Auditory and Sensory Processing Disorder

Just a few facts about a child who may be struggling academically or behaviorally in school. There could be multiple reason why your child may be acting out. There could be so much going on inside of his brain and he lacks the ability to effectively communicate what it may be. Teachers, workers and parents alike have to stop looking at the child as just being a problem child, or child that does not like to listen well, and start investigating and exploring more into what the root of the problem may be.

Children who have with sensory processing disorder  struggles in ways that we could never imagine. They are contending with so many sensory inputs at one time that life tend to becomes extremely overwhelming for them, and sets them on overload at a much faster rate than you and I would ever experience.  With this extreme level of intense sensory overload, our children have to find a way to release the pressure, therefore a behavioral meltdown will occur. My son has sensory processing disorder. One of the major deficits he struggles with is being hyper sensitive to sound, or ound sensitive to specific frequencies heard at loud levels.  These frequencies are typically labeled 'problem' frequencies.  Autistic children are good examples of this.  They can tolerate some sound at normal or even loud volumes but some frequencies are difficult to tolerable. 

Hypercausis on the other hand is a condition that arises from a problem in the way the brain’s central auditory processing center perceives noise. It can often lead to pain and discomfort.  Individuals with hyperacusis have difficulty tolerating sounds which do not seem loud to others, such as the noise from running faucet water, riding in a car, walking on leaves, dishwasher, fan on the refrigerator, and shuffling papers. Although all sounds may be perceived as too loud, high frequency sounds may be particularly troublesome. Needless to say, this describes my son as well.

In addition to they hypersensitivity to sound, he also has Auditory Processing Disorder.  Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) is a listening disability, wherein the individual has difficulties with processing what he/she hear. APD is about not being able to process sounds that you hear, including speech. Rather, those who have APD struggles with following conversations, and understanding verbal instructions. What's very frustrating is that you can not see his disability and to the natural eye it doesn't exist.

Because of this disorder, a child can be a perceived inappropriately.  My son who reads very well, struggles in the classroom setting because of his auditory processing, and not being able to comprehend all that is being said to him. He can hear very well, but often times the various noises in the background becomes a distraction and keeps him from being able to focus and concentrate on the task at hand, and/or sends him into overload because he's trying to process too much information all at once.  So as you can imagine, his behavior then becomes a problem.  He can read a book and process information individually, but group earning and formal instruction become a problem because he can't effectively processing Verbal Instruction, with all the other sensory related issues going on.​

Just you imagine being in a crowded room where everyone is talking, horns are blowing, the piano is playing, a baby is crying, someone is laughing, and chairs are scratching the floor.   All this is going on at the same time, and you can hear it all, at very loud decibels. How can you make sense of what you need to focus on, or what's being said or directed at you, when you have to contend with other the other sounds going on around you? Needless to say, you can't! do it It becomes difficult, overwhelming, and to hard to handle. Now, just imagine not being able to escape that noise and you're being force to stay in the area where its occurring, your frustrated, it's causing you distress and pain and your forced to deal with it. Will you will fight your way out? 

I get it and I understand it. This is why its important for those who work with our vulnerable children to learn about the various facets of autism.  Sensory Processing Disorder is a real thing and it impact many children on the spectrum  Our children aren't being bad and destructive just because they think it's fun.  No, these behavioral, emotional, physical and aggressive meltdown are occurring for a reason.  I say to you, don't be afraid to dig deeper, and find the root cause of your child's problem. You can change your child's life for the better if you seek the answers! 

I hope this has helped someone.  Leave a comment, like and share.