Discovering Sensory Seeking vs. Sensory Avoiding in Children

Unlock the mystery of sensory seeking vs. sensory avoiding in children! Discover how sensory processing impacts their daily lives.

April 12, 2024

Understanding Sensory Processing

Sensory processing refers to the way our brain receives, processes, and responds to sensory information from our environment. For some children, sensory processing can be challenging, leading to difficulties in daily life. Understanding the differences between sensory avoiders and sensory seekers, as well as the impact of sensory processing, is crucial in providing appropriate support and interventions.

Sensory Avoiders vs. Sensory Seekers

Sensory avoiders are individuals who are more sensitive to sensory input and have "over reactions" to sensory stimuli because their body and brain cannot properly process it. This can manifest as a fight-flight-freeze response or sensory defensiveness, causing them to avoid certain types of movement, sounds, or textures of clothing. Sensory avoiders can be categorized based on their avoidance within the eight sensory systems: vestibular, proprioception, vision, auditory, tactile, gustatory and olfactory, and interoception.

On the other hand, sensory seekers are undersensitive to sensory input and may exhibit behaviors seeking sensory stimulation. Some children may show a combination of both sensory seeking and sensory avoiding reactions. The behaviors of sensory seekers will be explored in a later section.

Impact of Sensory Processing on Daily Life

Sensory processing challenges can have a significant impact on a child's daily life. Sensory avoiders may find certain sensations overwhelming and may avoid them to cope. This can lead to difficulties with play, social activities, school tasks, and daily routines. For example, they may struggle with wearing certain types of clothing due to tactile sensitivity, become overwhelmed by loud noises or bright lights, or exhibit picky eating habits due to sensory sensitivities.

Understanding the impact of sensory processing challenges on daily life is crucial for parents, caregivers, and educators. By recognizing the specific sensory avoidances and providing appropriate support, it becomes possible to create an environment that is more accommodating and conducive to the child's well-being and development.

In the following sections, we will explore the characteristics of sensory avoiders and sensory seekers in more detail, as well as discuss coping strategies and management approaches for children with sensory processing challenges.

Characteristics of Sensory Avoiders

Sensory avoiders are individuals who are more sensitive to sensory input and tend to avoid it because it can be overwhelming for them. This avoidance can manifest as a fight-flight-freeze response or sensory defensiveness, leading to challenges in various aspects of daily life, including play, social activities, school tasks, and daily routines. Sensory avoiders can be categorized based on their avoidance within the eight sensory systems, which include the vestibular, proprioception, vision, auditory, tactile, gustatory and olfactory, and interoception systems.

Categories of Sensory Avoidance

Vestibular Avoidance: Vestibular input comes from any type of movement that involves a head position change. It is directly connected to the visual and auditory systems, muscle tone, and balance. Being a vestibular sensory avoider can cause challenges with transitions, engaging with peers, safely moving through the environment, participating in sports, and completing daily routine tasks.
Proprioceptive Avoidance: Proprioceptive input comes from movement and is considered the "all calming" sense. If a child is overly sensitive to other types of input, proprioceptive activities can be used to help calm the nervous system.
Visual Avoidance: The visual system is connected to the vestibular system, and challenges with visual input can cause difficulties with transitions, playing with peers, safely moving through the environment, completing school tasks, and daily routine tasks.

Challenges Faced by Sensory Avoiders

Sensory avoiders often experience difficulties due to their heightened sensitivity to sensory input. They may exhibit the following challenges:

Picky Eating: Sensory avoiders may be selective in their food choices, avoiding certain textures, tastes, or smells. This can impact their nutrition and mealtime experiences.
Clothing Sensitivity: Sensory avoiders may have specific preferences for clothing, avoiding certain fabrics, tags, or tightness that may cause discomfort. This can lead to challenges in dressing, wearing uniforms, or participating in certain activities that require specific attire.
Sensitivity to Sensory Stimuli: Background noises, bright lights, or other sensory stimuli may be overwhelming for sensory avoiders, causing them to feel anxious, irritable, or overwhelmed. This can impact their ability to focus, concentrate, or participate in certain environments.

Understanding the characteristics and challenges faced by sensory avoiders is essential for providing appropriate support and accommodations to help them navigate their daily lives more comfortably. By recognizing their unique needs, we can create an environment that promotes their well-being and fosters their overall development.

