Sensory Processing Disorder/SEN-suh-ree PRAH-ses-ing dis-OR-der/
A condition where the nervous system has trouble receiving and responding to sensory information. People may be over-sensitive, under-sensitive, or both to different sensory inputs.
Andy says:
Imagine your senses have random volume controls that someone else keeps adjusting. A whisper might sound like shouting, a light touch feel like sandpaper, or you might not notice you're freezing cold. Your nervous system is trying to process the world, but the signals get scrambled, amplified, or lost along the way. It's not being picky—it's your brain genuinely experiencing the world at different intensities than others.
Detailed Explanation
Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) affects how the nervous system receives and responds to sensory information. While often co-occurring with autism and ADHD, it can exist independently.
SPD presents in three main patterns:
- Hypersensitivity: Over-responsive to sensory input (sounds too loud, lights too bright)
- Hyposensitivity: Under-responsive to sensory input (doesn't notice temperature, high pain tolerance)
- Sensory seeking: Craving intense sensory experiences (spinning, crashing, loud music)
Affected senses include:
- Traditional five (sight, sound, touch, taste, smell)
- Vestibular (balance and movement)
- Proprioceptive (body position in space)
- Interoceptive (internal body signals)
SPD isn't about preference—it's neurological. The same input that's neutral to others can be painful, overwhelming, or unnoticeable to someone with SPD.
Everyday Life Examples
School: Maya covers her ears during assembly—the microphone feedback others barely notice feels like knives in her brain. Meanwhile, she doesn't realize her shirt is on backward.
Work: Tom needs sunglasses indoors because fluorescent lights cause migraines, but doesn't notice when he's been sitting in an uncomfortable position for hours.
Home: Sam can't wear anything but specific cotton shirts (everything else feels like needles), yet seeks out extremely spicy food because mild flavors don't register.
Practical Strategies
For hypersensitivity:
- Noise-canceling headphones or earplugs
- Sunglasses or tinted lenses indoors
- Seamless socks and tagless clothing
- Unscented products
- Preview new environments when possible
For hyposensitivity:
- Visual/audio alarms and reminders
- Scheduled body checks (hungry? cold? need bathroom?)
- Bright colors or strong flavors to increase awareness
- Movement breaks to "wake up" the system
For sensory seeking:
- Regular movement opportunities
- Fidgets and chewable jewelry
- Weighted blankets or compression clothing
- Safe spaces for intense sensory input
Quick Tips
- Today: Identify your sensory triggers and soothers
- This week: Build a portable sensory kit
- This month: Map sensory-friendly spaces in your routine locations
- Long-term: Advocate for sensory accommodations at work/school
Community Context
The neurodivergent community emphasizes that SPD:
- Is a real neurological difference, not pickiness or attention-seeking
- Varies day to day based on stress, energy, and environment
- Requires accommodation, not "exposure therapy" to "get used to it"
- Can be both disabling and a source of joy (experiencing beauty intensely)
Community wisdom: "Your sensory needs are valid, even if they seem contradictory or change daily."
Do / Don't
Do's
- Ask before touching someone
- Offer choices for lighting, seating, temperature
- Believe people about their sensory experiences
- Provide advance warning about sensory changes
Don'ts
- Don't force exposure to overwhelming stimuli
- Don't remove sensory aids as punishment
- Don't assume what someone can/can't tolerate
- Don't label sensory needs as "overreacting"
For Families and Caregivers
Your family member isn't being difficult—their nervous system literally processes sensory input differently.
Supporting someone with SPD:
- Create a sensory-friendly home base
- Keep a "sensory first aid kit" (headphones, sunglasses, fidgets)
- Learn their sensory patterns and warning signs
- Respect "no" about sensory experiences
- Plan extra time for sensory needs in daily routines
For Schools and Workplaces
Educators: Students with SPD need environmental accommodations, not behavioral consequences. Allow headphones, alternative seating, movement breaks, and modified clothing requirements.
Employers: SPD accommodations improve productivity:
- Flexible lighting options
- Quiet workspaces or remote options
- Flexible dress codes
- Permission for sensory aids
- Scheduled breaks for sensory regulation
Intersectionality & Variation
- Age: Sensory needs change across lifespan; adults often need different supports than children
- Culture: Some cultures are more accepting of sensory differences
- Gender: Girls/women often pressured to tolerate discomfort silently
- Environment: Urban vs rural settings present different sensory challenges
- Co-occurring conditions: Anxiety and trauma can intensify sensory issues
Related Terms
- Sensory Overload - When sensory input exceeds processing capacity
- Stimming - Self-regulatory sensory behaviors
- Hypersensitivity - Over-responsiveness to sensory input
- Hyposensitivity - Under-responsiveness to sensory input
- Interoception - Sensing internal body signals
Related Terms
Sensory Overload
When your brain receives more sensory input than it can process—like a computer with too many programs running until it crashes. Lights become painful, sounds pierce your skull, textures feel like sandpaper, and your nervous system screams for escape.
Stimming
Self-stimulatory behaviors—repetitive movements, sounds, or activities that regulate the nervous system. Natural, necessary, and beneficial actions that help process sensory input, manage emotions, and maintain focus.
Hypersensitivity
Heightened neurological responsiveness to sensory input where stimuli that others find tolerable or unnoticeable can be overwhelming, painful, or distressing - a fundamental sensory processing difference affecting how neurodivergent people experience and navigate the world.
Hyposensitivity
Reduced responsiveness to sensory input, requiring more intense or prolonged stimulation to register sensations that others notice easily.
Interoception
Your internal body sense—the ability to feel hunger, thirst, heartbeat, temperature, pain, and other signals from inside your body. Many neurodivergent people experience this "eighth sense" differently, making basic needs harder to recognize.
Community Contributions
Your contributions help make definitions more accurate and accessible.