#2. Children do what they do because they have sensory needs!
Often, children will engage in behaviors because they have some kind of sensory need. Children with a Sensory Processing Disorder often will engage in behaviors that will not necessarily seem sensible or reasonable to you, but these behaviors do meet a sensory need.
Here’s how I think about it. Have you ever had one of those days when you were craving chocolate? You might try eating chips or cheesecake, but truthfully, none of it works. What you really need is chocolate. Children’s sensory needs work in a similar way. They crave certain kinds of input. Some have a high need for strong sensory inputs. These are children who seem to engage in “rough” play, who jump down stairs or run into walls. The one thing that these types of children can’t tolerate is very mild stimuli (like tags or seams on their socks.) The rough play behaviors serve to give them the sensory input they need. Many parents will describe this type of behavior as “hyperactive”. It really isn’t related to ADD or hyperactivity. Actually, it is sensory seeking. They need the sensory input. If you try to punish or discipline this activity, it won’t work. It is not “bad” behavior.
So, how can you treat this type of behavior? The specialists are Occupational Therapists, who can both diagnose and treat this type of behavior. In general, what we try to do is to give them the input they need. Basically, we give them “chocolate.” This meets their sensory need and prevents some of the behaviors that are problematic. If you are in a public place, you don’t want your child running around, seeking sensory input (while you are both embarrassed and frustrated!). Instead, you would want to give him/her the input they need before going out.
There are a number of different types of Sensory Processing Disorder. I cannot diagnose those, but I do like to help parents understand some of the general principles that may be involved in treatment. One of the main reasons I like to do this is so that sensory issues do not become labeled as behavior problems.
Here is a brief list of some types of behavior that may be related to sensory issues:
- Dislike of specific textures, including in certain foods
- Tantrums when their hair is being washed or brushed
- Can’t tolerate shoes or socks; sometimes they have sensitivity to seams on socks
- Pain response to loud, unexpected sounds (vacuum cleaners, motorcycles, etc)
- Everything in the mouth—need for oral stimulation
- Shutting down in the presence of large amounts of visual information
There is a more extensive list, but these should give you an idea of whether you may want to seek out an assessment for a sensory processing disorder.
