Sensory or Behavior?

Lots of questions always come up with is it Sensory or is it Behavior? There are a few things to consider with depicting the difference.

Picture this, you are in the grocery store with your child and you need to get a few items on your list, hoping to be there for 10 minutes, tops. You know that if you go down the toy or candy aisle you will suffer the wrath from your child “can I have one?? please! Please! PLEASE!”, and you know it will turn into a full blown meltdown if you say no. You put your foot down because you know you can just get through the last few items on your list but your child doesn’t have it. There goes the full blown meltdown that you dreaded and the stare down from others around you as you are trying to pull your child past their desired aisle. They look at you for a reaction, any sort of attention, then you are yelling to stop but you know it just escalates the situation. You may not know but, their behavior is purposeful and they are pushing to control or manipulate the situation. It lasts longer than ever and you do not know what to do so you end up having to abandon your cart and head home. Sensory or Behavior? Behavior.

Let’s look at it a different way. You are in an indoor community pool. There are a lot of kids/noise, there are bright overhead lights, loud music over the loudspeaker, it’s just before lunch time and the chorine is pretty strong but it doesn’t seem to bother you because you just think, it is a pool and it is supposed to be this way. Your child is slightly hesitant or craves the increased stimulation and participates to the best of their ability to have fun because they want to be there. Energy and fun escalates and there is more screaming, running around, more smells from the salty bodies in the kiddie pool, continual noise from the loudspeaker and it is getting a bit out of control. You try to summon them over for a break and your child is beside themselves and does not want to leave the pool; calling you names and running away. “you are the worst mommy/daddy and I hate you (etc)” kicking and screaming as you try to get them to the locker room. They do not believe to be in control of their behavior and they are not concerned with your reaction to their behavior or anyone else around them. And then the meltdown happens. The fight, flight or freeze mode that our nervous systems jump into and it echos in the locker room as you try to get them dressed and get out of there as quick as possible. Sensory or Behavior? Sensory.

In this situation, these kiddos try to the best of their ability but they just do not have the knowledge to self soothe, self regulate or know when or where they need to prepare themselves prior to stimulation in their environment. We as adults and professionals need to slowly teach these sensory kiddos how to self regulate with a variety of tools, in order to prepare and overcome, but it can be tiring and difficult.

Here are some of the signs of sensory overload to watch out for in increasingly stimulating environments:

  • overly excited or increased level of activity

  • becomes increasingly distracted, confused or disoriented

  • nausea and/or vomiting

  • rapid/slow shallow breathing

  • sweaty/clammy palms or paleness/flushed skin

  • decreased or increased muscle tone

  • irritability or increased aggression/anger outbursts

  • drowsiness/fatigue/sleepiness

  • poor eye contact

  • covers ear/eyes with bright lights and noises

  • avoids touch from others or touching things/others

  • fidgets or is restless

  • consistently changing tasks, unable to complete task

Here are some ways to prevent the sensory overload:

  • monitor the environment you are going into and the things that may be giving increased sensory stimulation.

  • reduce the visual and auditory clutter in your home that your child may be in constantly

  • avoid places that may be too rich in sensory stimulus.

  • If needed, use noise cancelling headphones to dampen increased noise in those environments

  • Take extra time between transitions and give ample amount of warnings

  • offer sensory movement breaks (see last weeks blog post) throughout the day

  • complete a predictable and consistent schedule daily

  • use calming strategies and deep breathing techniques

  • Consult with a Sensory Pathways 4 Kids Occupational Therapist for further help and suggestions (under the START HERE tab, top right corner of the website)

-SP4K

Kim Reiss