Touch, vision, sound and smell are some of the most important senses to human beings. Unfortunately, not everyone gets to experience these senses in a positive way due to a condition called sensory processing disorder (SPD).
People with SPD can experience low or excessive sensory stimulation, making it hard for them to live what most would consider a normal life. If you have the condition or know of someone dealing with it, you have probably heard of the term sensory inputs. This article will help you understand sensory inputs and how they affect people living with a sensory processing disorder. Read on!
Understanding Sensory Inputs
Sensory inputs are stimuli that are processed by sensory organs. Such stimuli can be experienced through hearing, seeing, smelling, touching, and so on. Folks with SPD experience sensory inputs in a variety of ways, but generally inputs cause way outside the normal range of the rest of If a person is hypersensitive, they may over-react to stimuli. Conversely, someone who is hyposensitive, may underreact to a given situation.
Here are the multiple ways in which the sensory inputs may affect you if you have a sensory processing disorder.
- Vision
Sensory inputs may affect the normal vision of the patient in many ways. They make the vision blurred, increase sensitivity to light or cause semi-permanent blindness in some cases. The inputs may also irritate the eyes. Nevertheless, early diagnosis and treatment can ease the issue.
- Hearing
Sensory inputs may affect the normal hearing of a person. They may increase the sensitivity of the ears to too much noise or reduce it. Such auditory issues may make it hard for the person to coordinate with other people well.
- Touch
Normally, the body responds to any touch on the skin, irrespective of its source. Sadly, the sensory processing disorder interferes with this normal response, making the victim hypersensitive to small or even irresponsive touches.
- Smell and Tastes
Like the other human senses, sensory processing disorder may affect the smelling and tasting senses. The victims may either show an increased or reduced response to these senses.
Adverse Effects
Some people experience extreme sensory inputs when suffering from this condition, especially when they don’t seek therapy early on in life. One such effect is depression, which happens when the patients isolate themselves due to situational difficulties.
Other adverse effects include anxiety, confusion, and mood swings. For instance, if the condition has affected vision, the patient may experience anxiety every time they get into excessive light areas. While some people may only experience mild effects, others experience severe effects that might face their normal lives.
A Health Expert Can Help
People suffering from sensory processing disorder respond to sensory inputs in different ways. The best solution is to seek the help of experienced occupational therapists. A qualified therapist can make recommendations and provide treatment that will ultimately aid in easing the burdens of conditions like SPD.
