Signs of Sensory Processing Disorder
Copyright 2009 Sensory Development Seminars
Signs of Sensory Over-Responsivity (Hypersensitivity)
Auditory
Frequently covers ears; especially in loud environments
Runs away, cries, and/or covers ears with loud or unexpected sounds
Is bothered by or distracted by background environmental sounds; i.e., lawn mower, loud cars, horns, construction, music, etc.
Requests quiet environment; i.e., stop making noise, talking, or singing
May be easily distracted by sounds not noticed or bothered by others such as clocks ticking, airconditioners, refrigerators, fans, etc.
May refuse to go to events/activities where there is a lot of noise such as parties, movie theaters, parades, musical concerts etc.
Olfactory
Tells other people (or talks about) how bad or funny they smell
Refuses to eat certain foods because of their smell
Is bothered by, gets sick, or has behavioral issues after the use of household cleaning products
Notices and/or reacts negatively to smells which do not usually bother, or get noticed, by other people
Is bothered by or gets irritated by the smell of perfumes, lotions, cologne, candles, etc.
May decide to like/dislike a certain environment by the way is smells
Tactile
As an infant, did/does not like to be held or cuddled; may arch back, cry, and pull away
Becomes distressed when diaper or cloths are changed
As a toddler may preferred/prefers to be naked and pull diapers and clothes off constantly
Appears fearful of, or avoids standing in close proximity to other people or peers such as in groups, crowds, or lines
Is fearful, anxious or aggressive with light or unexpected touch
Is excessively ticklish
May overreact to minor cuts, scrapes, and or bug bites
Becomes distressed about having hair brushed; may be very picky about using a particular brush
Resists friendly or affectionate touch from anyone besides parents or siblings (and sometimes them too!)
Avoids touching certain textures of material; rough/silky/scratchy, etc.
Becomes distressed or may refuse to walk barefoot on grass or sand
May walk on toes only or only when barefoot and with certain surfaces
Refuses to wear certain clothes such as clothes with rough textures, turtlenecks, jeans, hats, or belts, etc.; distressed by seams in socks and may refuse to wear them
Avoids or dislikes "messy play", i.e., sand, mud, water, glue, Playdoh, slime, etc.
Is a picky eater, only eating certain tastes and textures; mixed textures tend to be avoided as well as hot or cold foods; resists trying new foods
Becomes distressed when having face washed
Resists brushing teeth and is extremely fearful of the dentist
Taste
Picky eater; often with extreme food preferences; i.e., soft foods, crunchy foods, hot food, cold food, etc.
May only eat "soft" or pureed foods past 24 months of age
Has difficulty with sucking, chewing, and swallowing
Avoids seasoned, spicy, sweet, sour or salty foods; prefers bland foods
Extreme resistance to trying new/different foods
Easily gags with textured foods
Dislikes or complains about toothpaste and mouthwash
Extreme resistance or fear of going to the dentist or having dental work done
Visual
Avoids eye contact
Is easily distracted by other visual stimuli in the room; i.e., movement, decorations, toys, windows, etc.
Rubs eyes, has watery eyes, or gets headaches after reading, writing, computer use or watching TV
Is sensitive to bright lights; will squint, cover eyes, cry and/or get headaches from the light
Will have difficulty in bright colorful rooms or a dimly lit room
Has difficulty keeping eyes focused on task/activity he/she is working on for an appropriate amount of time
Vestibular
Gets motion sickness often or easily, i.e.; cars, elevators, head movement
May have disliked being placed on stomach as an infant
As an infant, may never have liked baby swings or jumpers
Dislikes or is fearful of walking on uneven surfaces or going up and down stairs
Avoids/dislikes playground equipment; i.e., swings, ladders, slides, or merry-go-rounds
Does not like activities where feet leave/don’t touch the ground
Prefers sedentary tasks
Does not like spinning or fast movements; avoids rapid or rotating movements
Moves slowly and cautiously, avoids taking risks, and may appear "wimpy"
Does not like head movement; especially in extension, i.e., washing hair
Avoids/dislikes elevators and escalators
Afraid of heights, even the height of a curb or step
Has difficulty with or is fearful of activities that require balance
Loses balance easily
May be fearful of, and have difficulty riding a bike, jumping, hopping, skipping or balancing on one foot (especially if eyes are closed)
Proprioception
Has low muscle tone; limp, "floppy" body
Fatigues easily
May have difficulty turning doorknobs, handles, opening and closing items
May have never crawled as an baby
Has poor body positional awareness; bumps into things, knocks things over, trips, and/or appears clumsy
Has poor gross motor skills; jumping, catching a ball, jumping jacks, climbing a ladder etc.
