Sensory Processing DisorderSensory Processing Disorder

Anna KirbyAnna Kirby

Have you ever met a student who…Have you ever met a student who…

Jumped and crashed into everything?Jumped and crashed into everything? Couldn’t do puzzles or write well?Couldn’t do puzzles or write well? Cried at loud sounds?Cried at loud sounds? Don’t like to be touched?Don’t like to be touched? Only wear certain clothes?Only wear certain clothes? Don’t play with messy things, like play doh or Don’t play with messy things, like play doh or

glue?glue? Fear playground equipment?Fear playground equipment? Melt down in a crowded store?Melt down in a crowded store?

Sensory Processing DisorderSensory Processing Disorder

Originally called Sensory integration Originally called Sensory integration disorderdisorder

Originally researched by Jean AyresOriginally researched by Jean Ayres

Proprioceptive senseProprioceptive sense

Sense of Body positionSense of Body position May bump into thingsMay bump into things Have trouble planning or sequencingHave trouble planning or sequencing Likes to jump or rockLikes to jump or rock Likes hard hugsLikes hard hugs

Vestibular SenseVestibular Sense

Sense of balanceSense of balance May either fear or crave swinging on a May either fear or crave swinging on a

swing setswing set Fear having head tipped back in the bathtubFear having head tipped back in the bathtub May fear heights or having feet off the May fear heights or having feet off the

groundground May love to spin aroundMay love to spin around

Tactile SenseTactile Sense

Sense of TouchSense of Touch Extreme reactions to clothing, combing, Extreme reactions to clothing, combing,

haircuts, dental workhaircuts, dental work May not enough to pain, cold, discomfortMay not enough to pain, cold, discomfort May avoid hugs or like hard hugsMay avoid hugs or like hard hugs Likes to tickle and cuddleLikes to tickle and cuddle May confuse hot and coldMay confuse hot and cold

Visual SenseVisual Sense

Sense of sightSense of sight May not be able to stand bright lightsMay not be able to stand bright lights Can’t pick items out of a detailed pictureCan’t pick items out of a detailed picture Put a puzzle togetherPut a puzzle together

Auditory SenseAuditory Sense

Sense of hearingSense of hearing May have extreme responses to sirens, May have extreme responses to sirens,

alarms, vacuum cleanersalarms, vacuum cleaners Can’t calm down in noisy roomsCan’t calm down in noisy rooms Doesn’t hear or respond to calls in a noisy Doesn’t hear or respond to calls in a noisy

room.room.

Olfactory SenseOlfactory Sense

Sense of smellSense of smell May have trouble telling difference between May have trouble telling difference between

smellssmells Can’t identify odorsCan’t identify odors Have extreme reactions to certain smellsHave extreme reactions to certain smells OR has no reaction to strong smellsOR has no reaction to strong smells

Gustatory SenseGustatory Sense

Sense of tasteSense of taste May crave strong, sharp, or sour flavorsMay crave strong, sharp, or sour flavors OR refuse all but bland foodsOR refuse all but bland foods Can’t tell the difference between foodsCan’t tell the difference between foods

Are they acting out?Are they acting out?

Under-Responsive Under-Responsive

vs. vs.

Over-ResponsiveOver-Responsive

Gaining AwarenessGaining Awareness

Estimated 5-10% of all studentsEstimated 5-10% of all students Up to 68% of students on the autism Up to 68% of students on the autism

spectrumspectrum Common misdiagnoses.Common misdiagnoses.

Check it out for yourself – some Check it out for yourself – some common flags. Are you:common flags. Are you:

Over-Responsive OROver-Responsive ORAre you bothered by:Are you bothered by: Fuzzy texturesFuzzy textures Sticky handsSticky hands Walking barefoot on coarse carpet or Walking barefoot on coarse carpet or

grassgrass Having hair or fingernails cutHaving hair or fingernails cut Food texturesFood textures Background noises while you’re trying to Background noises while you’re trying to

concentrateconcentrate Loud, unexpected soundsLoud, unexpected sounds Being upside downBeing upside down Noise in a restaurant, mall or large Noise in a restaurant, mall or large

gymnasiumgymnasium Fragrance from perfume or bath productsFragrance from perfume or bath products Are you cautious and afraid to try new Are you cautious and afraid to try new

things?things? Are you upset by transitions and Are you upset by transitions and

unexpected changes?unexpected changes?

Under-ResponsiveUnder-ResponsiveDo you:Do you: Not bothered by minor injuriesNot bothered by minor injuries Not seem to notice when someone Not seem to notice when someone

touches youtouches you Not like to try new physical activitiesNot like to try new physical activities Not always hear your name being calledNot always hear your name being called Find you can tune out sensations such Find you can tune out sensations such

as hunger, heat, coldas hunger, heat, cold Watch your hands as you complete Watch your hands as you complete

taskstasks Are you easily lost in a fantasy world?Are you easily lost in a fantasy world? Difficult to engage in conversations or Difficult to engage in conversations or

other social interactions?other social interactions?

DyspraxiaDyspraxia

May or may not come with SPDMay or may not come with SPD Symptoms include:Symptoms include: Slow to sit up, walk, roll, crawlSlow to sit up, walk, roll, crawl Difficulty with multi-step activitiesDifficulty with multi-step activities Is awkward, clumsy, accident-proneIs awkward, clumsy, accident-prone Trips or bumps into people or thingsTrips or bumps into people or things Has difficulty keeping organizedHas difficulty keeping organized Has trouble with manipulatives, beads, sports, etc.Has trouble with manipulatives, beads, sports, etc.

What do we do as educators?What do we do as educators?

Biggest problems are lack of focus and Biggest problems are lack of focus and trouble staying still enough to learn.trouble staying still enough to learn.

Some accommodations we can put in placeSome accommodations we can put in place PhysicalPhysical VisualVisual AuditoryAuditory OrganizationalOrganizational SensorySensory

A Sensory DietA Sensory Diet

Like diabetes, small meals help regulationLike diabetes, small meals help regulation Activities to alert a lethargic childActivities to alert a lethargic child Activities to calm an active childActivities to calm an active child

The most important thingThe most important thing

Be thereBe there

Trust meTrust me

-a mom -a mom