Hearing, Seeing, and Feeling More: Everyday Experiences with Sensory Processing Disorder
Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) is a condition that affects the way the brain processes sensory information from the surrounding environment. Sensory involves our five senses, such as vision, hearing, touch, smell, and taste. For those experiencing SPD, everyday experiences can pose unique challenges as they may have heightened or diminished sensory responses to environmental stimuli.
What is Sensory Processing Disorder?
Sensory Processing Disorder is a neurological condition that affects how the brain receives, organizes, and responds to sensory information. In individuals with SPD, sensory stimuli such as sound, light, texture, or smell can trigger intense or disproportionate reactions. While most people may feel uncomfortable with loud noises or bright lights, for those with SPD, these responses can be much more intense and disrupt daily life.
Types of Sensory Processing Disorder
1. Hypersensitivity (Overresponsiveness):
- Auditory Hypersensitivity: Difficulty handling loud noises, sensitivity to unexpected sounds, or difficulty concentrating in noisy environments.
- Visual Hypersensitivity: Excessive reactions to bright lights or complex visual patterns.
- Tactile Hypersensitivity: Discomfort with certain touches or textures on the skin.
2. Hyposensitivity (Underresponsiveness):
- Auditory Hyposensitivity: Difficulty hearing or responding to sounds at normal levels, creating a need for louder sounds.
- Visual Hyposensitivity: Gaps in visual processing, such as difficulty understanding spatial information and orientation.
- Tactile Hyposensitivity: Less sensitive to touch or comfortable with stronger pressure.
Everyday Experiences of Children with Sensory Processing Disorder
1. Facing Overwhelming Sounds: Individuals with auditory hypersensitivity may be disturbed by everyday sounds such as ringing bells, car horns, or conversations in crowded environments.
2. Challenges in Public Spaces: Going to public places can be a challenging experience for those with SPD. Bright lights, background noise, and crowds of people can trigger excessive sensory responses.
3. Difficulty in Dressing: Tactile hypersensitivity can make wearing clothes a difficult task due to discomfort with the texture and touch of fabric.
4. Response to Visual Stimuli: Individuals with SPD may experience difficulty processing visual stimuli, such as difficulty reading or focusing on specific objects.
Strategies for Managing SPD in Daily Life
1. Integrative Sensory Therapy: Integrative sensory therapy can help individuals with SPD manage their sensory responses through specially designed activities.
2. Environmental Adjustments: Modifying the everyday environment, such as reducing excessive noise or light, can help create a more comfortable environment.
3. Use of Supportive Tools: Using tools such as noise-canceling headphones or clothing with preferred textures can help reduce excessive sensory stimulation.
4. Understanding and Social Support: Education and social support from family, friends, and the community can provide understanding and assistance to individuals with SPD.
Conclusion
Understanding and understanding Sensory Processing Disorder opens the door to creating supportive environments for those experiencing this condition. Through a holistic approach, including sensory therapy, environmental adjustments, and social support, we can help individuals with SPD lead more comfortable and satisfying daily lives. It is important for us as a society to understand the diversity of sensory experiences and provide the necessary support to create inclusivity for all.