Sensory processing disorder causes difficulties with balance, body awareness, and processing of information from your senses. These effects can make daily tasks and social interactions challenging.

Sensory processing disorder (SPD) is a neurological disorder in which your brain has trouble receiving and responding to information from your senses.

It can affect any of your senses: vision, hearing, touch, taste, smell, balance, awareness of body position (proprioception), and internal body sensations (interoception).

SPD affects up to 20% of the world’s population and commonly occurs in people who have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Because SPD can affect multiple senses in various ways and with varying intensities, you might not experience it in exactly the same way as someone else. As a result of this variability, SPD can be challenging to diagnose and understand.

SPD is not officially recognized as a stand-alone disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5). However, it is a documented part of other disorders.

Health experts are learning more about SPD, including its causes, diagnosis, and treatments, so its status may change with further updates to the DSM.

Sensory processing (also called sensory integration) is your brain’s ability to recognize and respond to the stimuli it receives. If your brain cannot process the type or rate of stimuli it’s receiving, you might experience emotional and physical distress. Sometimes, this can result in sensory overload.

If you regularly experience sensory overload or other sensory processing issues, you may have SPD. In adults, SPD can show up in any of the following ways:

These symptoms exist on a spectrum and can range from mild annoyance to physical pain. And other physical symptoms may result from these sensitivities. For example, high sensitivity to some fabric types may cause excessive sweating or a stress rash.

SPD is complex and variable. It has multiple subtypes, and many people have overlapping symptoms that don’t fit neatly into a single subtype.

According to a 2021 research review, high sensitivity in sensory processing is associated with a lower quality of life, affecting well-being, daily functioning, and health. (Check out this article to learn more about how chronic stress can affect your physical and mental health.)

Specifically, high sensitivity can make it hard for your brain to process signals from your senses. As a result, you may experience physical tiredness, difficulty making decisions, and strong emotions such as fear and anger. High sensitivity can also make social situations challenging and may reduce your career options.

On the other hand, if you have low sensitivity, you might need more stimulation to feel things, which may mean that you find some experiences, such as social activities, less satisfying and interesting.

Treating SPD in adults typically involves a combination of therapy, sensory integration techniques, and lifestyle strategies. Possible clinical treatments include:

  • Occupational therapy (OT): A primary treatment for SPD, OT can help you develop strategies to cope with sensory challenges and improve your ability to process sensory information.
  • Sensory integration therapy: This type of therapy aims to retrain your brain’s response to sensory stimuli through structured activities that gradually expose you to sensory input.
  • Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): CBT can help you manage the emotional and behavioral aspects of SPD, such as anxiety and frustration related to sensory experiences.

A therapist can work with you to tailor a program to your specific sensory challenges.

Creating a balanced sensory environment and building balance into your inner world may help reduce your symptoms and lessen SPD’s impact on your life.

If you experience high sensitivity, you can manage stimuli by reducing your exposure to triggers such as loud noises and incorporating calming activities, like yoga, into your routine. You may also find sensory deprivation tanks to be relaxing.

If you experience low sensitivity, your therapist might work with you on strategies such as increasing sensory stimulation with activities that involve textured materials or engaging in physical activities like weightlifting. Maintaining a structured daily routine can help you stay engaged and alert.

Healthy lifestyle habits such as eating a balanced diet that caters to your needs, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep can also be helpful for managing sensory processing challenges.

Knowing that they have the support of people who care about them can mean the world to someone with SPD. If you want to help a friend or family member who has SPD, it’s a good idea to start a conversation with them and ask whether there are certain ways you can support them.

Here are some ways you may be able to help someone who has SPD:

  • Educate yourself: Learn about SPD to understand what they are experiencing. You’re well on the way — check out these blogs on SPD to keep learning more. We’ll also cover more details on specific types of SPD later in this article.
  • Respect their limits: Recognize when they need breaks or space to manage sensory input. Don’t trivialize their concerns — know that in some cases, they may be experiencing physical discomfort or pain due to their symptoms.
  • Create a sensory-friendly environment: Modify the environment to reduce sensory overload, such as by using soft lighting or providing noise-canceling headphones. If you’re throwing a party, make sure there’s a quiet room where guests can decompress.
  • Help them utilize “quiet hours”: Some public spaces, such as museums and stores, now offer “quiet hours” with reduced lighting and low or no music. These times are typically early in the morning, when crowds are also likely to be smaller.
  • Encourage sensory activities: Support them in engaging in their recommended sensory input or regulation activities, such as practicing yoga or using fidget toys. If you have a close relationship, you might ask what their therapist has recommended and help them achieve it.
  • Help them find professional help: Navigating the mental health care industry can be overwhelming, but with your loved one’s consent, you can contact therapists or psychiatrists to help set up consultations or gather information. Check out this article to learn more.

SPD is categorized into three primary patterns:

  • sensory modulation disorder (SMD)
  • sensory-based motor disorder (SBMD)
  • sensory discrimination disorder (SDD)

Both SMD and SBMD can be further divided into subtypes:

SMD

In SMD, your brain has trouble regulating responses to sensory stimuli. As a result, you experience either exaggerated or diminished reactions to sensory input. You may find everyday sensations overwhelming or barely noticeable, and this can affect your ability to engage in typical daily activities.

The subtypes of SMD are:

  • Sensory over-responsivity: You experience increased sensitivity to sensory stimuli and may therefore react intensely or feel bombarded by sensory information. This may cause you to withdraw from touch, cover your ears, or experience a “fight or flight” response to sensory input.
  • Sensory under-responsivity: You experience reduced responsiveness to sensory stimuli. As a result, others may see you as withdrawn or difficult to engage. You may not notice sensory input such as pain, temperature, or touch.
  • Sensory craving: You actively seek out sensory stimulation and seem to have an insatiable need for sensory input. You may constantly move, touch everything, or enter others’ personal space. You may appear hyperactive or inattentive.

SBMD

SBMD involves difficulties with balance, motor coordination, and the ability to perform movements smoothly and accurately. If you have SBMD, you may find it difficult to complete tasks that require physical coordination, and your movements may seem clumsy or uncoordinated.

The subtypes of SBMD are:

  • Postural disorder: You have difficulty stabilizing your body during movement or when at rest. This condition can affect your ability to perform tasks that require strength and coordination.
  • Dyspraxia (motor planning problems): With dyspraxia, you have trouble planning and executing new motor actions. This condition can result in clumsiness and difficulty with tasks that require coordination.

SDD

If you have SDD, you may have trouble accurately distinguishing and interpreting sensory information, such as differentiating between similar sounds, sights, or textures. This can lead to awkward motor abilities and inattentiveness.

SPD is a neurological disorder in which your brain has difficulty receiving and responding to information from your senses. You may have either high or low sensitivity to sensory stimuli, which can affect your daily activities and social interactions.

If you or a loved one has SPD, you may find it helpful to work with an occupational therapist who specializes in sensory integration therapy. They can provide strategies to help you manage sensory challenges, create a sensory-friendly environment, and improve your quality of life.