Texture sensitivity in highly sensitive children can be challenging for both the parent and the child. You might find yourself at a loss for what to do, desperately wishing for a guidebook.
Texture sensitivity refers to an intense sensitivity to the feel of certain materials or surfaces against their skin. For these children, everyday experiences—like wearing certain fabrics, touching rough objects, or feeling sticky textures—can be uncomfortable or even distressing.
However, with patience, understanding, and creative problem-solving, families can work together to create a supportive environment that honors the child’s sensory needs while encouraging exploration and growth. Let’s dive in and learn more about this topic together.
Texture sensitivity is simply an increased or heightened response to various textures. This sensitivity stems from the tactile system, which is responsible for our sense of touch. Our tactile system helps us understand the world around us through physical contact.
Think of your tactile system as thousands of tiny receptors all over your skin. These receptors pick up information about the different things we touch, such as a soft blanket, a cold metal spoon, or even subtle sensations like the seams in socks. These receptors send messages to our brain, which then interprets them and gives us an understanding of the object.
A properly functioning tactile system allows us to experience a diverse range of sensations comfortably. It’s vital for daily tasks, from getting dressed and eating to playing. However, for those with texture sensitivities, this system works a little differently, causing them to perceive otherwise non-threatening textures as unpleasant or even painful. Researchers believe only about 20% of the population is highly sensitive, making these experiences more unique.
Highly sensitive children, or HSCs, experience the world with greater depth and intensity. What might feel like a slight tickle to one child could feel like a scratchy wool sweater to an HSC. Their increased sensitivity can extend across various areas, with one common domain being their tactile system. Research shows that tactile defensiveness, a heightened reaction to touch, is often seen in children with other conditions such as autism spectrum disorder or ADHD. Though being highly sensitive doesn’t mean your child has one of these disorders, it can provide valuable insight when understanding their needs.
Imagine being a parent to a toddler who only wants to wear shorts, even in winter. After several attempts to put on pants and an epic meltdown (or two.) later, you find yourself exasperated, trying to understand why those fuzzy pajama pants are the enemy. But for your child, that fabric isn’t soft—it’s prickly, scratchy, and impossible to ignore.
Or, picture this: you’re at a birthday party, and while other kids are happily digging in the sandbox, your child refuses to join, even pulling away in tears when their hand gets near the sand. Moments like this, which we often dismiss as “picky” or “stubborn,” can be incredibly illuminating when we consider the experience through the lens of texture sensitivity. This is because a child’s tactile sensory system is sending a rush of messages to the brain, triggering this intense response.
To a highly sensitive child, they may be fighting a sensory battle. And these battles can manifest in so many different ways in day-to-day life. This happens often with highly sensitive kids, and while not every highly sensitive child will struggle with texture sensitivities, it’s essential to recognize the crucial connection between these concepts. For parents of highly sensitive children, these insights can often feel like finally discovering the missing piece to a complicated puzzle.
It’s not just sandboxes and winter clothes that parents need to be aware of. Here are some scenarios that could indicate texture sensitivity:
So the next time a seemingly insignificant event sets your little one off, take a pause and try to consider: could this be more than just a phase? Is there an underlying sensory element that’s making this situation feel insurmountable for them? These “insignificant events” can feel like everything to them.
When you begin to recognize texture sensitivity and acknowledge how widespread it is among children, especially highly sensitive children, your approach to these daily challenges can shift in profound ways. This knowledge empowers you to be more patient and understanding with your child’s experience.
What once seemed like overreacting or manipulation might become an expression of genuine discomfort. And once you identify those sensitivities and their triggers, you’re in a much stronger place as a parent to better support them. For instance, rather than engaging in a battle over scratchy sweaters, explore softer fabrics and clothing options together. This exploration should happen together and long before you actually need them to wear a new texture, so as to allow ample time to adjust to this “new” feel.
Texture sensitivity and sensory processing disorder (SPD) can overlap. Knowing the difference is important, especially because they can present very similarly with a few key differences.
Texture sensitivity refers specifically to a child’s heightened awareness and aversion to certain tactile experiences. This could manifest as strong reactions to different fabrics, food textures, or even the sensation of certain materials on their skin. For instance, a child with texture sensitivity may refuse to wear certain clothes or eat particular foods simply because the texture feels uncomfortable or overwhelming. This heightened sensitivity is often situational and may not affect the child’s overall sensory processing abilities.
Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), however, represents a distinct entity where the brain doesn’t regulate incoming sensory information effectively. To illustrate, imagine a dial. On one end of this spectrum is an individual whose neurological system under-registers or doesn’t notice information, which may lead them to seek intense sensory experiences to feel stimulation. But on the other end is an individual who becomes easily overwhelmed by otherwise typical sensory input. This often leads to avoidance and may require learning ways to better manage sensory input.
Navigating texture sensitivities and Sensory Processing Disorder requires a comprehensive understanding of sensory processing issues and identifying potential solutions that support their individual differences.
To summarize these similarities and differences, a child with texture sensitivities may only be sensitive to texture, not other stimuli. So, this would not be considered sensory processing disorder. If you notice that they are in fact sensitive to texture as well as other stimuli, this may indicate sensory processing disorder or related disorders.
So how can parents approach this from a place of compassion? Here are some simple, practical tips that might help manage textural sensitivities:
If your parental intuition senses a more pervasive issue or you suspect Sensory Processing Disorder, do not hesitate to seek help from qualified healthcare professionals such as an occupational therapist.
An OT is equipped to work with both you and your child to better understand these sensitivities and tailor treatment plans accordingly. Occupational therapy can be beneficial for children with heightened sensitivity to touch, helping them engage with tactile experiences more comfortably.
Texture sensitivity in children can simply be a standalone sensory sensitivity some children experience. However, it may sometimes point to broader sensory processing difficulties or underlying neurological differences such as Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). In these cases, texture sensitivities represent one facet of a more complex sensory profile, often accompanied by atypical responses to sounds, lights, tastes, smells, or movement.
It’s essential to distinguish that while many Highly Sensitive Persons (HSPs) experience heightened sensory sensitivities, not all have clinically significant “sensory issues.” Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS), a trait common in HSPs, describes a greater awareness of and response to sensory stimuli compared to the general population. This heightened awareness does not necessarily equate to a disorder, but rather a difference in how the brain processes information.
In short, no, highly sensitive children do not grow out of it. Personality research has shown that babies with sensitive temperaments often go on to have sensitive personality traits throughout their lifespan. Instead of disappearing entirely, sensitivities might shift or how a child responds changes. Understanding the enduring nature of sensitivity can guide parents in providing long-term support.
Highly Sensitive Children often exhibit these behavioral, emotional and sensory processing symptoms. Often they may become easily overwhelmed by loud noises or bright lights, experience intense emotional reactions, demonstrate strong empathy and concern for others, and or show a preference for quiet and calm environments. Researchers estimate that about 15-20% of children are highly sensitive.
Texture sensitivity in highly sensitive children refers to their heightened reactions to various tactile experiences, such as specific fabrics, food textures, or environmental sensations. This sensitivity can lead to discomfort or distress, making daily activities challenging for both the child and their caregivers.
For parents, understanding texture sensitivity can be complex, as it intertwines with the child’s unique sensory profile and emotional responses. Taking the time to comprehend these sensitivities is imperative for fostering the child’s growth, as it allows parents to create a supportive environment that respects their child’s needs, ultimately enhancing their emotional well-being and helping them navigate the world more comfortably.
Managing Texture Sensitivity in Highly Sensitive Children
Jill Gilbert
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