Understanding SPD: Strategies for Managing Sensitivity

Ethan, aged eight, was a bundle of energy. He loved chasing butterflies in the backyard, building elaborate Lego structures, and wrestling with his older brother. But beneath the surface, Ethan harboured a secret struggle – Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD).

For Ethan’s parents, John and Sarah, the signs weren’t always obvious. Unlike some children with SPD who might be hypersensitive to touch, Ethan craved rough textures. He’d rub his hands on sandpaper and seek out hugs that felt almost like squeezes. However, loud noises were a constant source of distress. School canteens were his personal nightmare, and car rides with the radio on felt like torture as well as birthday parties.

The real challenge came with communication. Ethan often struggled to understand spoken instructions, particularly in noisy environments. He’d get frustrated easily during group activities and withdraw, leaving John and Sarah worried about his social development.

“We thought he might have trouble with hearing,” Sarah recalls. “But multiple ear tests came back normal.”

The lack of a clear diagnosis left John and Sarah feeling helpless. “It felt like we were constantly walking on eggshells,” John admits. “We didn’t know how to best support him.”

What is Sensory Processing Disorder

Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) is a condition that affects how the brain processes information received through the senses. Sight, sound, touch, taste, smell, and even movement can be perceived as overwhelming or under-registered by someone with SPD. This can lead to a variety of challenges in daily life, from social interaction to self-care.

SPD presents differently in each individual, so there’s no standardised care. Some people may be hypersensitive to certain stimuli, like finding loud noises unbearable or experiencing strong negative reactions to specific textures in food or fabric or clothes. Others might be hyposensitive, seeking out intense sensory input through activities like rocking or chewing on objects or wearing tight clothes, weighted vests or having blankets on them.

Sensory processing disorder (SPD) can affect how the brain processes information from one or more senses. These senses include:

• Sight: Children with SPD may be sensitive to bright lights, flickering images, or specific colours. They might squint, become withdrawn, or have trouble focusing in visually stimulating environments.
  
• Taste: Some children with SPD may be picky eaters due to a heightened sensitivity to certain textures, flavours, or temperatures of food. They might gag easily, avoid specific food groups, or have meltdowns at mealtimes.
• Touch: Sensitivity to touch can manifest as an aversion to certain fabrics, tags, or close physical contact. Children might cry when hugged, remove clothing they find uncomfortable, or become distressed in crowded spaces. Children can also have issues with things like socks with no hem, denim fabric makes them itchy, they don’t like short pants even if it’s hot outside, they prefer soft fabrics too.
• Smell: Strong smells, perfumes, or even certain foods can be overwhelming for children with SPD. They might experience nausea, headaches, or try to avoid situations with intense smells.
• Hearing: Loud noises, sudden sounds, or specific frequencies may be unbearable for children with auditory sensitivities. They might cover their ears, become withdrawn in noisy environments, or struggle to concentrate with background noise.
• Proprioception (body movement sense): Difficulties with proprioception can lead to clumsiness, poor balance, and challenges with activities like handwriting or catching a ball. Children might seem uncoordinated, bump into things frequently, or have trouble judging the force of their movements.
• Vestibular sense (balance and spatial awareness): Children with vestibular sensitivities may dislike spinning, heights, or rough movement. They might experience dizziness, motion sickness, or difficulty navigating stairs or uneven terrain.
• Interoception (internal sensation): It is about feeling the body needs like hunger, thirst, need to go to the bathroom. This can lead to frustration when the sugar level goes low or can lead to issues with toilet training or pain threshold.

SPD can coexist with other conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and anxiety disorders.

The good news is that there are a number of strategies that can help people with SPD manage their sensitivities and participate more fully in the world around them. Here, we’ll explore some holistic approaches that can be incorporated into a comprehensive SPD management plan.

