LearnNow
Tom is a happy five year old who attends mainstream school. He loves running, jumping and spinning at break time and does so with confidence, however if he needs to wear a hat or coat, this becomes a problem. He will also play in sandpits and water for hours if allowed but has a meltdown if asked to wear an apron or dry his hands with a towel. Whilst Tom is doing all these things, he is choosing to do tasks away from other children. If asked to join in with a group, he point blank refuses and stands the other side of the room.
Tom’s parents may not understand sensory preferences in order to make the connection between Tom’s habits and inability to fit in. They weren’t surprised to hear that Tom couldn’t calm down after the singing and dancing lesson each day but were shocked when the teacher asked how they were going to get Tom to sit still for story time each day rather than rolling around on the floor kicking other children.
Many people will look at Tom and think he has some strange habits, however these problems are affecting Tom’s ability to learn and socialise. Tom has sensory processing disorder (SPD).
Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) is a neurological condition that can affect the way the brain processes information from the senses and the external environment.
Helping someone with SPD begins with having an understanding of how that person is affected due to their senses. If you are boiling an egg in the kitchen, you will use your sight to observe how the egg is cooking, touch to take the egg out of the pan and hearing to ensure it is boiling. Your smell might recognise if something is burning and you will test food with taste. All senses will work together to give you a full picture of the situation.
If you have sensory processing disorder, the signals may not be accurate. You may not smell burning until it is really bad or you might not hear the pan boiling over which causes you to rush over and trip. Your touch may miss the pan handle causing you to burn yourself and you end up getting angry and upset. This can happen over and over for someone struggling with sensory processing as their brain is not processing the information accurately. You may look at this person and think they shout a lot but are they just struggling with something you may find a walk in the park?
For most, sensory processing will improve with age but this doesn’t help the many children attending school having to fit in with what is classed as ‘the norm’.
It has been shown by Dr A Jean Ayres in the 1970s that impaired sensory integration interfered with learning and development with the children she worked with. Different sensory intolerances affect play, work, learning, social interactions and everyday activities such as dressing and eating.
Most people will encounter sensory issues throughout their life, however children with sensory processing disorder have much more trouble with sensory processing and will generally show the following behavioural symptoms due to this:
Most toddlers will show the above behaviours especially when going through the terrible 2’s. However, a child who still shows most of these behaviours by the age of 4 is a different story.
Sensory processing disorder may be related to prenatal or birth complications, which include:
Conditions or disorders connected to sensory issues can include
Whilst most people are aware of the main senses – sight, sound, touch, taste and smell, there are a few others that play a crucial role in a child’s learning and behaviour.
The vestibular system is located within the inner hear and it helps with balance, movement and spatial awareness. If a child is under-sensitive in this area, they may seek movement such as running, spinning and jumping. If a child is over-sensitive, then they will most likely avoid movement and become dizzy easily.
This system provides information about the body position and movement. Children with difficulties in this area can appear clumsy, apply too much or too little pressure when carrying out activities such as writing or pushing furniture.
The interoceptive system can help a child understand body signals such as hunger, thirst, temperature, or needing to use the toilet. Difficulties in this area can cause poor self-regulation and difficulty recognising emotional states.
Understanding how all senses can affect a child within the classroom can help educators understand sensory behaviours rather than deliberate misbehaviour.
All children have individual needs and therefore you will never simply implement a one-size fits all approach. Having a plan for each individual and making small, thoughtful adjustments along with trained staff will be most beneficial for each child.
Some children will have mild sensory issues whereas others can suffer much more. If you have concerns about your child or their sensory processing disorder, an Occupational Therapist can help you to understand any underlying issues and also offer treatments such as Ayres Sensory Integration therapy. Some treatments will also be included in a child’s EHCP plan.
When educators understand sensory processing difficulties, it can help reduce child anxiety, improve engagement and allow them to thrive. Understanding is an essential part of meeting the diverse needs of every learner.
SPD affects how a child reacts to sound, touch, sights, smells and movement. The brain has difficulty receiving accurate information through the child’s senses.
A child suffering from SPD can struggle to concentrate, sit still and follow instructions. This can cause sensory overload or under-stimulation.
SPD can occur on its own, but it is often seen alongside conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), ADHD, developmental delays, or sleep disorders.
Many young children show sensory-related behaviours but children suffering from SPD will show these behaviours past the age of 4.
Sight
Sound
Touch
Taste
Smell
Vestibular system – balance, movement, and spatial awareness
Proprioceptive system – awareness of body position and force
Interoceptive system – awareness of internal body signals like hunger, thirst, and emotions
Difficulties in these systems can strongly affect behaviour and self-regulation.
If teachers understand SPD, this can reduce child anxiety, improve attention span, learning outcomes and reduce meltdowns. Teachers will work within an inclusive environment where all learners thrive.