Characteristics of Sensory Seekers

Sensory seekers are individuals who actively seek out sensory input to reach an optimal level of arousal. They are typically undersensitive to sensory input and require additional stimulation to function properly. Let's explore the categories of sensory seeking and some common behaviors associated with sensory seekers.

Categories of Sensory Seeking

Sensory seeking behaviors can manifest in various ways. Here are some categories that sensory seekers may fall into:

Movement Seekers: These individuals have a strong need for movement and may engage in activities such as jumping, hopping, or crashing into objects and people. They often display a high activity level and may have difficulty sitting still for extended periods.
Tactile Seekers: Tactile seekers have a heightened need for tactile input. They may enjoy touching people and objects frequently, seeking out different textures and pressures to satisfy their sensory cravings. This desire for tactile stimulation can sometimes lead to challenges with personal space boundaries.
Vestibular Seekers: Vestibular seekers seek out activities that provide intense vestibular input, such as spinning, swinging, or engaging in fast-paced movement. They may have a preference for activities that involve a sense of balance and motion.
Auditory Seekers: Auditory seekers are drawn to sounds and may seek out loud or unexpected noises to fulfill their sensory needs. They may enjoy making noise themselves, such as tapping objects or making vocal sounds. Their heightened interest in auditory input can sometimes lead to difficulties in filtering out background noise.

Behaviors of Sensory Seekers

Sensory seekers exhibit specific behaviors that reflect their sensory seeking tendencies. Here are some common behaviors associated with sensory seekers:

Walking with loud, heavy steps
Preferring rough play and engaging in activities that involve crashing into objects and people
Having an unusual tolerance for pain

It's important to note that sensory seeking behaviors can vary from one individual to another. While some children may exhibit all of these behaviors, others may display only a few. Understanding these behaviors can help parents, educators, and caregivers provide appropriate support and create an environment that meets the sensory needs of sensory seekers.

Sensory Processing in Children

Understanding sensory processing in children is essential for recognizing and addressing their individual needs. Children can exhibit different reactions to sensory input, with some showing over-sensitivity, under-sensitivity, or a combination of both.

Over-Sensitivity vs. Under-Sensitivity

Children who are sensory avoiders tend to be oversensitive to sensory input. This means that certain sensory stimuli can be overwhelming for them. They may exhibit behaviors such as being startled by unexpected sounds and lights, having an aversion to tight or uncomfortable clothes, and preferring quieter environments. They may also dislike hugs or kisses and be sensitive to certain textures.

On the other hand, sensory seekers are generally undersensitive to sensory input. They often seek more sensory stimulation to compensate for their lower sensitivity. This may manifest as engaging in behaviors such as standing too close to others, having an unusual tolerance for pain, walking with heavy steps, enjoying rough play, and frequently touching people and objects.

Combination of Sensory Reactions

It's important to note that some children may exhibit a combination of sensory reactions. They may display both sensory avoiding and sensory seeking behaviors, depending on the specific sensory input or situation. For example, a child may struggle with personal space boundaries and engage in rough play on the playground (sensory seeking), but also dislike being hugged or kissed and be sensitive to loud or unexpected sounds (sensory avoiding).

Recognizing whether a child is over-sensitive, under-sensitive, or a combination of both can help parents, caregivers, and educators better understand their unique sensory needs. By understanding a child's sensory processing profile, appropriate strategies and interventions can be implemented to support their sensory development and overall well-being.

Coping Strategies for Sensory Challenges

When it comes to helping children with sensory processing challenges, understanding their triggers and reactions is essential. By identifying these factors, parents and educators can implement effective coping strategies to support children in navigating their sensory issues.

Identifying Triggers and Reactions

The first step in assisting children with sensory challenges is to identify their specific triggers and reactions. Triggers can vary from child to child and may include certain sounds, textures, or environments. By observing a child's behavior and noting their responses to different stimuli, parents and educators can gain valuable insights into what causes distress or discomfort. This information allows them to develop personalized strategies to mitigate these challenges.

