Everyone experiences the world through their senses: sight, hearing, touch, taste, smell, balance, and body awareness. But for some kids, the input they get from their senses can feel too intense or uncomfortable. A bright light might hurt their eyes, a shirt tag may feel unbearable on their skin, or they may find the noise in a room intolerable. Others might need more sensory input to stay calm and grounded, which could have them seeking constant motion, unable to sit still.
These are examples of sensory processing differences, which can make daily routines and activities harder to manage for your child.
What Are Sensory Processing Differences?
Sensory processing differences occur when the brain has trouble organizing and responding appropriately to sensory input from the environment. Instead of smoothly interpreting the information that comes through the senses, your child might react too strongly, too little, or inconsistently, which can affect everything from mood and attention to social participation.
Sensory processing differences often appear in two main patterns, sensory-avoiding and sensory-seeking, and it’s common for a child to show signs of both based on the individual sensory system:
- Sensory-avoiding: Your child may be extra sensitive to sensory input and try to escape or minimize it. They might cover their ears at loud noises, avoid certain clothing textures, or prefer quiet, dimly lit environments.
- Sensory-seeking: Your child may crave more stimulation through movement, sound, or touch, and seek out strong sensations like crashing, jumping, or spinning.
It is important to note that your child might show mixed responses. Your child might be sensory-avoidant to sounds but sensory-seeking for movement inputs.
Common Signs of Sensory Processing Challenges
It’s normal for all kids to have sensory preferences, but when those preferences begin to interfere with daily life, such as getting dressed, participating in school, or being able to participate in community events, it may be a sign that your child is struggling to process sensory input effectively and could benefit from extra support.
Signs that may indicate a child’s sensory processing differences include:
- Covering their ears at loud noises such as vacuum cleaners or hand dryers
- Disliking certain clothing textures, seams, or tags
- Avoiding messy activities such as finger painting or sand play
- Preferring dimly lit, quiet environments
- Becoming anxious or irritable in busy or crowded places
- Moving, spinning, or jumping constantly
- Enjoying firm, steady pressure such as tight hugs, being wrapped in a blanket, or rough play
- Making loud noises or crashing into furniture
- Touching everything within reach
- Having trouble sitting still during meals or classroom activities
The Impact of Sensory Processing Differences on Daily Life
Sensory differences can influence many parts of your child’s routine and impact how they feel, interact, and participate throughout the day. Your child may:
- Struggle with daily routines such as getting dressed, brushing teeth, or eating certain foods because of sensitivities to textures or tastes
- Find school challenging due to distractions from noise, lights, or busy walls in the classroom
- Become overwhelmed during transitions such as moving from one activity to another or entering new environments
- Avoid group activities or playdates because busy or noisy settings feel stressful
- Need constant movement to stay calm and focused, making it difficult to sit still during meals, car rides, or class time
- Have strong emotional reactions, such as frustration or tears, when sensory input feels too intense or unpredictable
- Feel misunderstood by others, which can affect friendships and participation in social settings
- Lose confidence when everyday tasks feel uncomfortable or hard to manage
How Occupational Therapy Helps With Sensory Processing
When your child’s sensory preferences or sensitivities begin to interfere with everyday routines, friendships, or school participation, a pediatric occupational therapist can help. Occupational therapy gives your child practical tools and sensory-rich inputs to manage sensory input, build confidence, and participate more comfortably in daily life.
An occupational therapist may support your child by:
- Creating individualized sensory diets. Your child’s therapist will identify which types of input are calming, alerting, or overwhelming and design a daily plan that supports regulation.
- Using movement and play to build regulation. Your child’s therapist may incorporate swinging, jumping, climbing, and pushing heavy objects to teach how to calm or energize the body as needed.
- Promoting comfort with sensory experiences. Your child’s therapist might introduce textures, sounds, and sensations in a responsive way to help your child feel safe, supported, and ready to try new things.
- Teaching emotional regulation and coping tools. Your child’s therapist will teach them how to recognize signs of overload and use strategies such as deep breathing, stretching, or taking a sensory break.
- Empowering parents and caregivers. Your child’s therapist will share at-home tips such as setting up a calm corner, using fidget tools, and offering movement breaks between seated tasks.
What Sensory-Based Therapy Sessions May Look Like
To an outside observer, sensory-based therapy might look like playtime, but occupational therapists choose sensory inputs with the intention to support skill development, regulation, and confidence. A session may include:
- Swinging or jumping on trampolines to build balance and body awareness, helping your child feel more confident in how they move.
- Climbing and completing obstacle courses to strengthen coordination and balance while helping your child become more aware of how their body feels as it moves through space.
- Playing with textures like sand, shaving cream, or water to build comfort with different sensations, helping your child feel more at ease during everyday tasks like dressing or bathing.
- Doing deep pressure activities like pushing, pulling, or carrying weighted objects to help your child feel steady, focused, and better able to relax and concentrate.
With the support of occupational therapy, your child can gradually feel safer, more confident, and more in control as sensory experiences that once felt overwhelming become familiar and manageable.
Reach Out to More to Say Pediatric Development & Therapy
If you suspect your child may be experiencing sensory processing differences, occupational therapy can help. Contact our Branford or Oxford, CT, location to schedule a free phone consultation or schedule an evaluation. Our team of pediatric occupational therapists is dedicated to helping your child feel calmer and more confident in their sensory world.
