Tactile sensitivity is an increased sensitivity to touch that can cause discomfort and is caused by difficulty in processing tactile input in the brain. It can be observed in people with autism, trauma, mental illnesses, and neurological disorders. Treatment depends on the root cause and can include medication adjustment, psychotherapy, and lifestyle changes.
Tactile sensitivity is an increased sensitivity to touch that makes the sensory experience of touch harmful or peculiar. It is sometimes referred to as tactile defense to distinguish between it and normal levels of sensitivity to touch. People can also develop the opposite problem, numbness. There are a number of causes for this sensory disturbance and it can be addressed in a number of ways.
The signs often emerge at a very early age. People with tactile sensitivities may dislike clothes, complaining about the texture and closures. They may recoil to touch and dislike the texture of objects they physically interact with, from glitter to books. Sensations that other people experience as soft, smooth, or pleasant may be perceived as painful by people who have sensory issues.
This difference in perception is thought to be the result of variations in how the brain processes tactile input. In individuals with this type of sensitivity, the brain has difficulty filtering information and distinguishing between meaningful tactile information and non-relevant information. As a result, touch floods the brain with information and can feel overwhelming for the patient. This leads the patient to avoid contact whenever possible.
People with autism spectrum disorders and other cognitive disabilities often experience varying degrees of tactile sensitivity. This phenomenon can also be observed in some people who have experienced trauma and in people with certain mental illnesses. Drugs and neurological disorders can also create unusual responses to touch. Some people have trouble identifying tactile sensations as the problem and may develop behavioral problems as they try to cope with the noxious sensations.
In very young children, tactile sensitivity can interfere with the development of fine motor skills and can hinder other developmental milestones as well. The sense of touch provides a wealth of information about the world, and people who perceive touch as painful and avoid it will have difficulty interacting with their environment. The developing brain may also fail to make some important connections without sensory input to help it figure out how to process information. This can lead to learning disabilities and other ailments.
Treatments for touch sensitivity vary depending on the root cause. Medication adjustment can help people with sensitivity caused by medications, as well as being beneficial for people with neurological disorders. Psychotherapy can be effective in some patients, with a mental health professional using desensitization techniques to make the patient feel more comfortable. For other people, some lifestyle changes may need to be made.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
