Sensory Processing Disorders are a set of conditions in which the brain is not able to fully analyze the signals that the body is sending them. As a result of this, the sensory organs experience diminished impacts, thereby making it harder for the person diagnosed with this to understand things that require an input of those particular sensory organs.

Having a child who has been diagnosed with a sensory processing disorder can sometimes be challenging, especially when it comes to helping them through their formative years. Children depend on parents during these years, and the impact that they have will shape up the rest of their lives. Parents have a big role to play in a child’s upbringing, which is why it is also incredibly important for parents to understand all that needs to be done when a child has been diagnosed with this condition.

There are three main kinds of sensory sensitivity disorders, and in this article, we will break down what a parent can do when their child has been diagnosed with one of the four main kinds of disorders.

Visual Sensory Processing Disorder

Visual Sensory Processing Disorder is when a person has a problem with their sight. The brain does not receive the right signals in this instance, thereby resulting in diminished sight. Here are some of the ways in which you can help your child cope with any kind of difficulties that they might face:

Don’t Force Them To Keep Eye Contact

One of the first things that parents often fail to realize is that children with this disorder tend to find it hard to be able to look up at people while talking. To help your child during this, don’t force them to maintain eye contact constantly, and instead ease them in on the fact that you are indeed listening to them.

Tone Down The Brightness Of Lighting

Bright lights can sometimes be very discomforting for those with this disorder, which is why a good step is to tone down the brightness of the lights in your home. This will also put your child at ease, helping them cope with the disorder better.

Noise Sensory Processing Disorder

Noise Sensory Processing Disorder is when the brain cannot receive the proper information regarding the sound that is being inputted through the hearing sensor. As a result of this, children often face problems in hearing when diagnosed with this disorder. Here are some of the ways in which you can help your child cope with any kind of problems that they are likely to face:

Let Them In On What They Are Expected To Hear

When a child is diagnosed with noise sensory processing disorder, the sounds that they hear might either be too loud and blaring, or too soft and unable to distinguish. Inform your child about what they are likely to expect to prepare them for either situation and so they can be better prepared.

Be Weary Of Noisy Places

Noisy places, in particular, can be rather upsetting for children with this disorder, which is why it is sometimes good to find out if a place is going to be noisy or not before you step out with your child. For example, if you are planning on going to a restaurant with them, inquire if the place is quiet or not to know if it will be alright for your child.

Taste Sensory Processing Disorder

Taste Sensory Processing Disorder is a condition wherein a person’s taste sensors don’t function as intended, thereby resulting in foods tasting bad to them. This is also something that has an impact on a person’s sense of smell, as it can cause them to feel discomfort from certain smells. Here are the ways in which you can help your child who has been diagnosed with this disorder:

Keep Track Of Their Taste Preferences

Children with this disorder cannot eat certain foods, and this tends to change over time. It is important to keep track of the foods that your child can eat and the foods that they cannot, to ensure that they always get the right nutrition that they need. When trying new food, it is always essential to let your child taste a little bit of it before you actually let them eat it. Sometimes, eating something that they can’t will result in harsh reactions on their body, which can even cause them to throw up.

Help Them Understand The Relation Between Taste And Smell

Most of the time, children who are diagnosed with this condition also experience disruptions in their sense of smell. It is essential for your child to understand how their condition is linked, and the same applies to the parents. Since the taste buds are what determine taste and the olfactory is what defines its essence, they are interlinked strongly, resulting in them experiencing sensory sensitivity effects of the two.