By Dr. Laura Markham
As many as one in six children experience sensory processing challenges. If your child seems unusually sensitive to noise, light, clothing, touch, movement or other everyday experiences, you’re not alone.
Parents often tell me they knew something was different long before anyone gave it a name. Their child melted down when a tag touched their neck. They covered their ears when other children seemed perfectly comfortable. They couldn’t settle down, constantly sought movement or seemed overwhelmed by ordinary routines.
These children aren’t being difficult. They’re experiencing the world differently.
What Is Sensory Processing?
Every moment, our brains receive information from our senses. We see, hear, smell, taste, touch, move and notice where our bodies are in space. Most of us automatically organise all of this information and respond appropriately.
Sensory processing is the brain’s ability to take in this information, interpret it and respond effectively.
For some children, that process doesn’t happen smoothly. Their nervous systems may register certain sensations as much more intense than they are for other people. Or they may not register sensations strongly enough, leading them to seek more sensory input.
As a result, everyday experiences can feel overwhelming, confusing or uncomfortable.
What Does Sensory Processing Look Like?
Children with sensory processing challenges can look very different from one another.
Some children are highly sensitive. They may:
- Cover their ears at ordinary sounds.
- Be bothered by bright lights.
- Resist hair brushing, face washing or nail trimming.
- Refuse certain clothing because of seams, tags or textures.
- Become overwhelmed in busy environments.
Other children constantly seek sensory input. They may:
- Spin, jump, crash or climb excessively.
- Touch everything around them.
- Seek rough play.
- Have difficulty sitting still.
- Crave strong pressure, squeezing or movement.
Still other children may seem clumsy or uncoordinated. They may:
- Bump into people and objects.
- Struggle with balance.
- Avoid playground equipment.
- Appear fearful of swings, slides or unstable surfaces.
Most children show some of these behaviours occasionally. But when these reactions are intense, persistent or disruptive to everyday life, sensory processing challenges may be playing a role.
Why Does My Child Melt Down Over Things That Don’t Bother Other Kids?
When a child has sensory processing challenges, their nervous system is working harder than other children’s nervous systems to make sense of the world.
Imagine trying to concentrate while someone is blasting music directly into your ears, scratching your skin with sandpaper, or shining a bright light into your eyes. You might become irritable, anxious, overwhelmed, or exhausted.
For some children, everyday experiences can feel that intense.
What looks like “bad behaviour” is often a sign that a child’s nervous system is struggling to cope. This is where your empathy matters so much. When we shift from “Why is my child acting this way?” to “What is my child experiencing?”, we’re more able to respond with compassion and support.
Can Sensory Processing Challenges Affect Behaviour?
Absolutely.
Sensory challenges can contribute to:
- Meltdowns
- Anxiety
- Difficulty sleeping
- Trouble with transitions
- Emotional outbursts
- Aggression
- Withdrawal
- Difficulty concentrating
- Challenges at school
This doesn’t mean sensory issues are causing every behaviour challenge. But understanding your child’s sensory needs often helps explain behaviours that otherwise seem puzzling.
What Helps?
The good news is that children’s brains and nervous systems are still developing. Occupational Therapists who specialise in sensory processing challenges are increasingly skilled at helping children learn to process and integrate sensory information more effectively. And because the brain is more plastic in childhood, early intervention often has the greatest impact.
Children benefit when adults understand their sensory needs and make reasonable accommodations, while helping them gradually build skills and tolerance.
Many children do better when they have opportunities for movement, outdoor play, messy play, climbing, swinging and other activities that help the nervous system develop and organise sensory information.
The earlier children receive support, the easier it is to help their developing nervous systems learn new patterns. While you’re pursuing appropriate support, see Helping Children with Sensory Processing Challenges at Home for practical ways to reduce overwhelm and support your child’s regulation in everyday life.
Most Important: Your Child Is Not Broken
Children with sensory processing challenges are often bright, creative, sensitive and perceptive. Your child is not choosing to overreact, and they are not trying to make life difficult for you. They are doing the best they can with a nervous system that experiences the world differently.
When we understand what is happening beneath the behaviour, we can respond with more compassion, more confidence and more effective support. And that understanding is often the first step toward helping our children thrive.
Originally published here.
Dr. Laura Markham is the founder of PeacefulParentHappyKids.com and author of Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids, Peaceful Parent, Happy Siblings and her latest book, the Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids Workbook.