Poor fine motor skills; difficulty using "tools", such as pencils, silverware, combs, scissors etc.
Does not establish hand dominance by 4-5 year old; may appear ambidextrous, frequently switching hands for throwing, coloring, cutting, writing etc.
Has difficulty learning exercise or dance steps
Signs of Sensory Under-Responsivity (Hyposensitive)
Auditory
Had little or no vocalizing or babbling as an infant
Often speaks in a loud voice and/or excessively
Likes excessively loud music, games, or TV
Does not respond to or had difficulty with verbal cues or to name being called
Has difficulty understanding or remembering what was said
Needs instructions repeated often, or will say, "What?" frequently
Talks self through a task, often out loud
Appears oblivious to certain sounds
Often disoriented/confused about where a sound is coming from
Olfactory
Fails to notice or ignores noxious odors
Excessively smells new objects, toys, people
Has difficulty discriminating unpleasant odors
May drink or eat things that are harmful/poisonous because they do not notice the noxious smell
Unable to identify smells from scratch 'n sniff stickers
Tactile
May crave touch, needs to touch everything and everyone
May be self-abusive; pinching, biting, cutting, or head banging
Has a high pain tolerance
Likes to put objects in their mouth
Seeks out surfaces and textures that provide strong tactile feedback
Often is not aware of being touched/bumped unless done with extreme force or intensity
Often injures self; burns, cuts, bruises, etc., because harmful act does not register
May not be aware that hands or face are dirty or feel his/her nose running
Frequently and unknowingly hurts other children or pets while playing
Repeatedly touches surfaces or objects that are soothing (i.e., blanket)
Seeks out messy play
Taste
May eat inedible objects such as dirt, chalk, crayons (Pica)
Prefers foods with intense flavor; i.e., excessively spicy, sweet, sour, or salty
Frequently chews on hair, shirt, or fingers
Constantly puts objects in mouth; even past the toddler years
Likes brushing teeth/vibrating toothbrushes and even trips to the dentist
Visual
Complains about "seeing double"
Writes at a slant (up or down hill) on a page
Difficulty copying
Fatigues easily with reading, writing, drawing, video games, etc.
Often loses their place while reading or doing math problems
Difficulty finding differences in pictures, words, symbols, or objects
Has a hard time seeing the "big picture"; i.e., focuses on the details or patterns within the picture
Difficulty with following and tracking objects with eyes
Difficulty judging spatial relationships in the environment; i.e., bumps into objects/people or missteps on curbs and stairs
Has difficulty telling the difference between similar printed letters or figures; i.e., p & q, b & d, + and x, or square and rectangle
Makes reversals in words or letters when copying, or reads words backwards; i.e., "was" for "saw" and "no" for "on" after first grade
Vestibular
Appears to be in constant motion, can't seem to sit still
Loves to swing or spin; can do for long periods
Craves fast movement; always running, jumping, hopping etc. instead of walking
Loves fast moving and spinning rides at amusement parks
When sitting must rock, shakes legs, or move head
Likes jumping on furniture, trampolines, spinning in a swivel chair, or getting into upside down positions
Tends to be a "thrill-seeker"; dangerous at times
Proprioception
Seeks out jumping, bumping, and crashing activities; loves "roughhousing" and tackling/wrestling
Kicks feet on floor or chair while sitting at desk/table
Prefers tight clothing; likes heavy blankets
Likes to be squeezed/hugged tightly
Clenches or grinds teeth
Likes to push, pinch, bump or hit others
Likes to chew on things such as lip, straws, pencils, shirt collar/sleeve, etc
Loves jumping off high structures/furniture
Frequently falls on floor intentionally
