{"id":1120,"date":"2020-04-13T11:48:07","date_gmt":"2020-04-13T11:48:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/wordpress\/?page_id=1120"},"modified":"2021-07-14T19:04:19","modified_gmt":"2021-07-14T19:04:19","slug":"vision-and-sensory-processing-disorder","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/childrens-vision\/vision-therapy-for-special-needs\/vision-and-sensory-processing-disorder\/","title":{"rendered":"Vision and Sensory Processing Disorder\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><b>Have you been told your child has a sensory processing disorder (SPD)?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>Sensory processing disorders (SPD) can be life-changing, but many eye doctors can now offer you a range of options to best manage your child and allow them to maximize their engagement with the world.<\/p>\n<p>SPDs are particularly challenging to diagnose for the following reasons:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sensory processing disorders can overlap with or be misdiagnosed as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy-for-adhd\/what-is-add-adhd\/\">ADHD<\/a> or Autism (ASD).<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/vision-therapy-for-children\/convergence-insufficiency-2\/convergence-insufficiency-faqs\/\">Convergence Insufficiency<\/a> (CI) or other treatable vision problems can overlap with or be misdiagnosed as SPD.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>A timely and comprehensive multidisciplinary evaluation is critical for any child who shows signs or symptoms of SPD.<\/p>\n<p><b>A <\/b><b>2009 study<\/b><b> found that 1 in every 6 children may have sensory issues that make it difficult to learn and function in school.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p>While sensory processing issues are often seen in children with ASD, they can also be associated with ADHD, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), or with other developmental delays.<\/p>\n<p>Moreover, sensory processing issues can occur independently, with no other diagnosis at all. For this reason, it is important that a diagnosis is only made after comprehensive evaluations that provide a detailed picture of the presenting behavior.<\/p>\n<p>If you are concerned about your child&#8217;s SPD, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/practice-search\/\"><strong>find an eye doctor<\/strong><\/a> near you that can help you to significantly improve the life of your child.<\/p>\n<p><strong>SEE RELATED: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/childrens-vision\/vision-therapy-for-special-needs\/non-verbal-learning-disorder-nvld\/\">Vision and Non-Verbal Learning Disorder (NVLD)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\t<div class=\"practice-search-widget\">\n\t\t<h3>Find an eye doctor for children near you<\/h3>\n\t\t\n\t<form class=\"practice-search-form practice-search-form-widget\" action=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/practice-search\/results\/\" method=\"get\">\n\n\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"distance\" value=\"100\" class=\"practice-search-distance\">\n\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"page\" class=\"practice-search-page\">\n\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"address_latitude\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"address_longitude\">\n\n\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"address\" class=\"practice-search-address\" placeholder=\"City, Surburb or Address\" value=\"\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"distance\" value=\"100\" class=\"practice-search-distance\">\n\n\t\t\n\n\t\t<button type=\"submit\" class=\"practice-search-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 19 19\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M10.6796 0.130005C9.15708 0.130059 7.66615 0.5646 6.38198 1.38258C5.09781 2.20057 4.07373 3.36803 3.43004 4.74783C2.78634 6.12763 2.54976 7.66246 2.74808 9.17205C2.9464 10.6816 3.57139 12.1033 4.54964 13.27L0.729639 17.08C0.6364 17.1732 0.562439 17.2839 0.511979 17.4058C0.461519 17.5276 0.435547 17.6581 0.435547 17.79C0.435547 17.9219 0.461519 18.0524 0.511979 18.1743C0.562439 18.2961 0.6364 18.4068 0.729639 18.5C0.917942 18.6883 1.17334 18.7941 1.43964 18.7941C1.5715 18.7941 1.70207 18.7681 1.82389 18.7177C1.94571 18.6672 2.0564 18.5932 2.14964 18.5L5.99964 14.62C7.35406 15.6038 8.98566 16.1324 10.6596 16.13C12.7814 16.13 14.8162 15.2871 16.3165 13.7869C17.8168 12.2866 18.6596 10.2517 18.6596 8.13C18.6596 6.00827 17.8168 3.97344 16.3165 2.47315C14.8162 0.97286 12.7814 0.130005 10.6596 0.130005H10.6796ZM10.6796 14.13C9.49295 14.13 8.33291 13.7781 7.34622 13.1188C6.35952 12.4595 5.59049 11.5225 5.13636 10.4261C4.68224 9.32975 4.56342 8.12335 4.79493 6.95946C5.02644 5.79558 5.59788 4.72648 6.437 3.88736C7.27611 3.04825 8.34521 2.4768 9.5091 2.24529C10.673 2.01378 11.8794 2.1326 12.9757 2.58673C14.0721 3.04085 15.0092 3.80989 15.6685 4.79658C16.3277 5.78328 16.6796 6.94332 16.6796 8.13C16.6796 9.7213 16.0475 11.2474 14.9223 12.3726C13.7971 13.4979 12.2709 14.13 10.6796 14.13Z\" fill=\"#fff\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"practice-search-use-my-location\">\n\t\t\tSearch near me\n\t\t<\/button>\n\n\n\t<\/form>\n\n\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<h2><b>Behaviors related to SPD<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>Children who are <i>overly-sensitive<\/i> to sensory stimulation typically present with the following behaviors:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unable to tolerate bright lights and loud noises, such as ambulance sirens<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Refuse to wear clothing or shoes because they feels scratchy or irritating (even after cutting out all the tags and labels), or \u201ctoo tight\u201d<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Easily distracted by background noises that others don\u2019t seem to hear<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fearful