What’s a sensory processing disorder? How is sensory processing disorder managed? Learn about sensory processing disorder.
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Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) is commonly associated with autism spectrum disorder, but it can affect kids’ childhood even through adulthood. It is frequently an official disorder in preschool age. Find out how to manage this illness.
Sensory Processing Disorder
Sensory integration issues involve damage to the sensory processing center of the body.
“These kids are not breaking down in school because their parents are doing a bad job or because they are bad kids. Their brains are wired differently,” says Elysa Marco, MD, a cognitive and behavioral pediatric neurologist.
Kids: Sensory Processing Disorder
Jean Ayres, Ph.D., likened SPD to a neurological “traffic jam that prevents certain parts of the brain from receiving the information needed to interpret sensory processing information correctly.”
Challenges
It is challenging for parents and teachers to rear a child’s behavior with SPD. Sensory Processing Disorder also plays a sensible part in different milestones as the child grows.
Many children with sensory processing problems or can suffer from the trouble of overstimulation, under-sensitivity, and sensory overload to their environment. Sensory seeking integration challenges are symptoms and behaviors when somebody experiences difficulty learning from their multiple senses and responding appropriately to them.
This can be sensory input information connected with fine motor skills such as sight, hearing, contact, smell, and taste or data connected with bodily sensations, similar to agony, pain, and movement sensations. A child with sensory challenges could act very differently in ways that aren’t standard for his age. Others could stay away from specific activities.
Many children sometimes experience difficulty with sensory integration (or sensory information). When these responses happen regularly or for extended periods, they can impede social association, leading to social isolation, learning, and child behavior or advancement issues.
Kinship
The developmental milestone significantly affected in adulthood is establishing sensical relationships. Sensical relationships about sensory integration issues are inherently tricky and take in the mix of SPDs, making it into a different ball game. It can sometimes cause severe mental health issues such as a symptom of anxiety.
One study indicates that most people who avoid sensory stimulation may experience poor balance with social interaction and require more personal space. They may show maladaptive behavioral tendencies in forming relationships with others, and form an avoidant attachment with others which may lead to difficulties with interpersonal relationships.
Definition
SPD is like experiencing the extreme or downgraded version of a particular one sense. Imagine intolerance to wearing clothes with tag labels and inner linings and removing them one by one because the itch is intense or inability to enjoy concerts and parades because it is too crowded and there are loud noises or sounds and bright lights. That is what a sensory integration type of condition is.
Adults – Sensory Processing Disorder
“For adults with SPD, small and sometimes not so small irritants feel unbearable and intolerable,” shares Dr. Robyne Howard, PsyD, owner and founder of Lakefront Counseling Group Ltd. “SPD affects how the brain absorbs information from our body’s receptors; our skin, joints, eyes, ears, nose.”
This is what a person with SPD feels; for these reasons, it can be challenging to connect with others, and dating can be complicated. From an online counseling site, here are a few tips on how to deal with a children with SPD if you are currently dating one:
Dating Someone With Sensory Processing Disorder
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Mindset for Sensory Processing Disorder
Maybe you have read facts or researched other disorders aside from sensory integration dysfunction because of your partner or friend. Or perhaps you know the diagnostic and statistical manual and information online gives you an overview of the overall state, its signs, and its symptoms.
Take the time to get to know the person. Keep in mind that his or her stimuli are unique. When choosing a place to hang out or activities to do, consider the preference of the person, and communicating with him/her is perfectly okay. Ask for his/her suggestions and take cues from previous conversations.
In school, we are taught that humans have the traditional five senses, but in reality, we have eight. And the not-so-popular ones are the proprioceptive system (body awareness), vestibular system (balance), and interceptive system (state of internal organs). Adults with sensory integration challenges experience a range of sensations, meaning the body may over- or under-respond to particular senses. For example, your friend or partner is not very keen on crowded and repetitive noise, but you would like to work together.
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Your friend or partner might have a particular sensory diet plan to regulate their sensory integration. Be proactive with their dietary restrictions. Do not sabotage it by forcing him/her to try a new restaurant that uses ingredients that he/she avoids. Be adventurous within the allowed food selection. Nutrient-rich and natural food is always a good idea.
Do daily check-in with your partner about their sensations level. According to research, there are fluctuations in the experience of these sensations. Always be prepared to cancel or postpone plans depending on their senses.
Seek Counseling For your disorder.
Like any other relationship, at times, challenges and issues cannot be solved just by the couple involved. It is essential to seek professional help and undergo recovery processes.
Be sensible enough to seek help from specialists (occupational therapist/s, psychiatrists, sensory integration therapy specialists, etc…)
to advise your relationship with a person with SPD.
FAQs ON SPD
What are the signs of sensory processing disorder?
What are the 3 patterns of sensory processing disorders?
Is sensory processing disorder a form of autism?
Can a child have sensory processing issues and not be autistic?
Is SPD a mental illness?
Can a child outgrow sensory processing disorder?
How do I know if my child has SPD?
What does SPD look like?
Are sensory issues part of ADHD?
What is a sensory meltdown?
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