What is Sensory Processing Sensitivity? You may have heard the term floating around online or in parenting circles. Sensory Processing Sensitivity, or SPS, isn’t a disorder but rather a personality trait. It means having a heightened awareness and responsiveness to the world around you.
This often means processing sensory stimuli—like sounds, smells, lights, and textures—with a depth and intensity that others might not experience. But Sensory Processing Sensitivity isn’t limited to the physical world. It can also extend to emotional and social situations.
Highly sensitive people, those high in SPS, are deeply attuned to the feelings of others, subtleties in conversations, and nuances in environments.
The Development of the Sensitivity Scale
Elaine Aron, alongside her husband Dr. Arthur Aron, made a significant contribution to the field of psychology by developing rating scales that measure sensitivity to stimuli. The highly sensitive person scale acknowledges the variability of responses people exhibit to their surroundings, recognizing that individuals differ in their levels of sensitivity.
Implications of the Sensitivity Scale
The development of the sensitivity scale has far-reaching implications for various fields, including psychology, education, and healthcare.
By recognizing and understanding individual differences in sensitivity, professionals can tailor their approaches to meet the unique needs of highly sensitive people. This will hopefully lead to more effective interventions and improved outcomes.
Her work helped categorize and validate what many had intuitively sensed all along: some folks simply experience the world more deeply and react more strongly than others. Though the concept was explored in other contexts before her research, like the works of Carl Jung and his idea of “innate sensitiveness,” Aron brought significant attention and a scientific framework to what was previously viewed more anecdotally.
So what is sensory processing sensitivity like for a child? Picture a busy, bustling playground. The sun is blazing, kids are screaming with joy, swings are screeching, and the music from the ice cream truck adds to the sensory symphony.
While many children might revel in the joyous chaos, a highly sensitive child may consider this sensory overload.
Their sensory system, when overloaded, can lead to distress, meltdowns, or withdrawal. Here are some common indicators of a highly sensitive child:
It’s important to remember that high sensitivity isn’t a weakness. A highly sensitive child often shows remarkable strengths too, including:
Sometimes, parents get confused when it comes to distinguishing Sensory Processing Sensitivity from Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). Although they can share similar characteristics and even coexist, they’re distinct entities.
A key point to remember when trying to answer, “What is Sensory Processing Sensitivity?”—it’s a temperamental trait that simply reflects an increased responsiveness to stimuli. However, Sensory Processing Disorder is a condition in which the brain struggles to receive, process, and respond to sensory input typically.
Think of it this way: SPS is like having a super-sensitive antenna that picks up a broad range of signals—the strong and subtle alike. But SPD is like having a scrambled connection, making it hard for the brain to decipher the incoming sensory signals accurately.
For example, a highly sensitive person might find a loud concert intensely unpleasant and prefer to leave. A person with SPD, however, may experience distorted sounds, leading to panic, disorientation, or an extreme fight-or-flight response.
SPD usually becomes apparent in early childhood, though adults can be diagnosed too. It often impacts multiple senses and requires professional diagnosis and treatment. Additionally, those with Sensory Processing Disorder often face more significant challenges with everyday activities, mental health, and social pain. They require specialized strategies and interventions to navigate sensory environments effectively.
So while some people might have both SPS and SPD, it’s important to differentiate the two.
It’s imperative to acknowledge and embrace a child’s sensitivity. It’s crucial for understanding their behavior, needs, and reactions. It also equips parents to support and guide their highly sensitive children effectively.
Think of Sensory Processing Sensitivity as your kid’s internal compass, guiding their unique perceptions and responses. Once you understand this compass, you’re better equipped to chart a course that minimizes stress and maximizes their well-being.
How can you put this understanding into practice? Here’s a handy table for parents who suspect they may be raising a highly sensitive child:
| Challenge | Understanding | Supportive Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Overstimulation in busy environments (grocery stores, amusement parks) | A sensitive child’s system may be flooded with too much information, triggering distress. | Prepare them in advance, keep trips short, offer quiet breaks, use calming strategies like deep breaths or quiet time afterward. |
| Picky eating and sensory aversions to textures and tastes | It’s not manipulation, they may genuinely perceive differences in flavor and texture that others miss. | Don’t force, offer choices, be patient, introduce new foods gradually, focus on creating a pleasant mealtime experience. |
| Intense emotional reactions (to movies, conflict, even everyday events) | Their emotional landscape is rich, their feelings run deep. | Validate, empathize, create a calm and nurturing environment, avoid dismissing their feelings, guide them to express emotions constructively. |
| Difficulty adjusting to change (new routines, transitions, unexpected events) | They need time to process and adapt to change, even if it’s small or positive. | Offer warnings, allow extra time, maintain routines as much as possible, use visuals or social stories to illustrate change. |
By recognizing their sensory sensitivities and emotional nuances, you can nurture their strengths and guide them in developing coping mechanisms for challenging situations.
Knowing how to answer the question, “What is Sensory Processing Sensitivity?” is an incredible way to advocate for your child’s well-being as a sensitive individual. You become their guide and interpreter, explaining their needs to teachers, caregivers, and family members.
Remember, as researchers learn more about sensory processing, we gain valuable insights into its potential impacts. A 2014 study examined the brain regions involved. One of which they found, the cingulate cortex, appeared to be very active in individuals with high scores on highly sensitive person rating scales. These kinds of investigations underscore the neurological underpinnings of sensory processing, confirming the validity of this personality trait.
Highly sensitive children frequently flourish in supportive environments. They are often drawn to professions where empathy, intuition, and creativity are prized. They may excel as artists, musicians, writers, healers, teachers, or scientists, bringing a depth of perception and insight to their chosen fields.
Sensory processing sensitivity, often associated with being a highly sensitive person (HSP), describes an increased sensitivity of the central nervous system. HSPs notice and process subtleties that others might miss. This sensitivity manifests across all types of stimulation—environmental, sensory, social, and emotional. Think of it as experiencing the world in high definition—all the nuances and subtleties become more pronounced.
People experience sensory sensitivity differently, but many report feeling easily overwhelmed by noise, lights, smells, and textures. For them, everyday sensations can be intensely vivid, almost amplified. They also tend to have a deeper processing of emotional experiences and social cues. Think of attending a party—a highly sensitive person may feel quickly overstimulated and need some quiet time away from all the noise, lights, and chatter. Their internal antenna simply picks up more signals from their environment.
Though similar, Sensory Processing Sensitivity is a trait, a normal variation in how the nervous system processes input. Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) is a condition that disrupts the brain’s ability to process sensory information correctly, causing significant challenges in daily life. Some individuals have both, however.
Think of this analogy— SPS is like tuning into a radio station with crystal-clear reception, noticing all the subtle background sounds, even those others may miss. SPD, however, is like receiving distorted signals from the radio, causing discomfort or an inability to filter what’s important. This causes substantial disruptions to daily life and requires professional diagnosis and support.
The Sensory Processing Sensitivity trait means experiencing the world intensely, processing subtleties deeply, and having a strong emotional responsiveness. HSPs often need downtime after social situations and may exhibit emotional intensity. They may avoid high-stimulus environments or need time to adjust to changes. Remember, it’s not a weakness, however, and it can also be an immense source of strength.
What is Sensory Processing Sensitivity? It’s a trait that illuminates the remarkable variability of the human experience. Once we recognize and embrace this variation, particularly in our children, we can foster compassion, resilience, and growth. Understanding a highly sensitive child’s needs helps to shape a future where their sensitivities become sources of strength and fulfillment, guiding them on a path of both personal and professional success.
What is Sensory Processing Sensitivity? A Guide for Parents
Jill Gilbert
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