Therapy for Children with Extreme Sensitivities
in Massapequa & East Northport, NY
Children who are extremely sensitive to their environment often encounter challenges in daily life. At Sensational Development, we offer support, understanding, and effective therapeutic interventions to empower children and their families to overcome these challenges. Keep reading to learn more about extreme sensitivity, what causes children to experience such big emotions, and how pediatric therapy can help your child thrive with personalized interventions.
What Do We Mean by "Extreme Sensitivities?"
When we refer to “extreme sensitivities,” we mean children who seem to be affected by their environment or their emotions to the degree that it impacts their daily lives. Your child might be experiencing extreme sensitivity if they:
- Have frequent meltdowns or tantrums over their food or clothing
- Get upset or angry at the amount of noise in a store
- Cover their ears and complain about the volume of the radio or TV
- Can’t seem to focus in noisy or busy environments
- Tend to have very big emotional reactions to pain or discomfort
What Causes Some Children to Be More Sensitive Than Others?
Often, when a child seems to be extremely sensitive to their environment, it may be because they have sensory processing disorder (SPD). This is a condition where the nervous system has difficulty interpreting and responding to sensory information from the environment. This affects how the brain receives and responds to sensory input such as sounds, textures, or temperatures, and it can lead to heightened sensitivities to anything that can be felt with the senses.
Children with SPD can be completely overwhelmed by common environmental circumstances like many people speaking in a crowded room, or wearing clothing made with an itchy fabric. They don’t like the sensations they are experiencing, but they often don’t know how to handle it—and unfortunately, neither do the adults around them. This can lead to the child overreacting to the sensory input and interfere with their ability to participate in school or daily life.
Common Symptoms of Sensory Processing Disorder
Common signs of SPD in children, teens, and young adults can include:
- Extreme reactions to light, sound, touch, taste, or smell
- Difficulty with balance or coordination
- Behavioral challenges such as emotional outbursts or difficulty adapting to change
- Trouble focusing, especially in loud or distracting environments
- Low tolerance for pain, heat, and cold
- Feeling overwhelmed in crowds
How Pediatric Therapy Helps Children with Extreme Sensitivities
At Sensational Development, our experienced pediatric therapists conduct thorough evaluations to gain insights into each child’s unique sensitivities. We use play-based, proven therapy techniques to address each child’s specific sensory challenges and promote their overall development and wellbeing.
We develop a plan of care for occupational therapy using a sensory integration approach to address common struggles that children with extreme sensitivities face; and we may combine your child’s treatment with occupational therapy as needed to give them the self-regulation skills they need to better manage their emotions and behaviors for a happier and healthier life.
Schedule an Appointment Today
If your child is struggling with extreme emotional or physical sensitivities, don’t hesitate to reach out. Call Sensational Development at (516) 799-2900 to schedule an evaluation today. Our dedicated team is ready to work with you to create a personalized therapeutic treatment plan to support your child’s development so they can achieve a sensational future.
