Sensory Processing Difficulties
Sensory processing difficulties are often mistaken for behaviour. It is our aim to support children with their regulation skills and provide an education on how to identify these difficulties and implement appropriate strategies to support each child individually.
Sensory difficulties can significantly impact an individual's daily life, affecting how they experience and interact with the world around them. At Alexandra Speech Clinic, we believe in raising awareness and understanding about sensory challenges. This page provides insights into what sensory difficulties look like, helping you recognise the signs and seek appropriate support for yourself or your child.
What do sensory difficulties look like?
Sensory difficulties can manifest in various ways, often resulting from atypical sensory processing. While each individual's experience is unique, here are some common signs and symptoms to look out for:
1. Over-responsiveness (Sensory Sensitivities):
- Auditory Over-responsiveness: Strong reactions to certain sounds, covering ears, or becoming distressed in noisy environments.
- Visual Over-responsiveness: Discomfort or agitation in response to bright lights, busy patterns, or specific visual stimuli.
- Tactile Over-responsiveness: Avoidance of certain textures, fabrics, or clothing tags due to heightened sensitivity to touch.
2. Under-responsiveness (Sensory Seeking):
- Auditory Under-responsiveness: Not responding to their name being called, seeking loud noises, or having difficulty distinguishing speech in noisy surroundings.
- Visual Under-responsiveness: Appearing unaware of visual details, showing reduced eye contact, or seeking visually stimulating activities excessively.
- Tactile Under-responsiveness: Craving intense touch experiences, often engaging in activities that involve touching or squeezing.
3. Vestibular Challenges:
- Vestibular Over-responsiveness: Experiencing discomfort, dizziness, or nausea in response to movement, such as swinging or spinning.
- Vestibular Under-responsiveness: Seeking intense movement experiences, such as repeatedly spinning or seeking out activities like swinging.
4. Proprioceptive Difficulties:
- Proprioceptive Over-responsiveness: Reacting strongly to touch or pressure, such as avoiding hugs or becoming distressed when touched unexpectedly.
- Proprioceptive Under-responsiveness: Seeking out deep pressure or heavy activities, like leaning against walls or carrying heavy objects
5. Sensory Cravings and Aversions:
- Food Aversions: Disliking specific textures, tastes, or smells in food, leading to a limited diet.
- Movement Cravings: Seeking out excessive movement, such as spinning, rocking, or jumping.
- Avoidance of Crowds: Feeling overwhelmed or anxious in crowded places due to sensory overload.
6. Sensory Modulation Challenges:
- Emotional Regulation: Difficulty managing emotions, exhibiting strong emotional reactions to sensory stimuli.
- Attention and Focus: Struggling to concentrate due to sensory distractions or difficulties filtering out irrelevant sensory information.
7. Sensory Integration Issues:
- Motor Coordination: Challenges with motor skills like handwriting, balance, and coordination due to difficulties integrating sensory input.
8. Unusual Responses to Sensory Input:
- Non-contextual Reactions: Reacting strongly to stimuli that others find normal or non-threatening, such as extreme reactions to tags on clothing.
- Inconsistent Responses: Exhibiting different responses to the same sensory stimuli at different times, making predictability a challenge.
Seeking Support
If your child presents with any signs or symptoms of sensory processing difficulties, it is important to seek professional guidance. Our experienced team at The Alexandra Speech & Sensory Clinic specialises in sensory processing assessments and interventions. Through a comprehensive assessment, we can identify individual sensory profiles and create tailored strategies to address challenges and enhance overall well-being.
Why Choose Us for Sensory Processing Assessment:
- Experience: Alex specialises in sensory processing assessments, bringing a range of experience and expertise to each evaluation.
- Client-Centred Approach: We believe in a personalised approach, taking the time to understand each individual's sensory profile and its impact on their daily life.
- Collaborative Process: We collaborate closely with clients, families and educational settings as well as other relevant professionals to ensure a holistic understanding of the individual's needs and strengths.
Our Sensory Processing Assessment Services:
- Comprehensive Evaluation: Our assessments cover a wide range of sensory areas, including auditory, visual, tactile, proprioceptive, and vestibular processing.
- Observational Analysis: We combine structured assessments with careful observation to gain insights into how sensory challenges manifest in real-life situations.
- Standardised Tools: We utilize established standardised tools to measure sensory processing patterns accurately.
- In-Depth Reports: After the assessment, you will receive a detailed report outlining the findings, recommendations, and a customised intervention plan.
Who Can Benefit: Our sensory processing assessments are suitable for children of all ages who may be experiencing challenges such as:
- Sensory sensitivities or aversions
- Over or under-responsiveness to sensory stimuli
- Difficulties with sensory modulation
- Challenges in sensory integration
Book Now
To arrange an assessment for your child or if you have any additional questions please contact us using the link below
