What is Hypersensitivity?

Hypersensitivity means that children are easily stimulated and can have increased sensitivity to sensory inputs like light, sounds and touch. These sensations can bother them more and cause them to lose focus or act out in the presence of too much sensory information. 

Different sensitivities can cause:

• Difficulty holding attention
• A low pain threshold
• Appearing clumsy or off-balance
• Covering their eyes or ears frequently
• Gagging when eating certain textures or tastes of food
• Resisting hugs or sudden touch
• Difficulty managing their emotions

What is Hyposensitivity?

Hyposensitivity is under responsiveness to a wide range of stimuli. It can cause children and young people to have difficulty recognising feelings of hunger, thirst or pain or engage in sensory-seeking behaviour to get more sensory input from the environment around them. 

Examples of hyposensitivities could include:

• Increased movement such as spinning, jumping and crashing into things
• Talking fast and loud
• Frequent chewing on non-food items
• Rough play or touching others
• Stimming such as repetitive movements, hand flapping or rocking back and forth
• Pushing against objects or walls

How to Support Your Child

You can support your child by building a bigger picture of their sensory profile. Over a week or two, actively notice how your child reacts to different stimuli in different scenarios.

Build a list of different sensory differences you notice and consider the context around them.

• What was your child feeling like?
• Were they tired? Hungry? 
• What helped in that moment?

Find the sensory checklist for home and school here

By learning your child's sensory profile, you can consider strategies to regulate their senses when they become overstimulated or find sensory input if they don't have enough stimulation. 

Examples of strategies for hypersensitivity include:

• Creating a safe space, like a den or desk space away from others
• Having an exit strategy when senses could be aroused
• Using sunglasses or headphones to block out light or noise
• Making a self-soothe box
• Practicing breathing techniques

Examples of regulation for hypersensitivity include:

• Regular deep touch massage
• Rolling on a gym ball
• Making time for exercise like climbing, swinging and swimming
• Consider sensory circuits or sensory breaks 

Find strategies to support your child's sensory processing here