Understanding Your Sensory-Seeking Child: Methods Of Support
In general, children constantly explore and learn about their environment as they grow. Interacting with various stimuli can help children learn about themselves, others, and their environment. However, some children might take a more immersive approach, constantly seeking sensory stimulation. Children who frequently seek sensory input may be referred to as “sensory-seeking.” This behavior tends to be more common in children with neurodevelopmental disorders but may occur in any child. Some parents may benefit from speaking to a licensed therapist about how best to support their sensory-seeking child.
What does it mean for a child to be sensory-seeking?
The opposite of sensory-seeking behavior is sensory avoidance, which generally occurs when a child avoids sensory stimuli like sounds in their environment or touch from others. These children might appear more withdrawn and have difficulty coping with busy environments.
Sensory-seeking children can become emotionally dysregulated when they don’t receive the desired amount of sensory stimulation. For example, they may experience emotional challenges in situations like sitting in a quiet classroom for hours without being able to move. However, all children are different, and the types of sensory-seeking behavior they exhibit can vary.
The link between neurodiversity and sensory-seeking behavior
Neurodiversity is a term used to describe the differences in neurological function that can occur across humanity. It typically views neurodevelopmental conditions like ASD, ADHD, and some learning disabilities as natural variations rather than disorders or disabilities.
According to the neurodiversity theory, some barriers for people with these conditions might arise due to how society is set up rather than being innate problems. For example, a person with hyperactive ADHD (ADHD-HI) or combined ADHD might struggle to sit still in a classroom but thrive when presented with an environment where they can multitask, walk around, and take breaks.
A neurodivergent individual might have unique reactions to sensory stimuli, such as experiencing sensory cravings. Neurotypical individuals may have an easier time filtering out sensory information or self-regulating without sensory stimulation. Autistic people and some other neurodivergent individuals may process information at different rates than others, which can lead to sensory breakdowns or meltdowns in some cases. When these breakdowns or meltdowns arise, they might partake in sensory-avoidant or sensory-seeking behavior, sometimes called “stimming.”
Types of sensory-seeking behavior
Each child is different, and sensory-seeking behavior can vary from person to person. What helps one person regulate their nervous system might be stressful for another. However, there are some common symptoms people might experience, such as the following:
- Hair-pulling or picking
- Skin-picking
- Hyperactive physical activity, such as frequently running around to receive vestibular input
- Loud or interruptive speech and sounds
- Frequently singing, making sounds, or talking
- Desire to seek out items with which to fidget, such as chewing on pencils at school, picking at scabs, or frequently holding an item in their hands
- Head-banging and other forms of self-harm (in severe cases)
- Seeking out bright colors and visual movement
- Seeking tight hugs, deep pressure, weight, or touch
- Frequently hanging upside down, spinning, jumping, or swinging
- Seeking scents
- Frequently touching items with different textures, such as sandpaper, Velcro, putty, clay, soft toys, sensory toys, or shiny paper
- Listening to extremely loud music
- Speaking louder than expected
- Eating spicy, sour, or intensely flavored foods
- Chewing on items
Having healthy outlets to partake in these sensory-seeking behaviors can help children self-regulate. However, some sensory-seeking behaviors can become harmful if not addressed.
Why do children seek sensory input for sensory processing?
Children often seek sensory stimuli to regulate themselves emotionally or to satisfy an urge in their sensory systems.
To emotionally regulate
Stimming or seeking sensory stimuli can emotionally regulate an individual by giving them an external behavior or item on which to focus. Stimming can be a symptom of ASD and may also occur in people with ADHD. This behavior may block out distressing sensory input, provide extra sensory input when craved, and reduce emotional or physical pain. Some children may better understand their emotions through stimming, such as biting an item when they’re angry or sucking their thumb when scared.
To satisfy a sensory urge
Some children seek sensory input to satisfy urges they don’t understand. Without the sensory-seeking behavior, they may become extremely distressed and cry, scream, or partake in behaviors like self-harm to cope, as these behaviors typically provide more input than their environment does. Healthy ways to achieve a particular sensory input, like physical sensations, can be essential for these children.
