They may also have a strong reaction to certain foods or avoid social situations. This may include a fearful or anxious reaction to movements, such as changing head positions, not having both feet on the ground, or touching. Sensory over-responsiveness: People may have an exaggerated response to stimuli compared to other people.Sensory under-responsiveness: People may not respond or show low response to sensory cues, may mouth objects, appear uninterested, or daydream frequently.One or more of three behavioral patterns often occur, which include: a preoccupation with the expectation of sensory input.It can cause a person to experience a fight, flight, or freeze response. A person may experience reduced or heightened emotional, behavioral, or psychological responses to stimuli that most other people would not react strongly to. SPD causes an atypical reaction to sensory stimuli. Learn more about sensory processing disorder. Experts still debate whether it should receive an entry. Unlike ASD or ADHD, SPD does not have an entry in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition, text revision (DSM-5-TR). Isolated SPD can also occur independent of clinical conditions. It occurs in about 90% of people living with ASD and about 50-64% of people living with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). SPD affects an estimated 5%–16% of children in the United States. proprioceptive (stimuli from within a person).position or movement of a person’s head (vestibular).Internal processes can also activate one or more senses.Ī person may perceive the stimuli through one or more systems within their body, including: Sensory stimuli refer to any event or object that causes a person’s senses to detect it and elicit a response from the person. It causes a person to experience reduced or heightened emotional, behavioral, or psychological responses to whatever sensory stimuli activated their sense(s) in the first place.
Experts define SPD as difficulty detecting, modulating, and interpreting sensory stimuli to the point of causing trouble with daily routines and participation in activities.