“She screams every time I wash her hair.”
“He runs everywhere and bumps into things non-stop.”
“My child melts down at loud birthday parties.”
Sound familiar?
What many parents label as “bad behaviour” or “tantrums” may actually be sensory processing difficulties — when a child’s brain has trouble organising and responding to the information it receives from the senses.
This isn’t about discipline. It’s about how a child experiences the world.
🧠 What is Sensory Processing?
Sensory processing is how the nervous system receives messages from the body’s senses and turns them into appropriate motor and behavioural responses.
This includes:
- Touch
- Sound
- Movement (vestibular)
- Balance
- Vision
- Smell
- Body awareness (proprioception)
Children with sensory processing difficulties may be over-sensitive, under-sensitive, or inconsistent in their responses.
🧩 What Might It Look Like?
Over-responsive child:
- Covers ears or screams at loud sounds
- Hates hair brushing, tags, or clothing seams
- Refuses messy play (sand, paint, food)
- Avoids swings or movement
Under-responsive or sensory-seeking child:
- Crashes into furniture or people
- Constantly moving, climbing, spinning
- Doesn’t seem to notice when injured or dirty
- Chews non-food items like shirt collars or pencils
These behaviours may look like:
- Hyperactivity
- Avoidance
- Aggression
- “Defiance”
But they’re not about behaviour — they’re about regulation and comfort.
📚 What the Research Says
According to the STAR Institute for Sensory Processing (Miller, 2007), at least 1 in 6 children have sensory processing differences that impact daily life.
Australian OT research (Bundy & Lane, 2021) supports that sensory challenges can affect:
- Attention in classrooms
- Participation in group tasks
- Self-care routines (e.g. dressing, bathing)
- Emotional regulation
🧠 Real-Life Example:
“One child I worked with would hit others in group time — not out of anger, but because he was overwhelmed by the noise and didn’t know how to cope. Once we created a sensory break space, his behaviour changed completely.”
🧰 What Can Parents Do?
- Notice patterns
Track when certain reactions happen — is it after school? With noise? With clothing? - Offer sensory-safe alternatives
E.g., swap scratchy shirts for soft cotton, use noise-cancelling headphones at parties - Create calm-down zones
A quiet space with weighted cushions, fidget tools, or sensory toys - Respect their threshold
Avoid forcing them into uncomfortable situations (e.g., haircuts, crowded events) - Consult an occupational therapist
An OT can do a sensory profile assessment and suggest personalised strategies.
✅ Final Thought
Sensory behaviours aren’t about attention-seeking — they’re stress signals from a child’s nervous system.
With the right support, children can learn to self-regulate, feel safer, and fully participate in daily life.
📞 Wondering if your child’s behaviours may be linked to sensory processing?
SPOT Allied Health offers sensory assessments and home-based OT support across Sydney.
📖 Ref：
- Miller, L. J. (2007). Sensational Kids: Hope and Help for Children with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). Penguin Books.
Bundy, A. C., & Lane, S. J. (2021). Sensory Integration: Theory and Practice (3rd ed.). F.A. Davis Company.
