In my practice I work with many children with sensory processing difficulties that are identified during their school years. These children may struggle with concentrating in class, coping with transitions or changes, or playing with peers. They can be clumsy, have difficulty holding a pencil or writing, awkward with their movements, or be either withdrawn or aggressive. Oftentimes, they are very bright and as a result, their sensory processing difficulties are misunderstood. Usually, warning signs were present as babies however parents were told to ‘wait and see,’ ‘your child will grow out of it’ or that their child is misbehaving.
- Early signs of sensory processing difficulties I have seen amongst babies include:
- Hates tummy time, prefers to sit or stand
- Plays while sitting still versus moving around and exploring their environment
- Tend to get ‘stuck’ with their movements, delayed milestones (e.g. rolling, crawling, clapping hands, waving)
- Cautious with movement, dislike being laid down or moved
- Fussy or irritable babies, cry easily sometimes for no known reason
- Not a ‘cuddly’ baby, resists being held
- Struggle to settle down or going to sleep
- Difficulty with nursing, transitioning to other textures
- Startles easily to loud sounds, distracted, avoids eye contact
- Very easy going, described as a ‘lazy baby’, don’t know they’re in the room
These difficulties indicate that a child’s central nervous system is struggling to process sensory information. It is a neurological problem that can impact on their movements and development, learning, and social emotional skills.
Due to the plasticity of a young child’s brain, there is hope and good potential for progress and improvement with Early Intervention. If you are concerned about these early warning signs, seek advice from an Occupational Therapist who specializes in working with infants and younger children, particularly those with sensory processing difficulties. It is never too early or never too late to get help.
