What Is Sensory Processing Disorder?
Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) refers to difficulty processing and integrating information from the senses. The brain receives sensory input but has trouble organizing and responding to it appropriately.
SPD commonly co-occurs with autism (90%), ADHD (40–60%), and can also occur independently. In India, SPD is frequently unrecognized — children are labeled as "overreactive," "dramatic," or "difficult" when they actually have a neurological difference in sensory processing.
The 8 Senses
Most people know 5 senses. Occupational therapists work with 8:
1. Vision: processing what we see
2. Auditory: processing sound
3. Tactile: processing touch
4. Olfactory: processing smell
5. Gustatory: processing taste
6. Vestibular: sense of movement, balance, and gravity (inner ear)
7. Proprioception: sense of body position and force (muscles and joints)
8. Interoception: internal body signals (hunger, thirst, temperature, heartbeat, bladder)
Types of Sensory Differences
Hypersensitivity (over-responsive): The nervous system over-reacts to sensory input. Touch feels painful, sounds feel overwhelming, smells cause nausea.
Hyposensitivity (under-responsive): The nervous system under-reacts. The child seeks intense sensory input, doesn't feel pain normally, seems unaware of their body in space.
Sensory craving: A subtype where the child craves specific sensory input constantly.
Common Signs in Indian Children
Tactile hypersensitivity: Refuses to wear school uniform collar, removes shoes the moment home, cries during haircuts, cannot tolerate messy play (clay, sand, paint).
Auditory hypersensitivity: Covers ears at normal kitchen sounds, cannot concentrate in noisy classroom, cries at festivals/crackers.
Proprioceptive hyposensitivity: Crashes into furniture constantly, hugs too hard, chews everything (pencils, clothing).
OT Treatment for SPD
Sensory integration therapy, delivered by a trained OT, uses structured sensory activities to help the brain process input more effectively. Sessions typically involve swings, trampolines, weighted vests, and tactile activities.