Sensory processing disorder (SPD) is a condition where the brain has trouble receiving and responding to information that comes in through the senses. People with SPD may be oversensitive or under-sensitive to sounds, sights, touch, tastes, and smells. They may also have problems with balance and body awareness. SPD can affect children and adults in their daily lives at home, work, school, or other settings. While there is no cure for SPD, treatment and management strategies can help.
What is sensory processing disorder?
Sensory processing disorder (SPD) is a condition that affects how the brain processes sensory information from the environment and one’s own body. With SPD, the brain struggles to interpret and organize sensory information properly. This leads to difficulties responding to sensory input in an adaptive way.
People with SPD tend to be overly sensitive to some sensory stimuli and under-sensitive to others. For example, a child with SPD may be very sensitive to loud sounds but oblivious to light touch. An adult with SPD may be bothered by bright lights but not register pain normally.
SPD can affect any of the senses:
- Sight
- Hearing
- Smell
- Taste
- Touch
- Body awareness (proprioception)
- Balance (vestibular sense)
SPD is considered a neurological disorder because differences in brain structure and function are believed to cause the sensory processing problems. However, there is still much to be learned about what exactly causes SPD.
Signs of SPD
Signs of SPD vary depending on the individual but often include:
- Being sensitive to noises, textures, tastes, smells, lights, or touch
- Disliking being touched unexpectedly
- Avoiding crowded places
- Having high or low pain tolerance
- Craving movement and physical activity
- Poor fine motor skills
- Clumsiness and poor coordination
- Car sickness
- Difficulty paying attention
- Problems making transitions between activities
Is there a cure for sensory processing disorder?
Currently, there is no known “cure” for sensory processing disorder. SPD is considered a neurological difference that persists throughout life. However, the good news is that SPD is very treatable, especially when caught early. With the right treatment and coping strategies, individuals with SPD can learn to manage symptoms and function at their best.
Treatment options for SPD
The main treatment approaches for SPD include:
- Occupational therapy: Helps the individual develop skills for daily living, school, work, and play. Focuses on adapting the environment, task, or way of doing things to fit the person’s needs.
- Sensory integration therapy: Uses sensory-based activities to address deficits in sensing, perceiving, and responding to sensory information. The goal is to improve sensory processing and attachment between senses and motor control.
- Sensory-based interventions: Techniques like brushing, compression garments, environmental modifications, and sensory diets can help regulate arousal levels.
- Medication: May be used to help manage specific symptoms like hyperactivity, impulsivity, anxiety, or sleep problems often associated with SPD.
- Counseling: Can give coping strategies for dealing with SPD at school, work, home, and in relationships.
The ideal treatment plan for SPD incorporates multiple approaches tailored to the individual’s needs. Parents, teachers, therapists, and doctors work together to monitor progress and adjust treatments accordingly.
Can children outgrow sensory processing disorder?
Sensory processing issues tend to persist from childhood into adulthood. However, the specific symptoms and their severity may improve over time. Early intervention is key to help children develop skills to better cope with sensory challenges.
Some children appear to “outgrow” SPD as they get older, but residual effects often remain. With brain development and acquired coping mechanisms, children can exhibit less extreme reactions to stimuli. But problems sensing and responding to sensory information typically do not disappear entirely.
Adults can also see improvements by making lifestyle adjustments, sticking to treatment plans, avoiding sensory triggers when possible, and accepting that sensory struggles may always be part of who they are. Supportive therapies and environments allow individuals with SPD to play to their strengths while developing skills to work around weaknesses.
Does SPD affect adults?
Yes, SPD affects both children and adults. Many adults with SPD were never diagnosed as children. Some symptoms may lessen with age, but challenges with sensory processing continue through adulthood.
Adults with SPD may experience:
- Over-sensitivity or under-sensitivity to sensory stimuli
- Difficulty multitasking and filtering out distractions
- Problems staying focused and organized at work
- Clumsiness and difficulties with coordination
- Discomfort in crowds and busy environments
- Hypersensitivity to light, sound, touch, or odors
- Preference for routines and difficulty with change
Receiving a diagnosis as an adult can be a relief. It allows individuals to understand why they struggle in certain environments and gives them access to helpful treatments and therapies.
Conclusion
There is currently no cure for sensory processing disorder, but the condition is highly treatable. With occupational therapy, sensory integration therapy, sensory-based interventions, counseling, and sometimes medication, both children and adults with SPD can develop effective coping strategies. While SPD is considered a lifelong disorder, its impact can be minimized through early intervention and consistent management. By tailoring environments, tasks, and therapies to fit their needs, individuals with SPD can overcome challenges and thrive at home, school, work, and beyond.
| Age | Common Symptoms | Treatment Focus |
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| Adolescents |
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| Adults |
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