Helping kids with sensory processing disorder

Yack says that we all respond to sensory input slightly differently. “Some people are irritated by tags in their collars, notice minor changes to their favourite bottled sauces or can’t stand the sound of a chair scraping on the floor.” It only becomes an issue to the extent that it inhibits and interferes with a person’s day-to-day functioning. “For children with SPD,” says Yack, “these inputs are not just irritating, but can significantly affect their behaviour and ability to participate successfully at home, school and in the community.”

Stanley Greenspan, author of The Challenging Child, likens SPD to a car that is hard to keep on the road. Not surprisingly, when kids are working overtime to try to regulate their senses, their behaviour isn’t always exemplary. At school, they may disrupt the class or struggle to concentrate on lessons. In the thralls of an explosive reaction to stimuli, children may feel scared and out of control. Some withdraw, while others turn aggressive.