How to Know if Someone has SPD

You must always consult a specialist to diagnose someone if they have SPD or not. But before you consult a professional, it can be a good idea to first keep track of the symptoms. The first step to this is understanding the specific ways in which SPD affects you or your loved one. Keeping a sensory journal can be a valuable tool in this process. By documenting situations that trigger sensory overload or under-stimulation, you can begin to identify patterns and develop strategies for managing them. This can also be helpful when you decide to get a professional diagnosis.

Here are some questions to consider when creating a sensory journal:

• What sensory input caused the reaction (loud noise, bright lights, rough clothing, food texture or taste)?
• What was the intensity of the sensory input?
• What was the emotional and physical reaction (anxiety, withdrawal, outburst, seeking more input, or avoidance)?
• What strategies were helpful (distraction, removal from the situation, calming activities)?

The Importance of Early Identification and Intervention

Early identification of SPD is crucial for effective management. Recognising the signs can help parents, educators, and caregivers provide the necessary support and interventions. Common signs include:

• Avoidance of sensory experiences: Such as avoiding certain textures or refusing to wear certain types of clothing or being in a noisy environment, avoiding extreme movements like rides .
• Seeking excessive sensory input: Such as constantly moving, touching everything, or making loud noises or constantly chewing stuff.
• Difficulty with motor skills: Such as problems with balance, coordination, and fine motor skills.

Professionals who can diagnose SPD can be Paediatric Occupational Therapists, Paediatricians, psychologists or healthcare professionals who check on sensory processing profiles

Holistic Approaches to Managing Sensitivity

There are a number of holistic therapies that can be integrated into an SPD management plan to support sensory processing and overall well-being. Here are a few examples:

Managing SPD often requires a multifaceted approach tailored to the individual’s unique sensory needs. Here are several holistic strategies that can help.

1. Dietary Adjustments

Nutrition plays a vital role in overall brain function and sensory processing. Some dietary changes that can help include:

• Eliminating potential allergens: Foods that commonly cause allergic reactions, such as gluten and dairy, can exacerbate sensory issues in some individuals (MSG, sugar, preservatives, colourings..). 
• Ensuring a balanced diet: Adequate intake of essential nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, which are crucial for brain health, can support better sensory processing.
• Hydration: Studies show that even milder drops of water intake can affect cognitive abilities in children. Therefore, proper hydration is essential as even mild dehydration can affect cognitive and sensory functions.

2. Sensory Integration Therapy

Sensory Integration (SI) Therapy, often conducted by occupational therapists, aims to improve the brain’s ability to process sensory information. It involves:

• Play-based activities: Designed to challenge and engage the sensory systems in a controlled way.
• Custom sensory diets: These are personalised activity plans that provide the sensory input a person needs throughout the day.

Benefits of SI Therapy

Sensory Integration Therapy can benefit children with SPD in a number of ways, including:

• Improved sensory processing: Children can learn to tolerate a wider range of sensory input and respond to it in a more organised way.
• Reduced sensory sensitivities: Therapy can help decrease a child’s negative reactions to certain sights, sounds, touches, smells, or tastes.
• Increased participation in daily activities: As children become more comfortable processing sensory information, they are better able to participate in activities at school, home, and in social settings.
• Improved motor skills: SI therapy can help children develop better coordination, balance, and body awareness.
• Enhanced emotional regulation: Children may experience less anxiety, frustration, and meltdowns related to sensory overload.

3. Environmental Modifications

Creating a sensory-friendly environment can significantly reduce sensory overload. Considerations include:

• Lighting: Using soft, natural lighting or dimmable lights can help manage light sensitivity.
• Noise control: Avoiding noisy environments and busy places,  Using noise-cancelling headphones can help individuals who are sensitive to sound.
• Organising space: Keeping the living or working space organised and clutter-free can reduce visual and tactile overstimulation.
• Avoid busy places like supermarkets, birthday parties, going to fairs etc as it can be strongly upsetting due to overload and the variety of sensory inputs..

4. Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapists can design activities and interventions to help individuals with SPD develop skills for coping with sensory challenges and participating in daily activities.

• Conduct regular assessments to monitor progress and adjust interventions.
• Integrate therapeutic activities into daily routines to promote consistency and effectiveness.

Understanding Sensory Processing

• Sensory Integration: This refers to the brain’s ability to receive sensory information from the environment, process it, and respond appropriately. In SPD, this process is disrupted. For example, a child with tactile sensitivity might perceive a gentle touch as painful, leading them to withdraw or overreact.
• Sensory Diet: A personalised plan that incorporates activities that provide specific sensory input to help regulate the nervous system. A child who seeks out movement might benefit from activities like jumping on a trampoline or swinging. Conversely, a child who is easily overwhelmed by noise might find calming activities like listening to calming music or chewing on chewy toys helpful.

Treatment Options for SPD

Therapists will evaluate a child’s specific needs and design a treatment plan that may include a combination of the following approaches:

• Sensory-based intervention: This therapy uses activities that target specific sensory systems to improve processing and integration. For example, a child with tactile sensitivity might participate in activities that involve playing with different textures like play dough or sand.
• DIR/Floortime model: This play-based therapy focuses on building social-emotional skills and communication through engaging, child-led play experiences. The therapist helps the parent or caregiver understand how to follow the child’s lead and create a supportive environment for social interaction.
• Hippotherapy (equine therapy): This therapy has a unique approach of using horseback riding to improve sensory integration, balance, and motor skills. The rhythmic movement of the horse provides proprioceptive and vestibular input, which can be calming and help the child develop better body awareness.
• Vision therapy: This addresses visual processing problems that can impact learning and behaviour. A vision therapist will design a program of exercises and activities to improve visual skills like tracking, focusing, and eye teaming.
• Soundsory: This auditory intervention uses filtered music to improve attention and sensory processing. Specific frequencies are emphasised or diminished to stimulate different parts of the auditory system and promote better integration of sound.
• Tomatis® Method: This approach uses specific sound frequencies and music delivered through headphones to stimulate the auditory system and improve sensory processing. It is a controversial method with limited research supporting its effectiveness.
• Integration of retained primitive reflexes: This therapy focuses on reflexes that may not have fully developed in infancy and can impact sensory processing. These reflexes are involuntary movements that help with development but are supposed to fade over time. Specialists believe that retained reflexes can contribute to sensory processing difficulties. Therapists use specific activities and movements to help integrate these reflexes.

It’s important to note that this is not an exhaustive list, and the effectiveness of each approach can vary depending on the child’s specific needs. A combination of these therapies, along with support from parents, teachers, and other caregivers, can help children with SPD manage their sensory sensitivities and thrive in their daily lives

5. Mindfulness and Relaxation Techniques

Mindfulness and relaxation can help individuals, especially adults with SPD manage stress and sensory overload. Techniques include:

• Meditation and deep breathing exercises: These can help calm the nervous system and reduce anxiety.
• Yoga: Incorporating yoga can enhance body awareness and coordination.
• Progressive muscle relaxation: This technique involves tensing and then slowly relaxing each muscle group, which can help release physical tension.

6. Movement Therapy to address vestibular deficiency

Engaging in movement activities like dance, jumping on a trampoline, or swinging can be helpful for individuals who seek or need more sensory input.

7. Aquatic Therapy

The water environment can provide a calming and supportive space for movement and sensory exploration.

8.The Tomatis® Method: A Powerful Tool for SPD

One of the innovative approaches to managing SPD is the Tomatis® Method. Developed by Dr. Alfred Tomatis, this auditory therapy aims to retrain the ear and brain to process sounds more effectively.

What is the Tomatis® Method?

The Tomatis® Method involves listening to electronically modified music and sounds through specialised headphones. The therapy is designed to stimulate the auditory system and improve the brain’s ability to process sensory information.

