Understanding Sensory Processing Disorder and How Chiropractic Care Can Help

As a parent, you want the best for your child’s health and development. However, some children face challenges that can hinder their ability to process sensory information correctly. This condition is known as Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), formerly referred to as Sensory Integration Disorder.

What is Sensory Processing Disorder? SPD is a neurological disorder that affects the way the brain processes and responds to sensory information from the body and the environment. This information includes sights, sounds, smells, tastes, textures, and movements. Children with SPD may have difficulty integrating and organizing these sensory inputs, leading to challenges in everyday activities and social interactions.

Here is a short video below to share and give a visual on how SPD affects a child, and even adults.

As I like to explain it, I tell parents that it is like there is a mouse in the room, but due to the sensory processing information not being received properly by the brain, the brain sees a lion and creates a physiological response to a lion, rather than a mouse.

Symptoms of Sensory Processing Disorder

The symptoms of SPD can vary widely among children, but common signs include:

• Hypersensitivity or hyposensitivity to certain sensory stimuli
• Poor coordination and balance
• Difficulty with fine motor skills
• Behavioral issues, such as tantrums or meltdowns
• Difficulty with transitions or changes in routine
• Sensitivity to certain textures or fabrics

How SPD Affects Children

SPD can significantly impact a child’s daily life and development. Children with this disorder may experience difficulties with self-care tasks, social interactions, and academic performance. They may also struggle with emotional regulation, leading to frustration, anxiety, or withdrawal.

The Benefits of Chiropractic Care for SPD

Chiropractic care plays a huge part when it comes to SPD. When a child receives a specific, chiropractic adjustment, it removes what we call in chiropractic, “a subluxation,” which is a miscommunication between the brain and the body. As a child or an adult continues to get frequent chiropractic care, we are slowly improving the sensory input to the brain by giving better and more accurate information. As the saying goes, “Perception is your reality.” When we can help a developing little human (child) perceive their environment accurately, they are able to adapt to the constant changes that life brings, and one of those benefits of adapting would be better sensory input. Chiropractors truly improve the sensory system of the body, which allows for the innate intelligence within the body to be expressed better.

As a certified pediatric chiropractor, there are advanced techniques and protocols I utilize to help, on top of the chiropractic adjustments, to improve the communication between the brain and the body. Plus, when we look at specific reflexes (posture/primitive) that are still retained (turned on), this can add to the SPD symptoms that your child is experiencing.

Chiropractic care can provide the following benefits for children with SPD:

• Improved Nervous System Function: Chiropractic adjustments help remove interference in the nervous system, allowing for better communication between the brain and the body.
• Reduced Sensory Overload: By optimizing the nervous system, chiropractic care can help children better process and integrate sensory information, reducing the occurrence of sensory overload.
• Increased Body Awareness: Chiropractic adjustments can enhance proprioception (body awareness), which is often impaired in children with SPD.
• Improved Coordination and Balance: With better sensory integration and body awareness, children may experience improved coordination and balance.