Sensory System Differences Flashcards
Sensory Differences
Difficulty processing everyday sensory information
Any of the senses may be over- or under-sensitive, or both, at different time
Sensory differences affect behavior, and life in general
Sensory or information overload
Too much information can cause stress, anxiety, and physical pain
Can trigger withdrawal,challenging behaviorormeltdown
Meltdown
Meltdown different from temper tantrum
Extreme response to overwhelming situation
Complete loss of behavior control
shouting, screaming, crying, kicking, lashing out, biting
refusing to interact, withdrawing from situations and avoiding
What to do?
Meltdowns
Anticipate: recognize signs of distress before having a meltdown (rumble stage)
Identify causes, minimize triggers
Sensory considerations
Anxiety
Changes in routine
Communication Problems (understanding body language, intonation …)
After: Give time to recover. Make space, create a quiet, safe space as best you can. Ask people to move along and not to stare, turn off loud music and turn down bright lights.
Vision
UNDER-SENSITIVE
Objects appear quite dark, or lose some of their features.
Central vision is blurred but peripheral vision quite sharp.
Central object is magnified but things on the periphery are blurred.
Poor depth perception, problems with throwing and catching, clumsiness.
OVER-SENSITIVE
Distorted vision - objects and bright lights can appear to jump around.
Images may fragment.
Easier and more pleasurable to focus on a detail rather than the whole object.
Difficulty getting to sleep as sensitive to the light.
Vision – how to help?
Reduce fluorescent lighting
Provide sunglasses
Use blackout curtains
Creating a workstation in the classroom that blocks out visual distractions
Auditory
UNDER-SENSITIVE
May only hear sounds in one ear, the other ear having only partial hearing or none at all.
May not acknowledge particular sounds.
Might enjoy crowded, noisy places or bang doors and objects.
OVER-SENSITIVE
Noise can be magnified and sounds become distorted and muddled.
May be able to hear conversations in the distance.
Inability to ignore background noise, leading to difficulties concentrating.
Auditory– How to help?
UNDERSENSITIVE
Use visual supportto back up verbal information
Increase other people’s awareness
OVERSENSITIVE
Shutting doors and windows to reduce external sounds
Preparing the person before going to noisy or crowded places
Providing ear plugs and music if it helps
Creating a screened workstation in the classroom or office, positioning the person away from doors and windows
Smell
UNDER-SENSITIVE
Some people have no sense of smell and fail to notice extreme odors (include their own body odor)
Some people may lick things to get a better sense of what they are.
OVER-SENSITIVE
Smells can be intense and overpowering
Can cause self hygiene problems
Dislikes people with distinctive perfumes, shampoos, etc.
Taste
UNDER-SENSITIVE
Likes very spicy foods, or foods with strong texture
OVER-SENSITIVE (oral defensiveness)
Finds some flavors and foods too strong and overpowering because of very sensitive taste buds
Prefers bland foods or pureed foods
Certain textures cause discomfort
Very restricted diet
Oral defensiveness – How to help?
Aversive response to touch sensations in and around the mouth, that may cause extreme sensory, emotional and behavioral responses when eating.
Oral defensiveness
Always approach in a fun and playful way.
Rapport must be well established with the child.
Intervention not only at mealtimes.
Child should be an active participant.
SLOW AND STEADY
Establish a routine to help the child predict expectations.
ONE STEP AT THE TIME
Severely orally aversive children: you might need to slowly work your way from a distance, to the outer perimeter of the face, toward the mouth. Then from the outside of the mouth, and gradually work your way into the mouth
REINFORCE all positive responses.
Touch
UNDER-SENSITIVE
Holds others tightly
High pain threshold
May self-harm
Likes to snuggle in heavy material (weighted blankets)
Smears feces as enjoys the texture
Chews on everything, (clothing, pencils, hair…)
OVER-SENSITIVE
Touch can be painful and uncomfortable - can affect their relationships
Doesn’t having anything on hands or feet
Difficulties brushing and washing hair
Only tolerates certain types of clothing or textures
Touch - How to help?
UNDERSENSITIVE
Alternatives to handle with similar textures
Hugs, weighted blankets, deep touch
OVERSENSITIVE
warning if you are about to touch them - always approach them from the front
a hug may be painful rather than comforting
slowly introducing different textures around the person’s mouth, such as a flannel, a toothbrush and some different foods
gradually introducing different textures to touch
allowing a person to complete activities themselves at a comfortable pace
turning clothes inside out so there is no seam, removing any tags or labels
allowing the person to wear clothes they’re comfortable in
Balance (vestibular)
UNDER-SENSITIVE
Need to rock, swing or spin to get sensory input
Help by encouraging activities that help to develop the vestibular system: rocking horses, swings, roundabouts, seesaws, catching a ball or practicing walking smoothly up steps or curbs
OVERSENSITIVE
Difficulties with activities like sports, outdoors, playground.
Difficulties stopping quickly or during an activity
Car sickness
Difficulties with activities where the head is not upright or feet are off the ground
Help by breaking down activities into small, more easily manageable steps and using visual cues such as a finish line
