Vestibular sense: the 'master sense' connected to our inner ear, which tells us where we are, how fast we’re moving etc
Interoception: internal organs senses that let us know if we’re hungry, thirsty, have to go to the bathroom, etc.
Proprioception: the muscle and joint sense, which helps us know how to climb stairs, etc.
Climbing
The other day J was talking about climbing, which she absolutely loves to do, and how being "up high" makes her feel safe. To me, that seemed an odd thing to say, as being up high, I would not feel safe...especially if really high! But to J, by being up high she is out of reach reach from classmates or teachers and she just "feels free" - her words.
She has always loved climbing, bouncing and hanging etc and until fairly recently, I didn't realise there was actually a name for this type of sensory input - Proprioception - which is all about the body's awareness. For children with autism too, this sort of sensory input helps regulate their emotional and behavioural responses to any outside stimulation.
Calming Effect
It seems hard to believe, to me at least, that this type of input actually has a calming effect on the body, especially when feeling overstimulated. Prior to finding this out, I would have thought that if a child was already overstimulated, the last thing they should do is run around or bounce on a trampoline!
I remember many a time when J was heightened at home, she would make a beeline to climb something high, usually our garden gate or our side wall! Little did I know then she was attempting to calm herself down, whereas to me I thought she was doing it as she was just "out of control!".
Processing
Children with poor proprioceptive processing may appear to be unaware of where their body parts are in relation to each other, like constantly tripping over their own feet or maybe bumping into furniture or other people. J can be quite clumsy at times I admit, and many a time she has tripped over the dog bowl for instance.
Some children will be under-responsive to proprioception, meaning they don't actively work to meet the sensory need required . The brain doesn't register the incoming messages, meaning it actually misses the intensity of the sensory signals coming from all over the body (limbs and joints etc). If this is the case, the child will need a greater intensity of proprioceptive input in order for it to “click” with the brain.
Seeker
J is definitely on the other end of the spectrum here - she is a "seeker" without any shadow of a doubt! She actively craves proprioceptive input. She will hang, push, pull, bite/chew on things, loves a bit of rough play and will climb on anything and everything... even on my husband! She sometimes unknowingly uses too much force, or gets into someone's personal space, and she certainly doesn't realise her own strength (for 9 years old, she is incredibly strong!).
She will jump over our kitchen chairs most days and bounce on and off the sofa, in fact anyone would think our house is actually a mini assault course!! She is not necessarily un-coordinated, but she is fidgety at times and can stomp around the house like an elephant!
Mis-diagnosed
Some of the obvious symptoms listed above include hyperactivity and impulsivity to name a few, and must often get mis-diagnosed as ADHD. I'm sure there must be a high percentage of children with both SPD and ADHD, but they are two very separate things with distinct differences.
For example, stimulant medication for ADHD (which is what J has been prescribed) is not going to effect her sensory processing, but has clearly helped her impulsive/hyperactive ADHD side. She does seem to have elements of SPD too, for example, struggling with heightened anxiety when travelling downhill in a motorvehicle. A usual daily occurrence for most people but trauma for her. Occupational therapy (which we are still awaiting an appointment for!!) would surely benefit her.
I really wish I had known a lot of this information before and been able to understand and work out whether J was seeking more touch or movement than other children, or whether she was actively avoiding this, but mainly whether she had difficulty functioning in certain envionments where many of her senses were being used, ie school.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing!
Interoception: internal organs senses that let us know if we’re hungry, thirsty, have to go to the bathroom, etc.
Proprioception: the muscle and joint sense, which helps us know how to climb stairs, etc.
Climbing
The other day J was talking about climbing, which she absolutely loves to do, and how being "up high" makes her feel safe. To me, that seemed an odd thing to say, as being up high, I would not feel safe...especially if really high! But to J, by being up high she is out of reach reach from classmates or teachers and she just "feels free" - her words.
She has always loved climbing, bouncing and hanging etc and until fairly recently, I didn't realise there was actually a name for this type of sensory input - Proprioception - which is all about the body's awareness. For children with autism too, this sort of sensory input helps regulate their emotional and behavioural responses to any outside stimulation.
Calming Effect
It seems hard to believe, to me at least, that this type of input actually has a calming effect on the body, especially when feeling overstimulated. Prior to finding this out, I would have thought that if a child was already overstimulated, the last thing they should do is run around or bounce on a trampoline!
I remember many a time when J was heightened at home, she would make a beeline to climb something high, usually our garden gate or our side wall! Little did I know then she was attempting to calm herself down, whereas to me I thought she was doing it as she was just "out of control!".
Processing
Children with poor proprioceptive processing may appear to be unaware of where their body parts are in relation to each other, like constantly tripping over their own feet or maybe bumping into furniture or other people. J can be quite clumsy at times I admit, and many a time she has tripped over the dog bowl for instance.
Some children will be under-responsive to proprioception, meaning they don't actively work to meet the sensory need required . The brain doesn't register the incoming messages, meaning it actually misses the intensity of the sensory signals coming from all over the body (limbs and joints etc). If this is the case, the child will need a greater intensity of proprioceptive input in order for it to “click” with the brain.
Seeker
J is definitely on the other end of the spectrum here - she is a "seeker" without any shadow of a doubt! She actively craves proprioceptive input. She will hang, push, pull, bite/chew on things, loves a bit of rough play and will climb on anything and everything... even on my husband! She sometimes unknowingly uses too much force, or gets into someone's personal space, and she certainly doesn't realise her own strength (for 9 years old, she is incredibly strong!).
She will jump over our kitchen chairs most days and bounce on and off the sofa, in fact anyone would think our house is actually a mini assault course!! She is not necessarily un-coordinated, but she is fidgety at times and can stomp around the house like an elephant!
Mis-diagnosed
Some of the obvious symptoms listed above include hyperactivity and impulsivity to name a few, and must often get mis-diagnosed as ADHD. I'm sure there must be a high percentage of children with both SPD and ADHD, but they are two very separate things with distinct differences.
For example, stimulant medication for ADHD (which is what J has been prescribed) is not going to effect her sensory processing, but has clearly helped her impulsive/hyperactive ADHD side. She does seem to have elements of SPD too, for example, struggling with heightened anxiety when travelling downhill in a motorvehicle. A usual daily occurrence for most people but trauma for her. Occupational therapy (which we are still awaiting an appointment for!!) would surely benefit her.
I really wish I had known a lot of this information before and been able to understand and work out whether J was seeking more touch or movement than other children, or whether she was actively avoiding this, but mainly whether she had difficulty functioning in certain envionments where many of her senses were being used, ie school.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing!
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