Are Sensory Processing Issues a Learning Disability?

Your child’s second-grade teacher calls to say she’s concerned about some of his behaviors in school:

• He can’t sit still through a half-hour lesson and disrupts the class.

• He often seems distracted and doesn’t pay attention to what she’s saying.

• He bumps into kids in the lunch line, making them angry.

• He can’t hold a pencil correctly, so he struggles with handwriting.

• He gets upset when asked to switch from one activity to another.

• He melts down during assemblies and has to leave the gym.

You had started noticing this type of behavior when your child was a toddler. But now it’s hurting his progress in school. The teacher tells you your child may have sensory processing issues.

What are sensory processing issues?

Some kids seem to have trouble handling the information their senses take in—things like sound, touch, taste, sight and smell. There are also two other less-known senses that can be affected. The first is a sense of body awareness. The second involves movement, balance and coordination. Also, kids with sensory processing issues can be oversensitive to input, undersensitive to input, or both.

Sensory processing issues are not a learning disability or official diagnosis. But they can make it hard for children to succeed at school. For instance, oversensitive kids respond easily to sensory stimulation and can find it overwhelming. They may:

• Be unable to tolerate bright lights and loud noises like ambulance sirens

• Refuse to wear clothing because it feels scratchy or irritating–even after cutting out all the tags and labels–or shoes because they feel “too tight”

• Be distracted by background noises that others don’t seem to hear

• Be fearful of surprise touch, and avoid hugs and cuddling even with familiar adults

• Be overly fearful of swings and playground equipment

• Often have trouble knowing where their body is in relation to other objects or people

• Bump into people and things and appear clumsy

• Have trouble sensing the amount of force they’re applying; for example, they may rip the paper when erasing, pinch too hard or slam down objects

• Run off, or bolt, when they’re overwhelmed to get away from whatever is distressing them

• Have extreme meltdowns when overwhelmed

Meanwhile, undersensitive kids want to seek out more sensory stimulation. They may:

• Have a constant need to touch people or textures, even when it’s not socially acceptable

• Not understand personal space even when kids the same age understand it

• Have an extremely high tolerance for pain

• Not understand their own strength

• Be very fidgety and unable to sit still

• Love jumping, bumping and crashing activities

• Enjoy deep pressure like tight bear hugs

• Crave fast, spinning and/or intense movement

• Love being tossed in the air and jumping on furniture and trampolines

Grade-schoolers who are undersensitive may display “negative behaviors” including what looks like hyperactivity, when in fact they’re seeking input.

A 2009 study found that 1 in every 6 children has sensory processing issues that make it hard to learn and function in school. While sensory processing issues are often seen in autistic children, they can also be found in those with ADHD, OCD and other developmental delays—or with no other diagnosis at all.

How can you help your child with sensory processing issues do better in school?

There is no medication to treat sensory processing issues. But there are therapies, as well as practical changes you can make at school and home to help your child feel and do better.

Occupational therapists (OTs) are specialists who work with kids who have sensory processing issues. The majority of OTs work in schools, though you can also find them in private practice. They engage kids in physical activities that are designed to regulate their sensory input.

You and your child’s teacher can discuss changes you can make to help him be more comfortable, secure and able to focus in the classroom. For instance:

• Make sure his chair is a good fit for him. When he’s sitting at his desk, he should be able to put his feet flat on the floor and rest his elbows on the desk.

• For the child who needs to move a bit, you might try an inflated seated cushion or a pillow from home so he can both squirm and stay in his seat.

• Some kids are better off if they sit close to the teacher. However, if your child is easily distracted by noise, he may end up turning around often to where the noise is coming from.

• If possible, eliminate buzzing and flickering fluorescent lighting.

• Make sure he’s not sitting next to distracting sources of noise.

• Have the OT work with him on knowing where his body is in relation to other people and things and the idea of personal space.

• Provide sensory breaks such as walking in circles, jumping on a mini-trampoline and sucking on sour candy so he gets the input he craves and doesn’t bump into others.

• Allow for fidgets and chewable items, available in OT catalogues, to provide input.

• Have the OT work with him on both gross and fine motor skills so he’s more confident, whether he’s in gym class or taking notes.

• To avoid meltdowns or bolting, allow him to skip school assemblies, or sit near a door so he can take breaks in the hallway with a teacher when he starts to feel overwhelmed.

• If the cafeteria is too stimulating, see about having him and one or more lunch buddies eat in a quieter room with a teacher or aide.

• Have a clear visual schedule posted with plenty of preparation for transitions.

With support and accommodations from an understanding teacher, and perhaps work with an OT, your child with sensory processing issues can be primed for success in class, on the playground and with friends.