Sensory processing challenges in children

thriveneurostudio

6 min read

This Article Includes:

Why that clothing label is so unbearable
What we mean by Sensory Processing Challenges
What parents notice
Where retained primitive reflexes may fit
What a reflex assessment might look like
Gentle things that could help at home
When to talk to a GP or school SENCo
How developmental delay therapy fits
Summary

Why that clothing label is so unbearable

The label in the tee-shirt that is "unbearable", the hand dryer that makes your child cover their ears, the birthday party that ends in tears or the journey to school which causes a full blown meltdown. If this is sounding spookily familiar, be reassured that you are not imagining it and you are not alone in this.

This blog is not to diagnose your child but merely to inform parents of why some of these reactions keep happening to their children. A child is never "naughty" or "fussy" just because they find the world a lot!

I remember being really insulted when my daughters key worker at pre-school told me that she finds life really hard and the world is a lot. I felt as though it was something I had done to create this issue and that other people were judging my parenting. This was not the case at all.

My daughter did find life hard and it wasn't until I realised why that it all started to make sense to me.

No two children experience sensory processing challenges in quite the same way, and that’s completely ok. Even if your child has a diagnosis their challenges will look very different to another child with the same diagnosis. For my daughter it was retained reflexes that were getting in the way and making life just that little bit harder and more stressful. Once she started on a reflex integration programme everything started to click into place for her. It wasn't a quick fix, thats for sure, but we very quickly began to see little changes and things beginning to ease for her.

What we mean by Sensory Processing Challenges

Lets try and make this as straight forward as possible to understand. Your child's brain will be processing lots of information all the time. It is how their brain takes this in and makes sense of the information from the senses that will make them react in a certain way, and some children find that harder or more intense than others.

For some children this can be an over-response to the stimulous (too much), and for others they will under-respond (needs more), or it could also be a mix of the two - just to make things even harder for us parents to work out!

This reaction to an external stimuli is extremely common among neurodivergent learners, including many with Autism, ADHD or Dyslexia, but can also show up in any child.

What parents notice

Below are some of the things parents may notice in their child. Please remember that this is not a tool for a diagnosis, it is a description of what parents have experienced and it could then lead you to finding out more about the therapy.

Area

What parents may notice

Sound ------------

Covers ears at hand dryers, vacuums or school bells

Startles easily

Struggles to listen in a noisy environment.

Touch ------------

Dislikes clothing labels, seams, socks, shoes or waistbands

Avoids messy play

Sensitive to hair washing/brushing

Doesn't like hugs or can seek tight squeezes

Movement and Balance ------------

Dislikes car journeys

Doesn't like the swings at the park

or the opposite and never stops moving

Fidgets, slumps, bumps into things

Sight ------------

Overwhelmed by bright or busy spaces

Tires when reading or tracking text

Food ------------

Very picky about textures, smells or temperatures

Gags easily

Pouching - storing food in cheeks

Has 'safe' foods - generally anything from a packet

Emotions and Energy ------------

Big reactions to small things

Meltdowns after school

Anxiety in crowds or new places

Trouble settling to sleep

This is not a conclusive list of symptoms and these signs can have many different causes. One or two does not mean that a child has sensory processing challenges, and it is the overall picture that matters here.

Where retained primitive reflexes may fit

What reflexes are - They are automatic movements babies develop in the womb and are born with. They help initiate the birthing process and enables the baby to make it's journey down the birth canal. The early reflexes help the baby with feeding and early movement and should fade (integrate) as the brain matures. This process is called reflex integration.

What 'retained' means - A reflex that stays active for longer than required or expected is called a retained reflex. It doesn't mean there is anything 'wrong' with your child, it just means that there is a developmental delay that could be making things harder for them.

Moro (startle) reflex - This reflex is present from the womb and usually integrates between 4 and 6 months. If it should linger for longer, a child may seem easily startled and overwhelmed by sound, light, crowds, and have big emotional reactions. You can read about this reflex on my instagram post "MORO'.

Spinal Galant reflex - This reflex usually integrates between 3 and 9 months. If this one stays active a child may be bothered by waistbands, labels or clothing touching their lower back. This can make it very challenging for the child to sit still and may even cause toileting difficulties.

Other reflexes - The TLR reflex can lead to issues around posture, balance and travel sickness. Rooting and Sucks can cause children to be 'fussy' eaters, messy eaters and can cause difficulties with speech and language. If you want to find out more about each specific reflex then please do go to my Instagram page for more information or there is a reflex checker on the website.

Keep balanced - Reflexes are only one possible piece of the jigsaw puzzle, alongside everything else going on for a child (nutrition, health, home life etc)

What a reflex assessment might look like

During the initial assessment I would gently look at how a child moves, balances and responds, and it can show which reflexes, if any, may still be active.

I am trained in neuro - developmental delay therapy which integrates reflexes through skin stimulation and movements. I have completed the INPP teachers training to use within my teaching setting and I am a trained provider of the JIAS auditory programmes. If you aren't sure if this is the right approach for you and your child you can use the reflex checker https://www.thriveneurostudio.com/reflex-checker-quiz on the website as a first look at home.

Gentle things that can help at home

Give a warning before loud or busy moments, and say what is coming next
Keep a calm space with low light and soft sounds, and let a child leave a busy room if they feel overwhelmed
Offer ear defenders
Cut out clothing labels or choose clothes with no bulky seems
Build in movement breaks: crawling, rolling, pushing a wall, carrying something heavy, pulling a heavy trolly
Keep routines predictable, especially after school
Follow your child's lead: no pressure to join in

When to talk to a GP or school SENCo

If anything worries you then always consult your GP first. You may also wish to speak to a specialist if your child has sleep difficulties, bedwetting past the expected age, feeding problems, delayed speech, hearing or vision concerns, or anything that seems to be getting worse.

Sometimes sharing this information with your school SENCo can add a useful picture.

Neuro - developmental delay therapy sits alongside other support and never instead of it.

How developmental delay therapy fits

Developmental delay therapy aims to support the integration of retained primitive reflexes, allowing your child to develop their postural reflexes (adult reflexes). Gentle skin stimulation, repeated movements or a sound programme carried out for a few minutes a day, at home, with regular follow-up-appointments to review progress would be recommended. The therapy programmes are personally designed to fit around school and family life so it should feel achievable and not a chore.

Summary

Remember - you are not imagining this and you are not alone. It is just about finding the right solution for your child, with the right specialist for your family. Many children will feel more comfortable and will begin to thrive once the right support is in place. A free 15 minute call to talk through what you are noticing, with no pressure or expectation attached can help you navigate the early and overwhelming stages of the process. If you would prefer you can complete the Reflex Checker https://www.thriveneurostudio.com/reflex-checker-quiz in the menu tab before booking that call https://www.thriveneurostudio.com/contact-5 .

My clinic is based near Witney - Oxford, however, I see families from all over the UK because I can run appointments online.