There are several different ways to find sensory-friendly activities in Northeast Ohio.

Many adults learned about the five senses, which include hearing, smell, sight, touch and taste. Children with sensory differences may also have problems filtering information from the vestibular system, through proprioception or through interoception.

• Your vestibular sense helps you to understand where your body is in space. Children with differences in vestibular processing may seek movement, like spinning, swinging or dancing. They may also avoid movement, fearing playground equipment or avoiding active play.
• Your sense of proprioception tells you about the force of your movement - how your muscles, tendons and joints respond to activity. Children with differences in proprioception may enjoy crashing into objects or carrying heavy weights. They may also avoid touch or respond with pain to light touches.
• Interoception tells us how our bodies feel from the inside. Children with sensory differences in this area may not know when they are hungry or thirsty. They may also struggle with toilet training or maintaining appropriate body temperature.

For more detailed information on the eight senses, this article from The STAR Institute can help.

Children with sensory differences can sometimes have emotional and explosive behavior. These "meltdowns" can include screaming and crying, kicking and hitting, or other behaviors that can cause physical harm. Unlike tantrums, meltdowns are not goal-directed. Instead, meltdowns represent a point called "sensory overload," where a child has become so overstimulated that they can no longer self-soothe.

When a meltdown happens, it's important to find a safe, calm space where your child can limit sensory input. You can help your child to calm down by removing sensory triggers like loud sounds or bright lights. Or, if a child is melting down because a certain sensory input is missing, you can help them by finding positive ways to get that need met.

For more information on the differences between meltdowns and tantrums, this article from Understood can help. If your child is having frequent meltdowns, it's also a good idea to check in with your child's primary care provider.

Pediatric Occupational Therapists (OTs) are trained professionals who can help identify sensory differences in your child. An OT will use questionnaires and observe your child to understand how they respond to different sensory experiences. After that, the OT will create a "sensory diet." Sensory diets include activities to help your child balance sensory input. For example, swinging can help children to calm their vestibular system and jumping or stomping can help meet proprioceptive needs.

Our Family Resource Specialists can also help you to find a local OT to work with your child.

While some doctors use the term "Sensory Processing Disorder" (SPD) or "Sensory Integration" (SI) to describe children with sensory differences, neither term is recognized as a disability diagnosis under the Individual with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA). In other words, if the child's only diagnosis is SPD or SI, they will not qualify for an IEP.

Still, many schools understand that sensory differences can limit learning. A school Occupational Therapist (OT) can consult with your child's classroom teacher to offer sensory strategies in the classroom. For tips on communicating sensory concerns and requesting support from your child's school team, see the Connecting for Kids guide to school communication.

Many children with sensory differences either avoid or crave certain types of food. For some children, food textures may feel too crunchy or too soft. Other children may crave the sensory input they get from crunching foods like pretzels or drinking thick liquids like milkshakes.

If you suspect that your child's picky eating is related to sensory differences, it's a good idea to check in with their primary care provider (PCP). The PCP can make sure your child's nutritional needs are being met and make referrals to specialists who can help to expand your child's diet, if needed.

You can also learn more about picky eating and problem feeding from this podcast.