Sensory Processing Challenges: Effective Clinical Work with Kids & Teens

Book excerpt: Equipping clinicians with “sensory smarts” to treat their child clients. Many children, teens, and even adults experience sensory processing challenges including out-of-proportion reactions to certain sensory experiences that most of us find commonplace. These challenges can range from mild to severe—from difficulty tolerating fluorescent lights and discomfort with certain clothing textures, to fight-or-flight reactions to unexpected or loud noises such as sirens or automatic hand dryers, or such strong oral sensitivities that the individual can tolerate eating just a few foods. They may struggle with one or more “sensory channels," or, more often, be quickly overwhelmed by the demand to process multisensory input (especially in busy environments with competing sights, sounds, and smells), leading to poor self-regulation, acting out, and tuning out. Sensory challenges, sometimes referred to as Sensory Processing Disorder when they interfere with daily function, are frequently seen in tandem with autism, anxiety, attention disorders, oppositional defiant disorder, and other diagnoses. This book equips clinicians with all the information they need to know to recognize and understand sensory sensitivities; connect the dots between behavior and underlying sensory processing problems; when to refer and collaborate with sensory processing professionals; and essential “sensory smart” strategies that can help clients feel and function at their best at home, in school, and in the community.