Sensory ProcessingDisorder

By Kimmer Collison-RisMSN, FNP-C, WOCN, MS CAM

Images by Bing & Google Images

Sensory Processing Disorder Sensory Processing is the way the

nervous system receives messages from the senses; converting them into motor and behavioral responses.

SPD is also known as "sensory integration dysfunction"

SPD sensory signals don't get organized into appropriate responses A. Jean Ayres, PhD, compared SPD

to a neurological "traffic jam" that prevents certain parts of the brain from receiving the information needed to interpret sensory information correctly

One study (Ahn, Miller, Milberger, McIntosh, 2004) shows that at least 1 in 20 children’s daily lives is affected by SPD. Another research study (Ben-Sasson, Carter, Briggs-Gowen, 2009) suggests that 1 in every 6 children experiences sensory symptoms that may be significant enough to affect aspects of everyday life functions.

*most commonly diagnosed in children

occurs within a broad spectrum of severity

difficulties are chronic, and disrupteveryday life for children & adults

Untreated SPD that persists into adulthood can affect an individual's ability to succeed in marriage, work, and social environments

SPD…

www.rollingrains.com

The exact cause of Sensory Processing Disorder–like the causes of ADHD and so many other neurodevelopmental disorders–has not yet been identified

Preliminary research suggests that SPD is often inherited

Prenatal and birth complications have been implicated

environmental factors may be involved

SPD Causes

alert.psychiatricnews.org

speech-language-pathology-audiology.advanceweb.com

Sensory Processing…

SPD Looks like

SPD Types

SPD Symptoms Out-of-proportion reactions to

touch, sounds, sights, movement, tastes, or smells, including:

Bothered by clothing fabrics, labels, tags, etc.

Distressed by light touch or unexpected touch

Dislikes getting messy Resists grooming activities Very sensitive to sounds (volume

or frequency) Squints, blinks, or rubs eyes

frequently Bothered by lights or patterns High activity level or very

sedentary Unusually high or low pain

threshold

Motor skill and body awareness difficulties, including:

Fine motor delays (e.g., crayons, buttons/snaps, beading, scissors)

Gross motor delays (e.g., walking, running, climbing stairs, catching a ball )

Illegible handwriting

Moves awkwardly or seems clumsy

Low or high muscle tone

Oral motor and feeding problems, including:

Oral hypersensitivity

Frequent drooling or gagging

“Picky eating”

Speech and language delays

SPD Symptoms… Some signs of sensory processing

difficulties include: Overly sensitive to touch, movement,

sights Inability to habituate to sounds and

fear with unexpected noises Easily distracted Holding hands over ears in complex

environment Avoids tastes, smells, or textures

normally tolerated by children that age

Activity level that is unusually high or unusually low

Impulsive, lacking in self-control Inability to unwind or calm self Poor self-concept Social and/or emotional problems Physical clumsiness or apparent

carelessness

Hesitation going up or down stairs

Difficulty making transitions from one situation to another

Holding on to walls, furniture, people, or objects, even in familiar settings

Delays in speech, language, or motor skills

Delays in academic achievement Seeks out movement activities,

but poor endurance and tires quickly

Poor attention and focus: often “tunes out” or “acts up”

Uncomfortable/easily overstimulated in group settings

Difficulty with self-confidence and independence

SPD Behavioral Problems Common Behaviors

hitting

pushing

yelling

fighting with peers

difficulty changing from one activity to another

sleeping problems

excessive energy levels

being unable to sit still and focus

refusal to partake in normal childhood experiences or play

picky eaters

frequent tantrums

extreme sensitivities and excessive fears

Other unique or "autistic-type" behaviors

grinding teeth

rocking back and forth

lunging

head banging, scratching or biting self

spinning or mouthing objects

constant humming or making noises

finger flicking

jumping or shaking extremities

spinning self

excessive smelling & sniffing

SPD

oursensoryjourney.blogspot.com

Autism Speaks (2014). What is Autism/Autism Spectrum Disorders? http://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism. http://www.hbci.com/~wenonah/new/9steps.htm Bradshaw AJL and Rinehart NJ (2005). Autism and Asperger's disorder: Are they movement disorders involving the

cerebellum and/or basal ganglia? Brain Research Bulletin Volume 67, Issue 4, 30 October 2005, Pages 327–334 Blaylock RL (2009).A POSSIBLE CENTRAL MECHANISM IN AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS, PART 2:

IMMUNOEXCITOTOXiCITY. Alternative Therapies in Health & Medicine . Jan/Feb2009, Vol. 15 Issue 1, p60-67. 8p Retrieved from http://web.a.ebscohost.com/abstract?direct=true&profile=ehost&scope=site&authtype=crawler&jrnl=10786791&AN=37570226&h=JpN2y%2b%2b6SmKzaEfH1cPa1eANggO0w08mWWjMYLQxcg%2bWBhvSuZfQYjDUcrc6X4kJcWZUXifdmHGXgGQrkCc9tQ%3d%3d&crl=c

Doney R and Thome J (2010). Inflammation: good or bad for ADHD? ADHD Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders December 2010, Volume 2, Issue 4, pp 257-266 Retrieved from http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12402-010-0038-7.

Dunn, Winnie; Bennett, Donna (). Patterns of sensory processing in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Occupational Therapy Journal of Research, Vol 22(1), 2002, 4-15.Retrieved from http://psycnet.apa.org/psycinfo/2002-00678-001

Crane L, Goddard L, and Pring L. (2009). Sensory processing in adults with autism spectrum disorders. doi: 10.1177/1362361309103794 Autism May 2009 vol. 13 no. 3 215-228. Retrieved from http://aut.sagepub.com/content/13/3/215.short

Currenti SA (2010). Understanding and Determining the Etiology of Autism. Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology. March 2010, Volume 30, Issue 2, pp 161-171. Retrieved from http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10571-009-9453-8

Frustaci A, Neri M, Cesario A, Adams JB, Domenici E, Bernardina BD, and Bonassi S (). Oxidative stress-related biomarkers in autism: Systematic review and meta-analyses. Free Radical Biology and Medicine. Volume 52, Issue 10, 15 May 2012, Pages 2128–2141 Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0891584912001827http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0891584912001827

Herbert MR (2010). Contributions of the environment and environmentally vulnerable physiology to autism spectrum disorders. Current Opinion in Neurology: April 2010 - Volume 23 - Issue 2 - p 103–110. doi: 10.1097/WCO.0b013e328336a01f. Developmental disorders: Edited by Geraldine Dawson. Retrieved from http://journals.lww.com/co-neurology/Abstract/2010/04000/Contributions_of_the_environment_and.4.aspx

References