Benefits of the Tomatis® Method

• Enhanced auditory processing: Helps improve the ability to distinguish and interpret sounds.
• Improved attention and focus: Many individuals report better concentration and reduced distractibility.
• Emotional regulation: The method can help balance emotional responses, reducing anxiety and stress levels.
• Better motor skills: Improved coordination and balance have been observed in many participants.

How Does the Tomatis® Method Work?

The therapy typically involves a series of listening sessions where the individual listens to music that has been altered to include specific frequencies and modulations. These sessions are modified  based on the individual’s needs and are usually supervised by a Tomatis® trained practitioner.

Incorporating the Tomatis® Method into a Holistic Plan

While the Tomatis® Method is a powerful tool, it is most effective when combined with other holistic strategies. Integrating this auditory therapy with dietary adjustments, relaxation or mindfulness practices, sensory integration therapy, and environmental modifications can provide a comprehensive approach to managing SPD.

Ethan’s Story Continued

One evening, during a backyard barbecue with friends, the conversation turned to Ethan’s struggles. To their surprise, their friends, Emily and David, mentioned their son, Liam, who had a similar experience. Liam was diagnosed with SPD and had undergone a therapy called the Tomatis® Method.

Intrigued, John and Sarah dove headfirst into researching the Tomatis® Method. The idea of using filtered music to improve sensory processing resonated with them. They contacted Emily for Liam’s practitioner’s information and scheduled a consultation.

Françoise Nicoloff, our Tomatis® professional with more than 45 years of experience in neurodiversity, explained how filtered music could help retrain Ethan’s auditory system to better process sensory information. The initial program involved 14 days of daily listening sessions, with Ethan wearing specialised headphones including bone and air conduction that delivered filtered specific sound frequencies. During these sessions, he listened to classical music for one hour each day.

“The first few days were a bit of an adjustment,” Sarah remembers. “Ethan wasn’t used to sitting still for so long.” However, John noticed a change in his son’s demeanour after a week. “He seemed more focused and less easily distracted by background noise.”

The first 14 days were followed by a 28-day break, allowing Ethan’s brain to integrate the auditory stimulation. This period was crucial, as the brain needed time to process the new information and adapt its response to sensory input.

Finally, the second round of listening sessions began, mirroring the first 14 days with daily one-hour sessions of classical music. This time, the changes were more pronounced. Ethan’s teachers reported that he was participating more actively in class and seemed to understand instructions better.

“He even started joining the lunch conversations at school,” John beams. “Something we never thought we’d see before.”

The Tomatis® Method wasn’t a magic bullet. Ethan still had his moments of sensory overload however the filtered music therapy provided a crucial foundation. He underwent regular intensive neurosensory programs for a few months. His communication improved significantly, and he seemed more at ease in noisy environments.

multi-faceted approach involving occupational therapists, following sensory diet, environmental modifications, integration of the primitive reflexes

Ethan’s journey with SPD highlights how the condition can manifest differently in boys. While some children might display classic symptoms like hypersensitivity to touch, others, like Ethan, might exhibit a combination of seeking rough textures, only wanting to eat crunchy food, could not sit still and struggling with auditory processing. This can often make diagnosis more challenging.

Ethan’s story also emphasises the importance of support networks. John and Sarah’s friends, Emily and David, unknowingly provided a lifeline by sharing their own experience with SPD. By recognising the signs and exploring all possible options, parents can help their children with SPD find their rhythm and thrive in their sensory world.

Holistic approaches, including dietary changes, mindfulness, sensory integration therapy, and environmental adjustments, provide a well-rounded framework for addressing SPD symptoms. The Tomatis® Method stands out as a particularly effective tool, offering benefits that enhance auditory processing, attention, emotional regulation, and motor skills and sensory processing. Book a 20 minute free session with Françoise Nicoloff, valued at $125 to find out how the Tomatis® Method can help you with sensory processing issues and much more.