If your child screams when their clothing tags touch their skin, struggles to eat anything with an unexpected texture or becomes completely overwhelmed in noisy environments, you may have come across the term Sensory Processing Disorder. SPD is one of the most misunderstood conditions affecting neurodivergent children — and one of the most actionable, once you understand what is happening. This guide explains what SPD is, how it presents across different senses, and what you can do to support your child at home and at school.
What is Sensory Processing Disorder?
Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) is a neurological condition in which the brain has difficulty receiving and responding to sensory information. Where a neurotypical child's brain filters and organises sensory input automatically, a child with SPD may experience that same input as either dramatically amplified or barely registering at all. SPD is not a behaviour problem — it is a neurological difference in how the brain processes the world. It commonly co-occurs with autism, ADHD and developmental coordination disorder (dyspraxia), though it also occurs on its own. In the UK, SPD is not currently recognised as a standalone diagnostic category in the NHS, which means many children receive a diagnosis of autism or ADHD whose sensory challenges are actually the most prominent feature of their presentation.
The three types: over-responsive, under-responsive and sensory-seeking
SPD presents in three broad patterns, and understanding which applies to your child is the first step to helping them. Over-responsive children experience sensory input as too intense — they may avoid certain textures, sounds, tastes or lights that other children tolerate without difficulty. Even gentle touch can feel painful; a busy supermarket can be genuinely unbearable. Under-responsive children, by contrast, need significantly more input before their nervous system registers a sensation — they may not notice pain, temperature or discomfort, and can appear inattentive or clumsy as a result. Sensory-seeking children actively pursue intense sensory experiences — crashing into furniture, seeking tight hugs, putting objects in their mouths — because their nervous system needs stronger input to feel regulated. Many children show a mix of all three patterns across different sensory systems.
The senses beyond the obvious five
Most people think of the five senses — sight, hearing, touch, smell, taste — but the human sensory system also includes two that are critically important for children with SPD. Proprioception is the sense of body position and movement, received through muscles and joints. Children with poor proprioceptive processing often crash into things, apply too much or too little pressure, or seek constant physical input like heavy work, pushing and carrying. The vestibular system, located in the inner ear, governs balance and spatial orientation. Children with vestibular processing difficulties may be fearful of movement and heights, or may crave constant spinning and swinging. Understanding these additional senses can completely reframe behaviour that might otherwise seem inexplicable — a child who insists on sitting in a specific position or constantly swings in their chair is often meeting a genuine sensory need.
Supporting your child at home
The most effective home support for a child with SPD begins with an occupational therapy assessment, which will identify your child's specific sensory profile and recommend a tailored sensory diet — a daily schedule of sensory activities designed to keep their nervous system regulated. While waiting for or alongside professional input, there are practical steps every parent can take immediately. Remove unnecessary sensory triggers where possible: cut clothing tags, switch to seamless socks, and allow your child to wear comfortable clothes. Create a calm, low-stimulation space at home where they can decompress. Introduce sensory tools gradually — fidget items, weighted blankets, textured objects — and observe closely which ones help. Most importantly, listen to your child's descriptions of their sensory experience. Children with SPD are often very articulate about what hurts or helps once they have the language to describe it.
Summary
Sensory Processing Disorder can be challenging to navigate, but understanding it is genuinely empowering. Once you recognise that your child's behaviour is a response to real neurological experience rather than defiance or difficulty, everything changes. With the right support — professional guidance, environmental adjustments and well-chosen sensory tools — children with SPD can thrive. Send Toys To You stocks a carefully curated range of sensory tools and resources, all labelled by sensory type and diagnosis, to help you find exactly what your child needs.