disorder
SPD includes a lot of different symptoms and not all symptoms show for all patients. The symptoms may include:
Super Acute Hearing
Individuals with SPD may have heightened sensitivity to sounds. Everyday noises, like the hum of a refrigerator or distant traffic, can seem amplified and distracting. This super acute hearing can lead to difficulty concentrating and increased stress in noisy environments.
Touch Aversion
People with SPD often experience discomfort with certain textures or physical contact. They may avoid hugs, have specific preferences for clothing materials, or react negatively to textures that others find normal, like sand or grass.
Poor Motor Coordination
SPD can affect the brain’s ability to process and respond to sensory information, leading to challenges in motor coordination. This can manifest as clumsiness, difficulty with tasks that require fine motor skills, or awkward movements.
High Tolerance of Pain
Some individuals with SPD might not respond appropriately to painful stimuli. They may not react to injuries that would cause pain in others, leading to potential injuries going unnoticed and untreated.
No Sense of Boundaries
Difficulty in processing sensory information can lead to challenges in understanding personal space. Individuals might stand too close to others or have trouble recognizing social cues related to physical boundaries.
Over-aggression
Overwhelming sensory input can lead to frustration and aggressive behavior. This aggression is often a response to the stress and discomfort caused by the sensory overload.
Easily Distractible
Due to the brain’s difficulty in filtering sensory information, individuals with SPD can be easily distracted by extraneous stimuli. This can make focusing on tasks challenging, affecting performance in school, work, or daily activities.
Coping with Sensory Processing Disorder
Coping with SPD involves strategies tailored to manage sensory inputs and reactions. Here are several effective approaches:
Identifying Triggers
The first step in managing SPD is to identify the specific stimuli that cause discomfort or distress. Keeping a diary of sensory experiences can help pinpoint triggers. Once identified, strategies can be developed to avoid or minimize exposure to these stimuli.
Trying Self-Help Strategies
There are various self-help techniques that individuals with SPD can try. For example, using noise-canceling headphones in noisy environments, wearing soft, comfortable clothing, and creating a sensory-friendly space at home can reduce stress. Additionally, sensory integration therapy exercises, such as deep pressure activities and proprioceptive input, can help regulate sensory responses.
Communicate with Teachers and Caregivers
It’s crucial to communicate the specific needs of individuals with SPD to those involved in their care, such as teachers, family members, and caregivers. Providing detailed information about triggers and coping mechanisms can help create a supportive environment. For children with SPD, individualized education plans (IEPs) can be developed to accommodate their sensory needs in school.
Experiment with Individualized Solutions
Each person with SPD is unique, and what works for one individual might not work for another. Experimenting with different sensory tools, such as weighted blankets, fidget toys, or sensory-friendly diets, can help find effective solutions. Regularly reassessing and adjusting these strategies ensures they remain effective over time.
The Role of Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care can be beneficial for individuals with SPD, particularly when the disorder is linked to birth trauma. Traumatic birth injuries, such as the misalignment of the cervical spine, can interfere with proper communication between the brain and the central nervous system, exacerbating sensory processing issues.
Chiropractors can assess and address spinal misalignments through gentle adjustments, improving the flow of neural information throughout the body. This can potentially enhance the brain’s ability to process sensory input more effectively. Chiropractic care can also help alleviate some physical symptoms associated with SPD, such as poor motor coordination and physical discomfort, by ensuring the nervous system functions optimally.
Treating SPD
Sensory Processing Disorder is a complex condition that affects how individuals perceive and respond to sensory stimuli. Recognizing the symptoms and understanding the unique challenges faced by those with SPD is essential in providing effective support.
By identifying triggers, implementing self-help strategies, communicating with caregivers, and exploring individualized solutions, individuals with SPD can better manage their condition. Additionally, chiropractic care can play a role in addressing underlying physical issues that contribute to sensory processing difficulties.
With a comprehensive approach, those affected by SPD can improve their quality of life and navigate their sensory world with greater ease. If you or someone you love is experiencing symptoms of SPD, you should consider scheduling a chiropractic appointment online or calling us today.
