What is a sensory meltdown?

A sensory meltdown is a fight, flight or freeze response to sensory overload. It is often mistaken for a tantrum or misbehaviour. The main way to be able to tell the difference between a tantrum and a sensory meltdown is that tantrums have a purpose. They are designed to elicit a certain response or outcome.

What causes sensory meltdown?

For many kids and adults, meltdowns happen when they get too much information from their senses. The brain is too stimulated by certain sounds, sights, tastes, or textures. It gets overwhelmed trying to process it all. This is called sensory overload.

What does sensory meltdown look like?

During a sensory meltdown, children with special needs have very little control over their behavior. They may scream, break things, attack others and even try to hurt themselves.

What happens during a sensory meltdown?

Meltdowns can come in the form of physical flailing, withdrawing from spaces and events where their peers are present, yelling, crying, kicking and more. Sensory overload can occur just about anywhere, but especially in newer environments where your child is most sensitive to the sensory information they're receiving.

What is a sensory breakdown?

Sensory overload is when your five senses — sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste — take in more information than your brain can process. When your brain is overwhelmed by this input, it enters fight, flight, or freeze mode in response to what feels like a crisis, making you feel unsafe or even panicky.

A Mom Shares Her Struggles Dealing with Her Son’s Sensory Processing Disorder

What are examples of sensory issues?

Can adults have sensory meltdowns?

If you are hypersensitive to the point that it interferes with your functioning, you may have SPD. Many adults describe the feeling as being assaulted, attacked, or invaded by everyday experiences. They are bothered by sounds or textures that most people don't hear or feel.

What is the difference between a sensory meltdown and a tantrum?

A tantrum is usually when a child wants something. They often present themselves as outbursts of frustration. It can be attention based, with children even pausing to check if anyone's watching. A sensory meltdown is when a child has too much sensory information to process.

How do I know if my child has sensory issues?

If your child has a hard time gathering and interpreting those sensory inputs, they may show signs of sensory issues. These may include difficulty with balance and coordination, screaming, being aggressive when wanting attention, or jumping up and down frequently.

How long does a meltdown last?

Meltdowns can last from minutes to hours. Meltdowns are not your child's way of manipulating you: Meltdowns are emotional explosions. Your child is overloaded and is incapable of rational thinking.

How do you calm a child with sensory overload?

Some tips include counting to ten, walking away, listening to music, or watching a calming video or reading a book. Develop an exit strategy in the event of sensory overload. Talk to your child about ways he or she can stay calm or change environments if they start to feel overwhelmed.

What is a sensory trigger?

Kids who are sensory avoiding may react to a wide range of triggers. These can include loud sounds, uncomfortable clothing, crowded spaces, or certain food smells or textures, among others. Whatever the trigger, the reaction can sometimes be extreme. Sensory overload can lead to sensory meltdowns.

How do you help a child with a meltdown?

Is sensory overload autism?

Sensory overload occurs when you get more input from your senses than your brain is able to process. Although anyone can experience sensory overload, this condition is most commonly associated with autism, PTSD, sensory processing disorder, and fibromyalgia.

What does a sensory overload feel like?

Symptoms of sensory overload

extreme irritability. restlessness and discomfort. urge to cover your ears or shield your eyes from sensory input. feeling overly excited or “wound up”

Are sensory issues part of ADHD?

Sensory issues and sensory processing disorders are prevalent in people with ADHD.

Can a child grow out of sensory issues?

"Sensory dysregulation tends to get better with neurological maturation, but in many cases, it does not go away altogether," says Allison Kawa, PsyD, a Los Angeles child psychologist. "Most people learn coping strategies as they grow up.

What are the 3 patterns of sensory processing disorders?

Do kids with sensory disorders have trouble sleeping?

Without a good night's sleep, it's likely that you'll be irritable, inattentive, disorganized, and a bit more dysregulated the next day. When it comes to sensory processing disorder, it can be a common occurrence for children to also have sleep issues.

How do you discipline a child with SPD?

Take a look at your child's behavior and see what senses they are looking to stimulate. Rather than punish them for engaging in a behavior, redirect them to another activity that stimulates their senses in a similar way. Explain why it's a better choice than the other behavior.

Can you have sensory issues without autism?

Currently, sensory issues are considered a symptom of autism because many people on the autism spectrum experience them. But not everyone with sensory issues is on the spectrum. Some have ADHD, OCD or developmental delays. Or they may not have a diagnosis at all.

What is an Asperger's meltdown?

A meltdown is where a person with autism or Asperger's temporarily loses control because of emotional responses to environmental factors. They aren't usually caused by one specific thing. Triggers build up until the person becomes so overwhelmed that they can't take in any more information.

What is sensory overload anxiety?

Sensory overload, such as feeling like your nervous system is being bombarded and overwhelmed by visual, auditory, taste, touch, and smell stimuli, is a common symptom of anxiety disorder. This article explains the relationship between anxiety and sensory overload symptoms.

What is overstimulation a symptom of?

Sensory overload happens when the sensory input your body is working hard to process becomes overstimulating and your brain can't process it all fast enough. Sensory overload can occur in people with sensory processing dysfunction, autism, anxiety, and ADHD, among many other diagnoses.

How do you treat sensory issues in children?