to be on a special diet, requiring constant supervision and overcoming Sensory Processing Disorder.

“Sensory what?” you may ask.

Yes, it is a rather “mysterious” condition and it affects many of the special children. What is this disorder? First, let me briefly explain what is “normal” sensory processing or integration.

Sensory integration is described as a normal, neurological, developmental process which begins at the time of conception and continues until one dies. Thus, a person who has “normal sensory process”, will be able to receive sensory information, processes and correctly interprets them.

For example, if we walk too near to the drain, our brain will send a signal to tell us that we may soon fall unless we change direction. With this information, we will consciously walk away from the edge of the drain, thus preventing bruises and pain!

If this process is abnormal or inefficient, then we will make an incorrect decision. Using the above example, if our brain does not send out the “Danger!” signal, we will continue walking until we fall into the drain! Due to the inefficiency of this sensory input-output, our daily activities will be negatively affected, sometimes with severe consequences. This abnormal sensory process is known as Sensory Dysfunction or Sensory Processing Disorder.

A special child will most likely have some degree of sensory dysfunction. Thus, he will usually display odd behaviour, have poor concentration and thus, have difficulty learning.

Imagine if you had some degree of sensory dysfunction. This is what you may experience:

You can see obstacles in your way, but you continue to walk towards them as your brain does not interpret the correct distance

Whenever you put on your clothes, your skin feels like it is being pricked or scrubbed.

Your hands cannot decide how tight or gentle to hold onto a paper cup and you can't ever drink from it without spilling water.

You can still smell the floor detergent and it is making you very uncomfortable.

There is too much noise in the room, including the soft humming of the air-conditioner or the toilet being flushed, and it is irritating you.

You can't focus as everything in the room seems interesting and you are drawn to them, even those flowers on the curtain.

You can't sit still as you have this incredible, uncontrollable desire to run, jump, hop etc.

You want to write or say something, but the ideas just won't emerge from your brain, it is as though your hand or mouth are on strike.

You only want to eat porridge as the texture of the other types of food is just too hard and rough.

You can't bear to be on the swing or see-saw as any slight movement can just throw you off balance.

Thus, for a child with this disorder, how would you expect him to learn? If this is not treated, the child will lose out on learning and this will eventually bring about loss of confidence.

Thus, the poor child is labelled “stupid”, “stubborn” and/or “not-trainable”. As such, it is best to seek treatment as early as possible so that the child can use his energy for learning rather than coping with his sensory issues.

The best person to help the child would be an occupational therapist. She would be able to do an assessment to determine if a child does in fact have Sensory Dysfunction and thereafter, recommend activities to “regulate” his senses. It is best that these activities are carried out at home as well so that the outcome can be achieved at the shortest time possible.

After all, the objective is to enhance the integration process so that it can operate at its optimal level. If the processing dysfunction is not “repaired” then it becomes a struggle for the child in everything that he attempts to do.