| One of the most common sensory disorders is | | | | undersensitive child need a lot of input to get the |
| Tactile Defensiveness. With this condition, a child is | | | | touch information he or she needs. They will often |
| over or "hyper" sensitive to different types of touch. | | | | seek out tactile input on their own in sometimes |
| Light touch is one of the most upsetting types of | | | | unsafe ways. |
| touch to a child with SI dysfunction. Depending on | | | | A child who is undersensitive to touch may have |
| the intensity of their dysfunction, they may become | | | | these difficulties: |
| anywhere from mildly annoyed to completely freaked | | | | - Emotional and social - Craves touch to the extent |
| out by having someone lightly touch them. A gentle | | | | that friends, family, and even strangers become |
| kiss on the cheek may feel like they are having | | | | annoyed and upset. This could be the baby who |
| coarse sandpaper rubbed on their face. They also | | | | constantly needs to be held, or the toddler who is |
| may dislike feeling sand, grass or dirt on their skin. | | | | clingy, craving continual physical contact. |
| Getting dressed may be a struggle as different | | | | - Sensory exploration - Makes excessive physical |
| clothing textures, tags and seams may cause them | | | | contact with people and objects. Touching other |
| great discomfort. | | | | children too forcefully or inappropriately (such as |
| Often children with Tactile Defensiveness or touch | | | | biting or hitting). |
| hypersensitivity will avoid, become fearful of, or are | | | | - Motor - To get more tactile sensory information, he |
| irritated by: | | | | may need to use more of his skin surface to feel |
| - The wind blowing on bare skin | | | | he's made contact with an object. |
| - Light touch | | | | - Grooming and dressing - May choose clothing that |
| - Vibrating toys | | | | is, in your opinion, unacceptably tight or loose. He |
| - Barefoot touching of carpet, sand and/or grass | | | | may brush his teeth so hard that he injures his gums. |
| - Clothing textures | | | | If you child shows signs of Tactile Defensiveness or |
| - Tags and seams on clothing | | | | Undersensitivity, it's important to get a proper |
| - Touching of "messy" things | | | | screening by an Occupational Therapist, pediatrician or |
| - Changes in temperature | | | | other licensed professional. This sensory assessment |
| On the other side of the spectrum is a child with | | | | will help you in seeking out the proper course of |
| Tactile Undersensitivity or "Hyposensitivity". A tactile | | | | treatment and therapy. |