"And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire...to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us."
Mark 9:22

Sensory Processing Challenges

For Joseph, wearing clothes to church is a challenge. Joseph wants to have more responsibilities at church and to be able to wear "church clothes" to church. Watch as Joseph discusses with me--by answering through options--about his challenge, why it is a challenge, and how we look for solutions:

For the full discussion with Joseph about clothing, click here.

Like Joseph, many others have sensory processing challenges. Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) or challenges are when an individual's sensory signals don't organizes into typical repsonses.1 They either experience sensory information too intensely (hyper), under-experience sensory information (hypo), or experience it differently altogether.2,3  For example, one individual said, "IT FEELS AMAZING TO GIVE MYSELF A GOOD WHACK!" 4
This can be in one or multiple sensory systems. It might look like:

​Ideas to Help One Manage Sensory Processing Challenges:

1-For self-injurious actions or disruptive actions, talk to the parents, caregivers and individual doing it what they would like done. The following ideas can guide this discussion.

2- Replacement and Distraction: Simply stopping a self-harming action will not work if the underlining issue is not taken care of, typically. So, finding something else for the individual to do to self-manage the serves a similar function is useful. An individual could be given something to bite other than their arm, a helmet over the head can help some, headphones for sound sensitivities, etc. 

3-Explain clearly to the individual your concern with self-injurious actions and try ways to understand and help the challenge. This will help, if it is a matter of them feeling others understand and acknowledge the challenge they are facing.

4-When it doesn't harm the individual or others, allow them to cope by say, wrapping themselves in a blanket or coat, wearing more comfortable clothes, wear socks wrong side out so the seam doesn't bother them, etc. 

5-When working through the challenge, as was done with Joseph, the individual need to have emotional readiness (they want to) and slowly work up their sensory readiness (sometimes change will need to be gradual). 6​ Keep in mind, however, that many individuals do not know 'why' or really 'what is wrong,' Pressuring information leads to incorrect information.
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6-Allow the individual to look away (don't force eye contact) and give them visual breaks (remove objects or pictures from their visual field for a time so they can rest their eyes) if they seem overwhelmed visually (rub their eyes or looking away is a sign).

7-As large groups can be hard to handle for some, the individual may need to slowly work up the time they can be with the whole group. There will need to be planning for this to take place--sensitivity to families, the individual with the sensory challenge, all learns, and leaders.

8-Fluorescent lights can be overwhelming to some individuals. If possible, change them out for lights that don't flicker. 

Q&A: What can you tell about sensory processing disorder or challenges?

"I CAN SAY THAT IT IS HARD TO LOOK AT MOST THINGS. NOW I CAN DO THE BOARD (letterboard) BECAUSE I PRACTICED SO MUCH. I HATE CERTAIN SOUNDS, AS THEY CAUSE PAIN IN MY EARS. I HATE MUSIC THAT HAS SQUEAKY NOTES. EMOTIONAL THINGS FLOOD ME WITH CRAZY SPINNING, SO BE GLAD YOU DON'T HAVE IT."
-Cindi, Age 17, Utah

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References:

1-Miller, L.J. (2006). Sensational Kids: Hope and Help for Children with Sensory Processing Disorder. (Pg. 5). New York: Penguin Publishing Inc.
2-Mukhopadhyay, S. (2008). Understanding Autism Through Rapid Prompting Method. (Pg. 74) Denver: Outskirts Press.
3-Kaufman, R.K. (2007). Autism Breakthrough: The Ground Breaking Method That Has Helped Families All Over the World. (pg. 30-31). New York: St. Martin's Press.
4-Personal Communication (2014)
5-Information from student conversations over the years
6-Mukhopadhyay, S. (2017). Learning Life Skills Using Rapid Prompting Method-Part 1. (Pg. 5) Amazon Digital Service LLC