The normal defensive
response to any unexpected or unfamiliar sensory input is the primitive,
aversive response action of the lower brain stem to an interpreted need for
protection. This response triggers the sympathetic nervous system to initiate an autonomic (automatic/involuntary) "fright,
fight, or
flight" protective response. Sensory Processing Disorders create a neurological hypersensitivity, or a neurological inability to integrate (remember & recognize) sensory input; resulting in an imbalance between inhibitory
and
stimulating forces within the nervous system. When all sensory input is interpreted as unfamiliar or unexpected, the brain can never recognize it as enjoyable, relaxing, or rewarding; it remains frightening, disorganizing and
overwhelming. Below are just a few of the sensory seeking and sensory avoiding symptoms Alex demonstrated as a young child:
AUDITORY:
- Very easily
distracted by
noise
- Needing numerous
repetitions
in numerous modalities to process auditory information
- Unable to comprehend or
repeat multi-step auditory directions
- Repeating every word he hears
instead of waiting for the entire thought or sentence to be
presented
- Grinding teeth or
humming in
busy or noisy environments
- Covering
ears around loud
noises or in anticipation or expectation of noise
- Easily distracted by subtle
background noises (fluorescent lights, fans, etc)
- Pulling at ears (without no
ear infection)
- Complaining of
buzzing or
ringing noises in ears
- Hyper-sensitivity
to
high-pitched noises
- Seeking or
making strange
noises
- Speaking with a voice
volume
that is too high or too low
- Unable
to conceptualize a
task, sequence task and execute task (praxis)
- Vocalizing frustration or
despair through exaggerated “survival language”(‘I’ll never do it’…
‘I’ll
never learn’… ‘I died’… while
falling to the ground or pretending to “die”)
MOTOR
COORDINATION:
- Unable to
recognize the
amount of force needed to manipulate objects: repeatedly
breaking pencil leads when
writing, slamming instead of shutting doors, etc
- Unable to coordinate
bilateral activities: tying,
skipping, etc
- Exhibiting
right-left hand or
foot preference confusion
- Avoiding
mid-line crossing
- Displaying
exaggerated visual
motor tics
- Displaying a need
to complete
a task as quickly as possible (not thinking act through)
- Displaying a need to complete
a task perfectly (erasing all written work for a minor flaw)
- Displaying need to rush
through transitions
- Hyperventilating
& panic
attacks (poor respiratory exchange with tight chest muscles,
resulting in
increased CO2, decreased O2 and increased stress response)
- Displaying primitive reflex
responses (exaggerated startle response)
- Seeking fast motion in
preferred plane of movement: rotational, vertical, horizontal,
inverted or
angular.
TACTILE:
- Adverse
reaction (primitive
response: fight or flight, panic) to light touch
- Highly sensitive to soaps,
detergents
- Highly sensitive to
tags and
seams in clothing
- Messy
dresser – shirts on
backward, shorts twisted, socks on upside down
- Can only tolerate baggy,
loose fitting clothing made of soft and/or smooth (brushed cotton)
fabric
- Difficulty tolerating the
manipulation of certain touch textures (art projects, etc)
- Avoiding extended touch
(gives “1/2” hugs: only with one
arm & very brief contact)
- Unable
to recognize personal
space of other people
- Over
reactive to others in
his personal space
- Avoiding
busy places for
possibility of jostling or bumping
- Avoiding messy or gritty
activities
- Avoiding being
touched at all
- Walking on toes to
avoid
sensory input from bottom of feet
- Highly sensitive to extreme
temperatures
- Unable to
regulate body temperature
VISUAL:
- Seeking
peripheral
stimulation activities, patterns, etc
- Drawn to certain colors
- Very
drawn to television,
computer screens
- Hyper-focusing
on visual
patterns, etc
- Blinking at
bright lights or
appears sensitive to sunlight
- Preferring
dim or darker
lighting
- Squinting when doing
puzzles
or other highly visual tasks
- Easily
distracted by bright
or neon visual input
- Unable
to make or maintain
eye contact
- Rubbing eyes often
- Pulling at eyelashes
VESTIBULAR BALANCE:
- Seeking
constant motion
(moving, fidgeting, etc)
- Jumping
or hopping instead of
walking
- Spinning himself or
objects
around
- Seeking
suspended balance
- Running in
circles or figure
8 patterns
- Seeking or avoiding
swinging
activities
- Unable to balance
on bicycle
- Difficulty walking down
inclines (ramps)
- Difficulty
walking up or down
uneven surfaces (hills, driveways)
GRAVITATIONAL
INSECURITY:
- Avoiding
heights, elevators,
and escalators
- Avoiding
lifting feet off of
the ground
- Avoiding swings or
playground
equipment
- Avoiding having
head tipped
backward
- Avoiding the feeling
of
falling or doing forward rolls
- Hesitates
walking up or down
stairs
- Unable to jump into
pool
water
ORAL
MOTOR:
- Seeking very
sour or tart
foods
- Seeking crunchy textures
- Constantly touching or
pressing non-food objects to lips or cheeks
- Oblivious to food on or
around lips/face
- Avoiding
certain food
textures (mushy)
- Unable to
tolerate extreme
temperatures of food or drink (better with cold)
- Making mouth or throat
noises: clicking, humming,
‘growling’,
- Unable to roll
‘r’s or make
‘purring’ sounds
- Salivating
excessively
(swallow or clear throat often)
- Exaggerated movements or
noises with mouth, lips, cheeks, and throat
- Chewing or biting nails or
cuticles
PROPRIOCEPTIVE
BALANCE:
- Seeking
crashing or heavy
falling activities
- Seeking
rough and tumble play
- Seeking activities that
provide heavy work input (hanging, pushing, pulling)
- Seeking deep pressure to
joints (flap hands, crack knuckles, press fingers or hands
together, etc.)
- Hyper-extending or
hyper-flexing torso or limbs
- Jumping
or stomping feet
heavily
- Pounding or slapping
hands or
fists or seeking weight on hands
- Purposefully bumping or
crashing into everything.
- Unable
to judge distance or
height to clear or manipulate objects
- Difficulty with projected
action sequencing: poor response
time, moving wrong part of body to accomplish task
- Unable to judge strength or
force of grasp to carry or manipulate objects (drops everything,
tears
paper with pencil when writing)
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