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Summer is usually a time for fun, relaxation, and various activities like beach trips, parades, and vacations. However, for children with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), these events can be stressful and overwhelming. Families often first notice sensory issues during this season, observing that their children become easily overwhelmed in crowds, react strongly to loud noises, struggle with transitions, and find it hard to stay calm in the heat.

SPD affects approximately 1 in 6 children, and the numbers are continually rising. Despite its prevalence, SPD is often overlooked or misunderstood by healthcare providers. Children with SPD have a nervous system that struggles to filter and regulate normal sensory input, leaving them in a constant state of overload. Pediatricians might dismiss parents’ concerns with phrases like “It’s just a phase,” but early intervention is crucial for children with SPD. Addressing the root cause is essential for effective intervention.

Signs Your Child May Have Sensory Processing Disorder

  • Overreacting to Touch, Sounds, and Smells: Children with SPD might be overly sensitive to textures, avoid being touched, or become distressed by tight or itchy clothing. They might cover their ears in response to everyday sounds or be fearful of loud noises like vacuum cleaners and alarms.
  • Seeking or Avoiding Sensory Input: Some children with SPD constantly touch objects, seek strong tactile sensations, or engage in rough play. Others might avoid physical contact activities like hugging or become distressed by haircuts or teeth brushing.
  • Motor Skill Challenges: Tasks like buttoning clothes, using utensils, writing, running, jumping, or riding a bike may be difficult for children with SPD.
  • Balance and Coordination Issues: Frequent tripping, falling, or seeming clumsy can be indicative of SPD.
  • Poor Body Awareness: Difficulty knowing where their body is in space, leading to bumping into objects or people.
  • Overwhelm in Crowded Places: Children with SPD may feel distressed or anxious in crowded environments like malls, parks, or parties.
  • Trouble with Transitions: Moving from one activity to another or changing environments can cause meltdowns or anxiety.
  • Emotional Outbursts and Self-Calming Difficulties: Frequent tantrums or meltdowns in response to sensory overload, with challenges in soothing themselves.
  • Hyperactivity or Lethargy: Depending on their sensory needs, children with SPD may be overly active or very inactive.
  • Sleep and Attention Issues: Difficulty falling or staying asleep due to sensory sensitivities and trouble focusing on tasks.
  • Repetitive Behaviors: Engaging in repetitive motions or actions to self-soothe or manage sensory input.

Understanding the Nervous System’s Role in SPD

Sensory processing involves three main steps:

  1. Sensory Input Reception: Sensory nerves and the sensory part of the spinal cord read information from the body and environment.
  2. Processing and Interpretation: The brain and central nervous system decide which sensory information is important and which can be ignored.
  3. Response and Action: The brain and nervous system send instructions to the body to respond to the sensory input.

When sensory nerve pathways are disrupted, the brain and nervous system receive incorrect information, leading to poor interpretation and challenging behaviors. The root cause of SPD is often a neurosensory communication issue called subluxation or nervous system dysregulation.

Contributing Factors to Sensory Processing Disorder

Several factors can create a “perfect storm” leading to SPD, including:

  • High-Stress Pregnancy: Maternal stress during pregnancy can affect fetal brain development, increasing the risk of sensory processing issues.
  • Birth Interventions: Tools like forceps, vacuum extraction, induction, and C-sections can affect the brainstem, crucial for processing sensory information.
  • Environmental Factors: Exposure to toxins and pollutants can impact neurodevelopment and contribute to SPD.
  • Genetic Predisposition: Some children may be genetically predisposed to SPD, which can be triggered by environmental factors or stressors.

Understanding these factors helps parents and healthcare providers identify at-risk children and provide early support and care.

Moving Forward with Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care

Traditional medical tests might not uncover the root cause of SPD, but Neurological INSiGHT Scans can identify subluxation, nervous system dysregulation, and dysfunction. These scans reveal the underlying issues causing your child’s sensory difficulties.

If you’ve spent months or even years on occupational therapy and sensory “workarounds” without seeing substantial improvements, it’s time to consider Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care. This specialized approach addresses the root cause of SPD, providing your child and family with a calmer, more manageable life.

Chiropractic care focuses on correcting subluxations and nervous system dysregulation, improving sensory processing and emotional regulation. As the nervous system functions better, children often experience fewer emotional outbursts, better focus, and improved sleep.

If you think your child might have Sensory Processing Disorder, contact E320 Chiropractic today. Early intervention and appropriate care can make a significant difference in your child’s development and well-being. Call us at 864-367-6766 to schedule a consultation and discover how we can support your child’s sensory processing journey.

Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care provides a drug-free, non-invasive solution to SPD. By recognizing the signs and understanding the causes, you can take proactive steps to support your child’s sensory processing and create a more harmonious family environment.

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