What’s sensory processing disorder?

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Sensory processing disorder or sensory integration dysfunction (DSI) is a condition that can affect up to 5% of the general population. It is typically defined as a neurological disorder which means that sensory input can materially affect a person, to the point where they become withdrawn, aggressive, panicky or hostile. Noises, tastes, touches, or simple sights can so significantly affect daily life that normal activities are unbearable or impossible.

Alternatively, instead of being hypersensitive, some people with the condition are hyposensitive and do not respond normally to stimulation of the senses. These people, mainly children, may seek extra sensation and may injure themselves, overeat, or try to stimulate themselves in environments where they perceive a lack of sensation. This could manifest itself as the fidgety behavior of a hyperactive child who can’t stop talking or can’t sit still. Similarly, the hypersensitive child may act hyperactively because he is overstimulated by sensory input.

In many cases, sensory processing disorder is associated with other conditions. It is usually present in people who have autism spectrum disorder and is associated with other conditions such as attention deficit disorder and Tourette’s syndrome. Sometimes it occurs on its own, but can be misdiagnosed as it can mask or cause symptoms of other conditions. Diagnosis is made through examination and testing by an occupational therapist. Commonly the only way sensory processing disorder is adequately diagnosed is by an occupational therapist.

While there are no cures for sensory processing disorder, there are a number of adaptive therapies that can be tried to help children change their reactions to sensory input. Treatment can be undertaken in a hospital setting or at home through therapy sessions to help a child adjust to feelings of sensory overload or deprivation in order to more adequately pursue a normal life. The decision whether to hospitalize a child with sensory processing disorder may be based on the availability of such a hospital for a child, and also on the degree to which the condition negatively impacts the children’s lives. Some children are hypersensitive without being considered to have a disorder; there is a spectrum, which can manifest as mild to major symptoms of the condition. The condition is usually not considered a disorder unless the life of the child or adult is significantly affected by hyper- or hyposensitivity.

More severe cases of sensory processing disorder have a significant impact on daily life and are related to intense depression in people who suffer from it. Normal behavior like attending school, eating, watching TV, having friends, or even interacting with family is virtually impossible. The simplest touch can feel like a violation, the simplest sound can completely disrupt concentration, and most foods and smells are repulsive. Over time, through adaptive therapy with an occupational therapist, children can learn to overcome some of these intense reactions, although they may still be highly sensitive, fearful, and have difficulty with peer interaction. To make matters worse, many of the children diagnosed with severe forms of this disorder have other problems, such as coordination difficulties, poor fine and gross motor skills, and occasionally slurred speech.

The disorder remains challenging, and there is little research into the cause. Clearly more research is needed on how to effectively treat the disorder and how to diagnose it in its early stages. Early intervention may be key to helping children adjust to sensory processing disorder so that life can be lived relatively normally.

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