How can parents support a sensory-seeking child?
Parents can support their Autistic, neurodivergent, or sensory-seeking child by being understanding, providing safe ways for them to stim, and avoiding redirection that harms the child emotionally.
Understand the cause of sensory-seeking behavior in children
If your child constantly seeks sensory stimulation, you might benefit from learning the cause and how it might relate to other behaviors, emotional responses, and needs. For example, an Autistic child might require different support from a child with ADHD. Some children might display sensory-seeking behaviors in response to a traumatic event, anxiety, or another mental health challenge, so knowing this may help you find treatments and support options unique to their case.
Keep them and others safe and consider an occupational therapist
A sensory seeker child may seek sensory input by self-harming, running away, yelling, or harming other people, and these behaviors may put themselves and others in danger.
These behaviors are not considered a healthy way to stim, and families may benefit from addressing them with a professional, like an occupational therapist, psychiatrist, or doctor. There may be ways to help children self-regulate by redirecting them to another type of stimming that also provides relief.
Don’t redirect or change behaviors that aren’t harmful
In general, stimming is not inherently harmful to sensory seekers. It’s recommended not to correct behavior for reasons like it being seen as “socially unacceptable” or “uncomfortable” for others to watch. If a child’s stimming is not harming them or anyone else, the behavior may be helping them. Be open to supporting your child in stimming openly, as doing so can reduce the risk that they’ll “mask” themselves later in life and experience conditions like anxiety and depression due to suppressing their natural urges.
Help your child understand themselves and sensory input in their environment
Talk to your child about the reasons they might be seeking sensory input and explain which behaviors are healthy and which might be harmful to them. You might also support them by finding ways to get them accommodations at school, like permission to use a fidget toy while listening to their teacher. In addition, explain to them that who they are is not “bad” and that even if they are the only person they know who stims, they are not broken or socially inept for doing so. Being supportive can help your child build their self-esteem and confidence.
Provide them with healthy outlets for sensory seeking and sensory processing
If a child frequently self-harms or partakes in disruptive behaviors, they might not have the resources to seek sensory stimulation healthily. Buying fidget toys and sensory aids and providing accommodations may reduce these more harmful behaviors. For example, the following items might be helpful:
- Weighted blankets
- Fidget spinners
- Hammocks
- Chew necklaces
- A karaoke machine for singing
- Sensory tubes
- Coloring books
- A “squeezing” device that applies pressure to the body
- Salty, sour, and spicy snacks
- Sensory videos
- Healthy ways to stimulate physical “pain” such as (safe) spiky stim toys, a sensory foot mat, ice cubes, or a heater placed a safe distance away
- Slime, clay, and other soft molding materials
- A loud radio that gives off physical vibrations that can be felt in the body
- Loud headphones
- A back-scratcher
- A sensory swing
- Inside playground items like a crawl tube, small slide, or yoga ball
Are sensory-seeking behaviors inherently unhealthy?
The American Psychiatric Association reports that stimming can reduce anxiety and calm an individual, regardless of their age.
Autistic adults report that stimming can offer a healthy coping mechanism that helps them self-soothe and communicate intense emotions for which they don’t have words.
Stimming is usually only considered harmful when it directly physically harms an individual, their environment, or those around them. Unhealthy forms of stimming can include self-harm, punching, and kicking. In these cases, stimming might be redirected to a healthier form. Parents can discuss options with their child’s provider.
Finding an occupational therapist or mental health support for parents and teens
Supporting a child with unique sensory needs can be challenging for families if they’re not sure how to help or if their child’s behavior is constant and causes harm. In these cases, talking to a therapist may be a way to self-regulate and learn helpful skills to support your child. If you don’t have time for in-person therapy, an online therapist through a platform like BetterHelp may be more accessible. Teens with sensory needs can also use online therapy through a platform like TeenCounseling for those aged 13 to 19.
An online platform generally allows clients to choose a session time that works for them, including outside of standard business hours. In addition, parents can stay at home while receiving therapy, which may allow them more time with family.
Studies have found that internet-based therapy can help parents and caregivers learn to regulate their emotions and respond to their child’s needs more effectively.
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