When we talk about Sensory Processing Disorders, there are two common images of children that come to mind

Sensory Seekers

First, you see kids who look like little balls of energies, tanks full to the brim that they just can’t stay put for five minutes.
They are either yelling, laughing, chewing, jumping, pushing, pulling, running around and touching anything that’s within reach.
A number of children in this category (but not all) are also diagnosed with ADHD or ADD.

Sensory seekers’ have needs for stimuli so high that they aren’t able to focus on any other thing until they feel ‘just right’. Parents bring them to a sensory room or space to calm down and learn to regulate themselves.

Sensory Avoiders

The second image is of children so sensitive to stimuli, that a faint touch, the smell of perfume or a slight movement will trigger negative behavior.

As an example, a kid who is hypersensitive to auditory input will not be able to stand for long in a busy street lined with shops without feeling distressed or irritated. In some cases, their reactions may be misinterpreted as tantrums.

Hypersensitive children are aversive to certain sensory input but crave other sensations. For instance, the same kid who can’t stand noisy crowds may seek tactile input by touching objects nearby.

These two subtypes of SPD are the most usually seen, so that it may surprise a few that there, in fact, exists a third category of sensory processing behaviors. And often, this is the one that gets overlooked and dismissed.

The Under- Responders

As it says, these are kids that have poor reactions to stimulation. It can take an almighty amount of stimulation to get any response from them.

To put that in perspective here’s a simple illustration:

If you are making coffee and your skin accidentally comes into contact with the boiling hot water, your reflexes will make you pull away. For children (and even adults) with hyposensitivity to touch or tactile input, this may not be the case.  It might even take some before the pain to get noticed

Under-responders (those with hyposensitivity) to sensory input often appear passive and disregarding. At times they may even look lazy.

When placed with other children, they look withdrawn and are hard to engage with. In a school setting, they tend to process things slower than the average children of the same age group.

Under-responders and sensory avoiders may look similar at first glance, but the difference is that sensory avoiders have over- responsiveness to sensory input from the environment that they avoid it. On the other hand, under-responders simply aren’t able to detect the stimuli around them.

Sensory processing is slower for these individuals so that their responses are noticeably diminished or non-existent.

What can we do to accommodate under-responder children?

If you notice that your child exhibits a slower (or lower) than normal response to sensory input, the best step to do is to consult a therapist for a proper and professional assessment.

Being a parent to a child struggling with sensory issues can have its challenges, so a discussion with the therapist first is the right way to go.

(A quick side note: If you’re a parent of a child struggling with sensory issues, we recommend that you check out the Parent’s Guide  that we at PSB carefully put together to help you!)

Now going back to the topic. Here are some courses of action you could take if you have a hyposensitive child.

Have a sensory space in your home. 

One of the best ways to aid an under-responsive kid is to have a place in your house specifically designed to give him or her enough stimulation and change the mood.

Of course, you can DIY! And we’ve got these tips so you can get started on a sensory room that is just what your kiddo needs.

No matter the size of your house, there is always a ‘room’ for a sensory space!

• Transform a room that you don’t use every day. It could be the basement or attic. Just recently, our amazing PSB team converted the garage of one of our clients into a soothing sensory room and he absolutely loved it!
• Make a Sensory Hallway or Wall. 
• Sensory Closets, Corners and Boards.  

Create a Sensory Diet

This is not food, but a specifically tailored activity plan that meets the changing sensory needs of the under-responder child. It ensures that the kid gets a balanced amount of sensory stimulation every day from the environment to function efficiently.

A sensory diet is a treatment plan to help the child cope up with sensory processing dysfunction, by targeting the sensory systems of the under-responder child. This can include a range of vestibular, proprioceptive and tactile activities.

Since each kid’s need and progress is unique, this treatment strategy should allow room for future modifications.

We at PSB always recommend you to talk to experts and Occupation Therapists to correctly gauge the sensory input requirements and preferences of your child/ren.

From this observation, the most helpful activity and monitoring plan can be crafted!

Make sensory items ready!

Here are a few items that an under-responder child will appreciate!

• Weighted blankets
• Weighted plush toys
• Swings!
• Textured items or fidget toys
• Strong-flavoured foods

Dealing with sensory processing issues in a child may seem overwhelming without the right guide. But you don’t have to do it alone, our team at PSB is here for any questions you have! Contact us.