Some common triggers for sensory avoiders may include loud noises, bright lights, or certain textures that they find uncomfortable. On the other hand, sensory seekers may seek out activities or stimuli that provide intense sensory input, such as spinning, jumping, or seeking deep pressure. Understanding these triggers can guide the development of coping strategies tailored to the child's specific needs.

Supporting Children with Sensory Issues

Once triggers and reactions have been identified, it is important to provide support and create a supportive environment for children with sensory challenges. Here are some strategies that can be helpful:

Communication and Collaboration: Open communication between parents, educators, and other professionals involved in the child's care is crucial. Sharing information about the child's sensory issues and working together to develop a plan can lead to more effective support.
Structured Environment: Creating a structured environment with predictable routines and visual supports can provide a sense of security for children with sensory challenges. Visual schedules, timers, and consistent expectations can help them understand what to expect and reduce anxiety.
Sensory Breaks: Allowing sensory breaks can be beneficial for both sensory avoiders and sensory seekers. These breaks provide opportunities for the child to regulate their sensory input and reduce sensory overload. Sensory breaks can include activities such as deep pressure input, using weighted objects, or engaging in calming exercises.
Accommodations: Making accommodations in the child's environment can help them manage their sensory challenges more effectively. For example, providing noise-canceling headphones, offering alternative seating options, or using fidget tools can help children regulate their sensory experiences and maintain focus.
Education and Awareness: Educating teachers, classmates, and other individuals in the child's life about sensory processing challenges can foster understanding and create a supportive community. This awareness can lead to increased acceptance and empathy, reducing potential social challenges for the child.

By implementing these coping strategies, parents and educators can help children with sensory challenges thrive in their daily lives. It is important to remember that each child is unique, and strategies should be tailored to their specific needs. With patience, understanding, and the right support, children with sensory processing challenges can develop strategies to navigate their sensory world with confidence.

Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)

Sensory processing disorder (SPD) is a condition that affects the way individuals process and respond to sensory information from their environment. Although not recognized as a standalone psychiatric disorder, it is often considered a symptom of other conditions such as autism, ADHD, OCD, or developmental delays.

Understanding SPD Symptoms

Children with sensory processing disorder may exhibit a range of symptoms that can impact their daily lives. These symptoms can vary depending on whether the child is hypersensitive (over-sensitive) or hyposensitive (under-sensitive) to sensory stimuli.

Hypersensitivity:

Avoidance of intense sensory stimulation
Easily overwhelmed by sensory input
Anxiety, irritability, anger, or fear in response to sensory triggers
Tendency to be labeled as "picky" or "oversensitive"
Potential impairment of executive function, resulting in impulsivity, clumsiness, and developmental delays

Hyposensitivity:

Craving for more sensory input
Enjoyment of crashing into things or engaging in intense physical activities
Behaviors that may resemble hyperactivity
Potential impairment of executive function, leading to impulsive actions and delays in development

Children with SPD may also experience sudden mood swings, odd behaviors, tantrums, and extreme reactions to environmental changes. These reactions can include fleeing from overwhelming situations or becoming aggressive as a fight-or-flight response to sensory overload.

Therapy and Management Approaches

Therapeutic interventions can help children with sensory processing disorder better cope with their sensory challenges and improve their overall functioning. Some common approaches include:

Occupational therapy: Occupational therapists work with children to develop strategies and skills to manage sensory input, regulate their responses, and engage in daily activities more effectively. Therapy may involve a combination of sensory integration techniques, play-based activities, and environmental modifications.
Sensory diets: Sensory diets are personalized plans designed to provide the right amount and type of sensory input to help regulate a child's sensory system. These diets may include activities that either stimulate or calm the senses, such as brushing techniques, deep pressure activities, or fidget tools.
Environmental modifications: Creating a sensory-friendly environment can significantly benefit children with SPD. This may involve minimizing sensory triggers, providing quiet spaces for relaxation, using dim lighting, and using visual schedules or timers to help with transitions.
Parent and caregiver support: Providing education and support to parents and caregivers is essential in managing SPD. They can learn techniques to identify triggers, implement strategies at home, and advocate for their child's needs in various settings.

It's important to note that each child's experience with SPD is unique, and the specific therapy and management approaches will vary based on their individual needs. Collaborating with healthcare professionals, therapists, and educators can help develop a comprehensive plan tailored to the child's specific challenges and strengths.