Sensory Processing Disorder

Occupational therapist A. Jean Ayres, Ph.D., was the first to recognize sensory processing issues. Dr. Ayres proposed in the 1970s that only certain people’s brains are unable to do what most individuals take for granted: analyze and interpret all the incoming information from seven (not the customary five) senses to produce a clear picture of what’s happening inside and outside.

In addition to touch, hearing, taste, smell, and sight, Dr. Ayres included movement (vestibular) and body awareness (proprioception) as “internal” senses. When the brain can’t make sense of all the information coming in, it’s like there’s a traffic jam in your head, with signals coming in quickly from all directions and competing with each other. You can’t make sense of it all.

What are the additional two senses in Dr. Ayres’s work?

The Internal Senses

Ligaments and joints contain proprioceptive receptors, enabling motor function and posture. The proprioceptive system informs the brain of the position and movement of the body with regard to external things.

Children that are hyposensitive want high stimulation; they enjoy activities involving bumping, jumping, and crashing, as well as deep pressure like bear hugs.

If they are hypersensitive, they have trouble knowing where their body is in relation to other objects and may run into things and appear clumsy; since they have problems perceiving the magnitude of force they are exerting, they may tear the paper while erasing, pinch too hard, or slam objects.

Vestibular receptors, found in the inner ear, provide the brain with information regarding movement and head position to determine where the body is in space. These are, among other things, essential parts of coordination and balance.

People with hyposensitivity are always moving, want fast, whirling, or furious movement, and like being thrown into the air and bouncing on trampolines and furniture.

Hypersensitive people may be afraid to do things that require balance, like climbing playground equipment, riding a bike, or standing on one foot, especially when they close their eyes. They may also appear clumsy.

A Sensory Checklist

The checklist includes responses to all types of input, from walking barefoot to smelling non-food items, as well as queries involving gross and fine motor functions, like catching a ball (gross) and using scissors (fine). The checklist is intended to assist parents in determining whether their child’s behavior indicates serious sensory issues (gross).

For toddlers and babies, the list includes not wanting to be hugged to the point where they arch away when held. This may be because being touched hurts them. By preschool, overstimulated kids may be anxious and have temper tantrums that last a long time or happen often.

Students in elementary school who are hyposensitive may show “negative behaviors,” such as what looks like hyperactivity, but they are looking at people who are too sensitive and tend to avoid things. This could mean that they don’t want to brush their teeth or even have their faces covered or painted.d or painted. To further complicate matters, children can be both avoiders and seekers and have proprioceptive and vestibular impairments in addition to difficulties with the traditional five senses.