of surprise touch, and avoid hugs and cuddling even with familiar adults<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Overly fearful of swings and playground equipment<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Often have trouble knowing where their body is in relation to other objects or people<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Often bump into people and objects and appear clumsy<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Difficulty sensing the amount of force they\u2019re applying (i.e. they may rip the paper when erasing, pinch too hard, or slam down objects)<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Run away or bolt from whatever is distressing them<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Extreme meltdowns when overwhelmed<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Meanwhile, <i>under-sensitive<\/i> children require <i>additional <\/i>sensory stimulation. These children typically present with the following behaviors:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A constant need to touch people or textures, even when it\u2019s not socially acceptable<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inability to understand personal space<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An extremely high tolerance for pain<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inability to understand their own strength<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Very fidgety and unable to sit still<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Enjoy jumping, bumping and crashing activities<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Crave fast, spinning and\/or intense movement<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Enjoy being tossed in the air and jumping on furniture and trampolines<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Enjoy deep pressure like tight bear hugs<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Many of these behaviors can appear as \u201cnegative behaviors\u201d, or similar to the hyperactive behaviors associated with ADHD, while in fact, the child cannot control his need for a certain degree of sensory input as he suffers from SPD.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Treatment for SPD<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Although there is no medication to treat SPD, there are effective therapies, as well as practical changes that can be made to help your child at home and at school.<\/p>\n<h3><b>Vision therapy\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/what-is-vision-therapy\/\">Vision therapy<\/a> is a highly effective treatment for children with SPD. <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>After completing a vision therapy program, many parents report an increase in:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Self-confidence<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Social competence<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Self-esteem<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Academic performance<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Vision therapy creates objective and observable improvements in the developmental abilities of a child SPD.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Vision therapy aims to improve:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Visual skills and\/or visual processing<\/li>\n<li>Visual-motor, sensorimotor and motor skills<\/li>\n<li>Hand-eye coordination<\/li>\n<li>Sensory integration<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Gains in fundamental developmental abilities allow the child to experience greater ease and satisfaction while interacting with the physical world and those around him.<\/p>\n<p><strong>If you have been told your child has a sensory processing disorder, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/practice-search\/\">schedule an appointment<\/a> with an eye doctor with experience in children&#8217;s vision and vision therapy.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>LEARN MORE:\u00a0<\/strong><a rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/childrens-vision\/vision-therapy-for-special-needs\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/childrens-vision\/vision-therapy-for-special-needs\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1626374764857000&amp;usg=AFQjCNGu6STwh0Zq_y3qp5Iv6BC1jC0GWw\">Vision\u00a0for Special Needs<\/a><\/p>\n<p>An eye examination will allow you develop a greater understanding of your child\u2019s challenges, and to possibly begin a vision therapy program that will facilitate your child\u2019s overall success.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Have you been told your child has a sensory processing disorder (SPD)? Sensory processing disorders (SPD) can be life-changing, but many eye doctors can now offer you a range of options to best manage your child and allow them to maximize their engagement with the world.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":1217,"parent":1401,"menu_order":123,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"template-article.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[188,85,102,394,91,136,83],"class_list":["post-1120","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-behavior","tag-children","tag-learning","tag-sensory-processing-disorder","tag-special-needs","tag-vision-problem","tag-vision-therapy"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Vision and Sensory Processing Disorder\u00a0 - Optometrists.org<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/childrens-vision\/vision-therapy-for-special-needs\/vision-and-sensory-processing-disorder\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Vision and Sensory Processing Disorder\u00a0 - Optometrists.org\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Have you been told your child has a sensory processing disorder (SPD)? 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